Isla Isabel Diving & Snorkeling Expedition

Isla Isabel Diving & Snorkeling Expedition is a full-day boat trip from San Blas, Nayarit, to Isla Isabel, a volcanic island and federally protected national park roughly 70 km offshore known for its seabird colonies and surrounding reef and rock formations. The activity combines a long open-water crossing with snorkeling or scuba diving stops around the island's underwater pinnacles and boulder fields; participants should be comfortable with several hours of open-ocean boat travel and confident swimmers, since currents and swell around the island can be stronger than in the sheltered bay closer to shore, and the trip is generally not recommended for young children or inexperienced swimmers. Snorkel or dive gear is provided by the charter operator, including tanks and weights for certified divers; participants should bring their own certification card if diving, a change of clothes, seasickness medication if needed, and food and water for the long day, since some operators provide only basic provisions. Specialized San Blas dive and boat charter operators running this route typically use larger, more seaworthy vessels than standard bay tours given the distance involved, and dive-focused operators should be able to show diver certification requirements and staff dive credentials; given the remoteness of the site, it is worth confirming the boat carries a satellite phone or long-range radio in addition to standard safety gear. A safety briefing before departure covers life jacket and gear use, dive or snorkel buddy procedures, entry and exit from the boat in open water, and the plan for returning to San Blas or reaching help in an emergency, given the multi-hour distance from shore. The expedition runs only in the dry season, weather permitting, roughly November through April, when seas are calmer and safer for the long crossing; outside this window, swell and storm risk make the crossing to Isla Isabel unreliable or unsafe, and trips are frequently cancelled.