Fall is without a doubt one of the best times to scuba dive in San Carlos. The weather is mild and water conditions are superb. Warm water and great visibility!
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With San Carlos water temperatures reaching into the 80’s and the clear blue water of summer arriving, more people will be considering deep dives. While most of the marine life will be found on shallower dives, there are a few organisms that are more prevalent at deeper depths. One in particular is the spectacular longnose hawkfish, Oxycirrhites typus.
Related Species
Familiar to most scuba divers in the Sea of Cortez are the Giant Hawkfish, Cirrhitus rivulatus, and the Coral hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus. The giant hawkfish is a large (to 20 inches, 520mm), green and brown mottled fish that is usually found in water that is shallower than 20 feet. The coral hawkfish is a smaller hawkfish that is usually less than 3 inches, 76mm, in length and white with red or pink polka dots.
The Longnose Hawkfish, Oxycirrhites typus
Unlike it’s more common relatives, the longnose hawkfish is rarely observed, partly due to the depths at which it is found, and partly due to exceptional abilities of camouflage. But for a careful observer, the difficulty in spotting one is worth the effort. Underwater photographers travel around the world to get a shot of one, but we have these beautiful fish in our own backyard.
Coloration
With a striking red plaid coloration this fish has an immediate wow factor. What really sets it apart is the extended snout that it uses to pick small crustaceans off of the corals that it lives amongst. Found among the branches of black coral and gorgonians, the red coloration of longnose hawkfish fades at deep depths where reds are filtered and only blues remain. But bring a flashlight along and scuba divers will be able to see the brilliant colors of this fish in all their glory.
Hawkfish Habitat
Longnose hawkfish are rarely observed at depths shallower than 90 feet and become increasingly abundant as depths approach 150-175 feet. Even in these deeper depths they are not considered common. With persistence and bit of luck, they are spotted from time to time at Isla San Pedro Nolasco at depths ranging from 85-130+ feet. They are most often seen over small patch reefs that are surrounded by sand flats, or among the branches of the black coral colonies that are common at deeper depths. Both Northpoint and Southpoint have a smattering of these fish. Longnose hawkfish are even more plentiful along the Baja coast beginning at Isla Tortuga and south to La Paz and Cabo San Lucas.
Finding Longnose Hawkfish
To spot longnose hawkfish approach deep patch reefs and black coral colonies slowly. Move quickly, and the fish will startle and dive for cover, but if a scuba diver moves with care the fish will usually allow a close approach, relying on their camouflage for protection. Bring a flashlight to help you spot these beautiful little fish. The blue light at depth makes them blend into the background, but when illuminated by a flashlight, their reds will pop out of obscurity. Pay close attention to your gauges while hawkfish hunting. Both air and no-decompression time run out quickly at these depths.
The months of April and May are traditionally the transition period for water temperatures in San Carlos, Mexico. As the Sea of Cortez moves from its winter circulation patterns to summer currents, dramatic changes occur beneath the waves. The nutrient rich water of winter mixes with the warm equatorial water that invades the Gulf of California each spring. Combined with longer sunny days, this cocktail creates a veritable explosion of photosynthesis that fuels the Sea of Cortez.
Scuba divers will find that water conditions are very hit-or-miss with regard to visibility and temperature, but top-notch with regard to marine life. As the nutrient cycle ebbs and flows, scuba divers may experience pea-soup conditions one day as a plankton bloom occurs, and 50+ feet of visibility the next as the nutrients are locally exhausted, and as plankton is consumed by filter and suspension feeders.
Current water temperatures in San Carlos, Mexico are teetering at the edge of 70 degrees. Scuba divers in San Carlos may still find pockets of water in the mid 60’s, especially inshore, but there is a solid wall of water in the mid 70’s that is steadily edging its way north.
While clear blue water of summer is still over a month away, this is a great time to dust off a mid-weight wetsuit and experience scuba diving in the Sea of Cortez during a remarkable transition. Every dive will be packed with life, and this time of year is a macro photographers dream. Tons of oddball invertebrates are out and the plankton induces spawning and mating behaviors in many of these unusual creatures.
2008 San Carlos Fishing Tournament Schedule
San Carlos Yacht Club & Rescate Yellowtail Tournament
February 15th – February 17th 2008
Entry Fee: $50.00 Per Angler
Registration at the San Carlos Yacht Club on Friday February 15th between 3:00pm – 5:30pm. Late Entries 5:30pm – 7:00pm at the Marina Cantina.
For More Information Contact Dick Newlon at dnewlon@prodigy.net.mx
Yellowtail Open Free Dive Spear fishing Tournament
March 17th 2008
Entry Fee: $45.00 per Spearfisherman
Registration at specified sponsors visit www.yellowtailopen.com for complete registration information and tournament details.
Desert Diver and Ocean Sports are participating sponsors
L.I.F.T. 2008 Ladies International Fishing Tournament
May 23rd – May 25th 2008
Entry Fee: $50.00 Per Angler
Registration at Club Deportivo De San Carlos On Friday May 23rd between 5:00pm-7:00pm.
For More Information Contact Dolores Ruppel at quepasa@prodigy.net.mx
San Carlos Yacht Club Tournament
June 6th – June 9th 2008
Entry Fee: $50.00 Per Angler
Registration at the San Carlos Yacht Club on Friday June 6th between 3:00pm – 5:30pm. Late Entries 5:30pm – 7:00pm at the Marina Cantina.
For More Information Contact Dick Newlon at dnewlon@prodigy.net.mx
60th International Billfish Tournament
July 20th – July 22nd 2008
Entry Fee: $100.00 Per Angler
Registration at Marina San Carlos On Friday July 20th between 5:00pm-9:00pm.
For More Information Contact Claudia Ciare at claudiaciare@hotmail.com
Labor Day Tournament
August 30th – September 1st 2008
Entry Fee: $50.00 Per Angler
Registration at Marina Cantina On Friday August 30th between 5:00pm-8:00pm.
For More Information Contact Bill Hammer at bhammer@prodigy.net.mx
Cantina Cup International Tournament
October 10th – 12th 2008
Entry Fee: $80.00 Per Angler & $1,000.00 Jackpot Entry Per Team
Registration at Marina San Carlos On Friday October 10th 5:00pm-8:00pm.
For More Information Contact Matt Blair at matthew@cirrusvisual.com
I am always impressed at the remarkable level of camouflage that can be exhibited by marine organisms. These photos show a few of the masters. These were photographed during a recent dive at Isla San Pedro Nolasco, near San Carlos.
This first image is of a snail that proved incredibly elusive for me. I looked for this beautiful parasite on and off for over a year! It wasn’t until I brought along a flashlight that I was able to see it against the backdrop of its coral home/prey.
The snail is Epitonium billeeanum, a relative of whelks. It spends its entire life living among colonies of the sun coral, Tubastraea coccinea, where it passes its days slowly consuming the colonies and laying copious masses of eggs (the yellow clump over the snail). These in turn will hatch on a ready-made feast for these tiny snails.
Relying on exquisite camouflage and a nice array of venomous dorsal spines, the stone scorpionfish, Scorpaena mystes is reluctant to move when divers approach.
I’ve been stung three times by these fish – once during an underwater rescue when I placed my hand on a fish to get some leverage – thinking it was a rock. The other 2 envenomations occurred while handling these fish in my lab. Their toxin is very good at lowering blood pressure. In my case they were a little too good. The third sting required a long series of injections to keep my heart rate up.
Silhouetted against the water, scorpionfish are easy to see, but against the backdrop of the seafloor, it’s easy to see how they might be mistaken for a rock.
