Sea of Cortez · Mexico · Pinnacle · Drift
La Reynita
A current-swept pinnacle off Cerralvo with large groupers
Area photo: ProtoplasmaKid · CC BY-SA 4.0
La Reynita is a small rock pinnacle on the west side of Isla Cerralvo, dived in constant current for the life that current feeds. Depths run from 8 m (25 ft) to past 30 m (100 ft), and the rock carries sea fans, brain corals and large groupers, with conger garden eels standing out of the sand. It is a different site from the better-known La Reina.
Where it is and how deep
24.2548° N, 109.9378° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Current defines this dive. Cortez Club describes La Reynita as a small rock pinnacle on the west side of Isla Cerralvo swept by constant current, so the descent is onto the rock rather than a drift into it, and holding position on the up-current side is the working technique for anything you want to look at. Depths run from 8 m (25 ft) at the top to over 30 m (100 ft), which makes the deep end a short visit and the shallow crown the place to spend gas.
The rock itself is dressed rather than bare: sea fans and brain corals cover the pinnacle, and large groupers hold station on it, the kind of resident fish that current-fed structures keep. Conger garden eels stand out of the sand and withdraw as divers come close. The operator rates the site an intermediate challenge, but the combination of a 30 m bottom and permanent current makes it a poor choice for a first current dive.
Marine life and season
- Groupers
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair |
Season follows Sea of Cortez: Water warms June-November for the best hammerhead and pelagic action at El Bajo; winter is cooler with rougher boat crossings.
Know before you go
- The current runs constantly here, so a missed descent puts you downstream of a small pinnacle in open water: go down the line, carry an SMB, and stay with the group.
Questions divers ask
How deep is La Reynita?+
Depths run from about 8 m (25 ft) at the top of the pinnacle to over 30 m (100 ft) at the deep end, so most of the dive is spent on the shallower rock.
Is La Reynita the same site as La Reina?+
No. La Reynita is a separate, smaller rock pinnacle on the west side of Isla Cerralvo, distinct from the better-known La Reina listed among the area's main sites.
Sources
- Dive Sites — Cortez Club — Cortez Club
- Isla Jacques Cousteau (Isla Cerralvo) — OpenStreetMap — OpenStreetMap
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