The Baja peninsula is in a tropical region which makes for pleasant diving virtually year-round. In general you will want to avoid diving during hurricane season, which runs from around June to September each year. Visibility is reduced during storms due to choppy waters, and can also make it unsafe or difficult to travel to and from Baja cities.
The equipment you need will be determined by the dive spots you choose to explore. In shallow waters you can use a snorkel, mask, shortie wet suit and fins. For deeper waters you will definitely want a full scuba set-up, and you will also need to get trained and certified to scuba dive by a licensed training school or organization.
Toward the southern tip of the peninsula in the city of La Paz, and the surrounding region, is where you will find the most popular locations for pearl diving. El Bajo and El Bajito are both loved for their variety of sea life and availability of pearl-bearing mollusks. Los Istoles and Pailebot are also noted dive spots with plenty of rocks and reefs hiding pearls that are waiting to be discovered.
Underwater dangers can be extensive, and many can sneak up on you without warning. Always dive with a partner, and use the services of an experienced guide that you find through friends or a trusted travel organization. Also, it is highly recommended that you do not dive and fly in the same day because of the opposing effects that water pressure and high-altitudes have on the body.
Although oysters are the most acknowledged source of pearls, they can also be found in clams and mussels. It can take five to ten years for a pearl to reach full size.
