Welcome to our June & July newsletter.

Sorry, yes I am turning two newsletters into one. Between Mick heading to Europe for 2 weeks and myself being in Baja, things have been happily very busy here at the dive center. We are in the process of shattering our teaching record for the month with over 40 students go through either Advanced or Open Water classes. Cortez Explorers is happy to also announce so new improvements to the Palomita and a small wreck to add to our list of dive sites!

Speaking of finding new things... I have just finished my 5th trip to Baja this year, all by car, back and fourth from San Diego. On my last trip I can across a great motel at a good half way point, if you want to break the trip up over a couple of days. The motel is called the "Baja Cactus Motel" and it is in El Rosario. It is about 5 hours south of the boarder and has excellent rooms and although it is on the main drag, the rooms are constructed of stone and are VERY quiet. The cost was just $35 for the night and the room was so large it had TWO california king sized beds - oh and the shower was great! Here is more information: http://www.mexicovisitor.com/bajacactus.htm.

Booking News... and a new wreck (to us)...

Cortez Explorers is in the process of completing our busiest month so far. With 16 teenage kids to teach, as well as dive trips and advanced courses, we are maxing out our rental equipment and boat space. With this in mind, please check our availability of rental equipment and book in advance for courses. We hate to turn away walk-in business, and we have not had to so far, however to avoid any disappointment please contact us in advance of your arrival to secure rental equipment and/or trip space. Deposits are very easy to send to us as Western Union is everywhere and works very well!

Just 12 miles South of Mulege begins a stretch of coastline that can boast to be the most picturesque on the entire peninsula. Dotted along route one are small bays and coves that look out onto the calm waters of Bahia Concepcion. It is in one of these bays that a 40' sail boat sunk several years back. It is a short swim from the beach and is a little oasis at 30' on a flat sandy bottom.

Mick has dived the site several times since one of his students first came across the wreck in early july. It is sure to become a favorite spot for night dives as well as for photography and our underwater naturalist course. If you wish to dive this wreck, stop on by the dive center and I am sure Mick will love to give you a tour.

The Palomita - Refitted and New Electronics.

Now for all those of you who have owned a boat, you know... My captain use to say "owning a boat is akin to standing under a cold shower shoving fifty pound notes down the drain", oh how true. The Palomita, with her twin 55 Johnsons were rebuilt (see the last newsletter), and now we have the requisite electronics on board to get us to where we need to go. After much research and help from the Baja Forum (Capt. Mike), we settled on a dual sounder and gps unit from Garmin. We have been very happy with the product and would recommend it to anyone in the market; it is a GPSMAP 172c.

We are also in the market for a second boat, one with a slightly longer range and to run in tandem to the Palomita. With the Ildefonso trips we have decided that, due to the remote nature of the dive site, two boats is a safer option than one. To this end we will be trying to add the second boat to the fleet as soon as possible.

Update September Adventure Specials!

The September Specials are almost sold out. We have just a few spots remaining so if you are interested, please drop us a line soon. Two of the four dates are completely sold out, and only a five spot are left in total.

• September 5th, 6th & 7th sold out
• September 12th, 13th & 14th 2 spaces remaining
• September 19th, 20th & 21th 3 spaces remaining
• September 26th, 27th & 28th sold out

And now our Sea Lions & other stuff...

Water temperatures are at 85 degrees on the surface and the first thermocline is still around 50 feet, but is fluctuating. Diving with a shortie is recommended, but snorkeling can now be done in a Lycra suit! The viz continues to improve, although we have had several cold upwellings creating days of poor viz and cold(er) water - (it's all relative).

We are still searching for those illusive mantas, although mick has seen them from the shoreline. They are regularly seen by the fisherman about 20/25 miles offshore - another reason to get that long range boat... More on this to follow shortly.

Finally, after the water has warmed to over 80 degrees, the Sea Lions have finally decided to head North for the Summer months in search of some cooler water. On our last trip to Santa Inez we said farewell to the final few Sea Lions, however in their place we have seen a large increase in Guitar Sharks, on one dive we gave up counting at 10 of them! So out with the old, in with the new; the wildlife here is just stunning. Only last week Mick had two dives at Punta Prieta where he saw two very large Leatherbacks. They were hanging out, grazing on the rocks and one was very interested in the divers.