About Palmilla Shore
Palmilla Shore offers a shallow and intriguing dive experience, located near the Palmilla dive shop. This site is composed of small, broad rocky pinnacles that, while not dramatic in scale, reveal fascinating details upon closer inspection. Divers are encouraged to take their time to observe the small creatures inhabiting the reef. Highlights include shrimp found in holes in the sand, known for giving a gentle nip to curious fingers, and tiny hermit crabs. Bright blue crabs and red-lipped, red-headed blennies are also commonly seen. This site is particularly well-suited for macro enthusiasts and photographers due to its focus on small, hidden marine life. It is a shore dive, indicating easy access from the beach, and its shallow depth of around 6 meters makes it ideal for beginners.
Highlights
Shallow, easy shore diveSmall, broad rocky pinnaclesMacro marine life observationShrimp and tiny crabsRed-lipped and red-headed blennies
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: Palmilla Shore
- Depth
- 6–6 m
- Current
- No current
- Entry
- Shore / dayboat
- Level
- Beginner
- Dive type
- Reef, Reef
- Region / port
- Mexico
- Coordinates
- 23.0440° N, 109.5298° W
Conditions & Currents
Currents are typically negligible here, so the site stays calm and easy to dive. The site drops to around 6 metres, so plan your gas and no-decompression limits around the deeper section. It is usually briefed as a dive for beginner divers. Entry is from shore, so plan the swim out and back around the surface conditions of the day. Tide, wind and season all shift the picture from day to day, so the crew's briefing on the boat always overrides any general description.
Why dive Palmilla Shore from a liveaboard?
Palmilla Shore 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 Palmilla Shore on their Mexico itineraries.
Liveaboards diving Palmilla Shore
These liveaboards may visit Palmilla Shore 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 Palmilla Shore
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© EsriMaxar, Earthstar, GIS
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- Advanced
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- Mild
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- Dayboat
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- 17–27 m
- Theme
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- Suitable for
- Intermediate
- Current
- Moderate
- Access
- Liveaboard only
- Depth
- 3–15 m
- Theme
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Bajo Alcyone
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Bajo Alcyone, a submerged seamount near Cocos Island, stands as a world-renowned dive site.
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Bajo de la Ballena
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- Advanced
- Current
- Strong
- Access
- Liveaboard or dayboat
- Depth
- 18–35 m
- Theme
- Pinnacle