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Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed past this small island in 1542 just a few days prior to discovering San Diego. What he saw over 400 years ago is what we'll see today!
This kelp encircled island, 145 miles southeast of San Diego and only 3/4 of a mile in diameter, is chocked full of character above and below the waterline. The west side of the island is home to a small lagoon that is generally filled with inquisitive harbor seals. The islands tallest peak is a 500 foot tall extinct volcano located directly in the islands center. The view from the top is amazing as you can take in the Pacific Ocean on one side and the coast of nearby Baja, California on the other!
Cabrillo may have witnessed the above water beauty of this tiny island, but we're sure that he didn't take advantage of the underwater splendor of San Martin's kelp forest and offshore pinnacles! The pinnacles, Roca Ben (Ben's Rock) and The Breakers, lie two and six miles from San Martin. They are both surround by very deep water and attract an abundance of temperate and occasional sub-tropical species! Swirling schools of mackerel, blacksmith and half-moon attract larger pelagic fish to what can at times be a visual feast of schooling aggregations. Pacific barracuda, northern yellowtail and occasionally yellowfin tuna swoop in the on the smaller schooling baitfish while the animals that call the reef their home go about their daily business.
The reef structure is extreme, rising out of over 150 feet of water, and is encrusted in cold water sponges and hydrocoral, sea fans and other invertebrates. Cold water rockfish share time with temperate fish and quite often very large spiny lobster are seen in the 10 - 14 pound range! This two pinnacles, even though the water visibility can quite often be variable, is a feast for the underwater photographer!
Due to San Martin's small stature, we typically stop here for only a day at most. The diving is typically intermediate to advanced and the hike to rim of the islands crater can be strenuous. Scuba diving and snorkeling are classic California and are worth a full day of exploration.
Whether you will be visiting this small offshore oasis on an Eco, Scuba or Freediving Adventure, San Martin Island is classic Baja, and ripe for exploration!
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