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It’s 9:00 a.m. The underwater visibility is perfect in the morning, so, without hesitation, I wade into the knee–deep, crystal clear water ready for a dip. The water is deliciously warm and refreshing at the same time. Tropical fish dart about even in the sandy shallows, but, a few meters further a whole new world waits to be discovered. The bay bottom is sandy in the center all the way out. The shoreline on either side near the cliffs is rocky, which is where most of the fish congregate. The water depths runs from just a few feet near the shoreline to about 80 feet at the entrance to the sea.
I head toward the bay’s curved north wall, which shelters a reef rich with life. The moment I enter this exotic underwater world, I bump into large schools of tropical species–– surgeonfish, parrotfish and triggerfish. The purple gorgonians (sea fans), brown urchins, and over 17 species of coral are there, too. Tropical colors––turquoise, emerald, lemon yellow, stoplight red––draw me ever deeper, enchanting me so that I almost forget about my own need to breathe.
As my exploration goes on, more and more terrestrials like myself join me in the depths––a sign that the tour boats are here. Santa María is one of the favorites on the itineraries of Los Cabos’ tour companies. But their visits are brief, arriving around 10:30 a.m. Baja’s Activities (624) 143-2050 is a popular tour provider, offering 2–hour snorkeling tours daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., $ 35 U.S. per person. And for those who like to paddle, Cabo Xtreme (624) 130-7959 has a kayaking and snorkeling tour, daily at 10 a.m., $60 U.S. per person.
After my swim, the balmy, salty air seems to whisper “siesta”, so I move up towards the rocks for more privacy, eventually dozing off in my beach chair, relaxed and happy. When I awake, my watch says 12:30 p.m. I take a walk back to the parking lot and rent a kayak ($20 U.S. per hour).
Since most of the tour boats have already left, I have the water of the bay all to myself. Launching my red ocean kayak, I paddle through the waves, laughing at the salty splashes on my face. A bunch of pelicans stands on the rocky shoreline eyeing me warily. Above me, frigate birds glide gracefully looking for telltale ripples on the ocean surface. One of them makes an impressive vertical dive, grabbing its prey.
I watch the beach from the water for a while. It resembles a huge family picnic––kids swimming and building sand castles, teenagers passing a football, and adults sunning or just snoozing under colorful umbrellas––what a view, a picture–perfect Cabo beach experience!.
It’s 2:30 p.m., and I feel that my skin has gotten enough sun, so I snap a few more pictures, return my rental gear and head back home. What a day, I think. Steinbeck would have agreed with the tour guide who told me that Santa Maria is a blast for anyone and everyone.
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