Sea of Cortez · Mexico · Pinnacle · Reef

La Reina

A lighthouse islet with sea lions and passing mantas

A rock islet with a lighthouse just north of Isla Cerralvo, further offshore from La Paz than the Espíritu Santo sites and exposed to open water currents, which is why it is kept for more experienced divers. Depths run from around 8 to 30 metres over rock dressed in sea fans and brain corals, with groupers in the crevices and garden eels around the base.

Where it is and how deep

Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

24.4153° N, 109.9750° WPublished position for this site.

The dive

La Reina is a rock islet with a lighthouse on it, just north of Isla Cerralvo and further offshore from La Paz than the island sites, and the rock is exposed to open water currents, which is the reason it is kept for more experienced divers. Depths range from around 8 to 30 metres, so a group can spend most of the dive on the shallow reef around the islet or drop down its flanks early and work back up the structure as the tank runs down.

The rock carries sea fans and brain corals rather than a coral framework, with groupers tucked into the crevices and garden eels standing out of the sand patches around the base. Sea lions use the islet, and because it sits in open water there is the ever-present chance of a manta ray passing through, so it is worth looking off the rock as often as at it.

Marine life and season

Groupers
Manta rays
Seals & sea lions

Month-by-month season rating for La Reina
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair	Fair	Fair	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime

Season follows Sea of Cortez: Calm, clear conditions run October to May; summer brings occasional wind and choppier seas, and Los Islotes closes from June to August.

Know before you go

The islet is exposed to open water currents, so whether the site goes ahead is the boat's call on the day and it is not one to dive at the edge of your experience.

Dive videos

Scuba Diving at La Reina in La Ventana, BCS Mexico - 4K 🎵 Wizard of Love - Blondish · The Dive Planner on YouTube

Scuba diving at La Reina, La Paz, BCS, Mexico · Varun Krishna on YouTube

Questions divers ask

How deep is La Reina?+

Depths range from around 8 to 30 metres. The reef around the islet is shallow enough to hold a long dive, while the flanks fall away to 30 m; that depth, combined with the open-water current, is what puts the site beyond beginner level.