Dive Site:
: Hob Na Dive Site -- Xcalak, MexicoDate of Your Dive:
: 30 August 2011Country/ Continent:
: Mexico, North AmericaDifficulty
: IntermediateIs There A Required Certification Level?
: Advanced certification
Depth
: 50 - 150 ft
Temperature
: Air temperature 33 degrees Celsius / 92 degrees Fahrenheit
Water temperature 30 degrees Celsius / 86 Fahrenheit
Conditions
: Boat dive, 100 feet of visibility.
Who Should You Contact to Dive This Site?
www.xtcdivecenter.com, reserve@xtcdivecenter.com
When Should You Dive This Site?
Hob Na, as most of Xcalak's dive sites, is diveable year-round, any time of day
My Review
Hob Na is a dive site 12 km north of Xcalak reminiscent of an underwater Grand Canyon. The reefs run easterly from the shore in finger style formations which extend in narrow canyons down to a depth of 45 metres. I’ve done this dive a few times and every time it’s dramatically different. The wall begins with grand black corals and massive sponges still actively growing. Depending on your dive plan, you can have a leisurely advanced dive or a tec diver’s dream. Vis can be greater than 30 mtrs depending on the top-side weather. On my most recent August 2011 dive to Hob Na, we began our descent looking down into the depths, there was nothing visible beneath me except the endless pure blue. As the dive group moved westward, we entered the shadows of these narrow, imposing canyons.
More information about Xcalak, Mexico:• 5 Reasons to Make Xcalak Your Next Diving Destination
• Photos of Xcalak Diving
• More About.com Diver Reviews of Xcalak Diving
We started at around 30 mts and worked our way along each formation out to the edge, winding our way up at each spur. I stopped to let a school of creole wrasse pass and was pleasantly surprised when it took minutes (yes, minutes!) for that single school to pass. The corals are healthy with very little algae growth. There are schools of ocean triggerfish, black durgons, horse eye jacks and solitary large nassau groupers waiting in ambush.
As we made our way to the top of the reef along the fingers I stopped to peer under ledges seeing a healthy array of crustaceans and the lovely fairly basslets. The group began the safety stop and with one minute to go what came out of nowhere? A 6 mtr whale shark traveling north. This is a rare event in Xcalak and ended with seven divers squealing and shaking with pure delight.
Would you recommend this to a friend?
YesNatalie Gibb, Scuba Diving Guide, says:
I was lucky enough to dive Hob Na while I was visiting Xcalak. The coral canyons are impressive! Great review.To add your own review, use the simple Dive Site Review Form.
