Anchorage· Isla del Carmen· Mexico
V-Cove (El Refugio), Isla Carmen
26° 3.5′ N · 111° 5.1′ W
A deep, narrow V-shaped cut between cliffs pocked with caves on Isla Carmen's north side, with white sand at its head and baitfish clouds that draw diving pelicans.
Practical
Coordinate is the anchored position (26°03.5'N, 111°05.094'W) logged by the yacht BlueJacket in May 2012 (corrected from an earlier estimate that had placed V-Cove and Puerto de la Lancha the wrong way round); checked in-water against the OpenStreetMap coastline. About 25 ft over sand with excellent holding; narrow and cliff-lined with room for two mid-sized boats—use a stern anchor. Combined north-east and north-west swells turned it into a 'washing machine' and BlueJacket left. Sea caves with overhangs; some can be entered by dinghy, and snorkelers can swim into air-pocket chambers that 'breathe' with the surge. Tuck far in and it is protected from all but northerlies (SAIL); small—barely room for three or four boats. When 20+ knots from the north-west is forecast, move to Puerto de la Lancha next door or back to Ballandra.
Best for
Swimming among baitfish between cave-pocked cliffs
Season
Southerly or calm weather
Nearby
- Puerto de la Lancha (Isla Carmen)1 NM away
- Punta Lobos Dive Site (Isla Carmen)1.8 NM away
- Dorado and Yellowtail Fishing (Loreto)1.9 NM away
- Painted Cliffs Anchorage (Isla Carmen)3.7 NM away
- Bahía Salinas Beach (Isla Carmen)3.9 NM away
- Bahía Salinas and Salt Works (Isla Carmen)4.2 NM away
- Bahía Salinas Wreck (Isla Carmen)4.3 NM away
- La Salina Trail (Isla Carmen)4.4 NM away