About El Cien
El Cien, translating to 'The Hundred', is a deeper reef bar designed for advanced certified divers, with a depth of approximately 30 meters. This challenging outer reef site is renowned for its wealth of pelagic fish and significant shark encounters. Its exposed location contributes to stronger currents and makes it a prime destination for thrill-seeking divers. Divers with the requisite experience will be treated to a spectacular array of sharks, including bull, sand, tiger, and nurse sharks, making it a top spot for shark enthusiasts. Large schools of tuna and bigeye trevally often cruise overhead, adding to the dynamic pelagic action. Sightings of turtles, mobula rays, and colorful tropical fish are also common, showcasing the diverse ecosystem thriving in these deeper waters. The site's conditions, including depth and strong currents, necessitate advanced diving skills and experience. El Cien, along with Esperanza, represents the more adventurous side of Cabo Pulmo diving, offering unparalleled opportunities for bluewater diving and encounters with formidable marine predators. These sites are typically accessed via specialized dive trips for experienced groups.
Highlights
Wealth of pelagic fishMultiple shark species (bull, sand, tiger, nurse)Schools of tuna and bigeye trevallyChallenging deep reef diveStrong current drift diving
Season calendar
Best months to dive here
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Nov – Apr (Peak)
Socorro season open (Nov–May) for giant mantas and hammerheads. Cozumel bull sharks Dec–Mar. Cenotes excellent year-round. Best overall conditions.
May – Oct (Transition & Sea of Cortez)
Socorro closing, Cozumel still good. Whale sharks arrive at Isla Mujeres Jun–Sep. From August, the Sea of Cortez comes alive: Midriff Islands offer massive sea lion colonies and schooling mobulas. September and October bring world-class diving around La Paz and Cabo Pulmo with whale sharks, hammerheads, and bull sharks on the Explore Baja route.
Dive site facts: El Cien
- Depth
- 30–30 m
- Current
- Strong
- Entry
- Liveaboard or dayboat
- Level
- Advanced
- Dive type
- Reef, Drift
- Region / port
- Mexico
- Coordinates
- 23.4937° N, 109.4238° W
Conditions & Currents
Strong currents are common; drift-diving experience and an SMB or reef hook are recommended. The site drops to around 30 metres, so plan your gas and no-decompression limits around the deeper section. It is usually briefed as a dive for advanced divers. It can be dived from a liveaboard or a day boat, depending on where you start the trip. Because the flow can pick up quickly, drift profiles, a surface marker buoy and a tight group are standard practice here, and the crew's briefing always overrides any general description.
Why dive El Cien from a liveaboard?
El Cien is one of Mexico's signature dive sites. A liveaboard sleeps you on the water and puts you in the water for three to four guided dives per day, including dawn and night dives that day-boat operators rarely offer. You skip the daily commute back to port and reach quieter, less-crowded sites in the same region on a single trip.
Below are the liveaboards that include El Cien on their Mexico itineraries.
Liveaboards diving El Cien
These liveaboards may visit El Cien on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.
Nautilus Explorer
Mexico
25 guests45 m
Valentina
Mexico
20 guests38 m
Rocio del Mar
Mexico
20 guests34 m
Nautilus Under Sea
Mexico
19 guests32 m
Nautilus Belle Amie
Mexico
32 guests45 m
Quino del Mar
Mexico
20 guests36 m
Nautilus Gallant Lady
Mexico
12 guests35 m
Dive sites similar to El Cien
Same character, same waters — six more sites divers love for the exact same reasons.Compare seasons, access and liveaboard routes — then pick the site that fits your trip best.
© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS
Agustín Melgar shipwreck
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The Agustín Melgar, also known as the C-54, is a 56-meter (185-foot) former minesweeper that rests on a sandy bottom at 24 meters (80 feet) south of Puerto Escondido within the Loreto Bay National Park.
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© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS
Bahía de La Paz
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Bahía de La Paz serves as the capital of Baja California Sur and the primary gateway to the Sea of Cortez, a region famously dubbed the "world's aquarium" by Jacques Cousteau due to its exceptional biodiversity.
- Suitable for
- Advanced
- Current
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- Access
- Dayboat
- Depth
- 17–27 m
- Theme
- Big animals / Reef
© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS
Bahía de los Ángeles
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Bahía de los Ángeles, nestled in the northern Sea of Cortez, is a remarkable dive destination primarily known for its seasonal aggregations of whale sharks.
- Suitable for
- Intermediate
- Current
- Moderate
- Access
- Liveaboard only
- Depth
- 3–15 m
- Theme
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© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS
Bajo Alcyone
Costa Rica
Bajo Alcyone, a submerged seamount near Cocos Island, stands as a world-renowned dive site.
- Suitable for
- Advanced
- Current
- Strong
- Access
- Liveaboard only
- Depth
- 25–40 m
- Theme
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© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS
Bajo de la Ballena
Mexico
El Bajo, often referred to as Bajo de la Ballena, is a prominent seamount situated approximately eight miles northeast of La Paz, Mexico.
- Suitable for
- Advanced
- Current
- Strong
- Access
- Liveaboard or dayboat
- Depth
- 18–35 m
- Theme
- Pinnacle