San Pedro Nolasco Island, sometimes called Seal Island, is a small and rugged Mexican

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

 island in the Gulf of California

Gulf of California

The Gulf of California is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland...

. It is 4.2 km long by 1 km wide, and lies 15 km from the nearest point of the Mexican coast and about 28 km west of the resort town of San Carlos on the coast of the Sonoran Desert

Sonoran Desert

The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the United States-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U.S. states of Arizona and California and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest...

. The island is protected as a nature reserve

Nature reserve

A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...

 and its coastal waters are well known as a sport fishing

Recreational fishing

Recreational fishing, also called sport fishing, is fishing for pleasure or competition. It can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is fishing for profit, or subsistence fishing, which is fishing for survival....

 and diving site

Underwater diving

Underwater diving is the practice of going underwater, either with breathing apparatus or by breath-holding .Recreational diving is a popular activity...

.

Flora and fauna

The island is home to an endemic cactus

Cactus

A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...

 Echinocereus websterianus. Endemic fauna include the San Pedro Nolasco Island Spinytail Iguana Ctenosaura nolascenensis and, formerly, Pemberton's Deer Mouse

Pemberton's Deer Mouse

Pemberton's Deer Mouse lived on San Pedro Nolasco Island in the Gulf of California. The last 12 specimens were collected on 26 December 1931.-Etymology:...

 (Peromyscus pembertoni), a rodent which is now extinct. Large numbers of California Sea Lion

California Sea Lion

The California sea lion is a coastal sea lion of western North America. Their numbers are abundant , and the population continues to expand about 5% annually. They are quite intelligent and can adapt to man-made environments...

s frequent its surrounding waters and use the island as a haul-out

Hauling-out

Hauling-out is the behaviour associated with pinnipeds , of temporarily leaving the water between periods of foraging activity for sites on land or ice...

.

Popular Dive Sites

• Magdalena Bay
• Lighthouse
• The Little Waterfall
• The Cave
• The Beach
• The Boulders
• North Point
• The Window
• Pelican Point
• The Cavern
• The Rookery
• South Point

Magdalena Bay

Magdalena Bay is a beautiful little protected cove on the southeast corner of the island. The water depths inside the bay are shallow, making it an excellent site for novice divers and snorklers. Consistent water clarity and amazing bio-diversity offers even the most advanced divers an unforgettable experience. The gravel beach seems to be a favorite resting place with the sea lions. Large numbers of sea lion pups, guarded by a dominate male can be observed during the summer months.

Lighthouse

Transportation and Island Access

Arrangements for transportation to and from San Pedro Nolasco Island can be made through numerous charter boat operators and dive shops (e.g. Gary’s Dive Shop) in near by San Carlos. However, to go ashore at San Pedro Nolasco as well as most of the Islands in the Gulf of California

Gulf of California

The Gulf of California is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland...

(Sea of Cortez) a special permit must be purchased from the Mexican Government. Such permits can be obtained at the local offices of the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Comision Nacional de Areas Naturales Protegidas). Mexican Protected Natural Areas

Mexican Protected Natural Areas

Mexico's Protected Natural Areas are 158 designated "Natural Areas" in Mexico, representing 11% of the nation's surface area, and are protected and administrated by the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas , a federal agency...

External Links

1.http://www.conanp.gob.mx/ (Comision Nacional de Areas Naturales Protegidas)
2. http://www.garysdivemexico.com/ Gary's Dive Shop website