2021. 11. 14 | Todos Santos Island, Mexico
The shipwreck I recently visited near Todos Santos Island in Mexico is unique. My first visit to the wreck was accidental. We changed course from our planned dives to visiting the island, and the captain had the idea of giving “an unknown wreck” a try. What we found was delightful. The wreck didn’t look like those ‘artificial ones’ nor those too broken down. If I had painted a shipwreck based on my imagination, this wreck would have been what I did on a canvas. The wreck was discovered some time ago but was forgotten. It was rediscovered just a few years ago. The wreck doesn’t have a name, and only a few divers have visited it. It is truly ‘untouched.’
After my first visit two months ago, I came back with a group of friends, including a few from the first trip and a few who liked the story and decided to dive into it. On the first day, I rode with Chris and Dan and crossed the border in the early morning. The drive too a bit longer than we expected. We headed directly to the ramp, meeting up with the rest of the group who had arrived the night before. We went straight to the wreck. The ocean was flat, and the air was warm like the summer. After I dropped down, the wreck did not disappoint me. The visibility was as good as on my first visit. I was mentally prepared and followed my plan of filming it. This time, there was much more fish near the wreck. I took my time and thoroughly enjoyed the dive. We spent the second dive on a reef near the wreck and finished the first trip as planned.
The campground we stayed in was right in front of the beach with a hot spring. With the low tide, we quickly located the exit of the hot spring. I stuck my feet into the sand. It was hot initially, but soon I got used to it. With the cool breeze and the sound of the waves, the night spent in the tent was beautiful.
We decided to dive the wreck one more time the second day and headed there on our first dive. This time I decided to film the wreck from a distance. The wreck looked gorgeous from every angle. In the middle of the dive, a massive school of blacksmiths came to me. They circled me while I was filming the wreck. The fish school always brings life to the wreck, and I was thrilled to enjoy every second when the fish school was there. It was an incredible dive. For the second dive, we headed to the pinnacles of La Bufadora and dove the White Rock. The White Rock was the first site I dove in La Bufadora many years ago. I like to stay shallow on the pinnacles. In the shallower water, the surge is strong, and the visibility is poor. But this is where life thrives. The wall is carpeted with sea anemones. Every patch bursts with color, and no room is empty. The dive was mesmerizing.
The weekend went by fast. After the dive, we packed the gear. After the group lunch, we started the journey back home. While I was re-playing the untouched wreck and the colorful pinnacles in my memory, I also wondered when and where will be the next adventure.