The history of Cabo Pulmo dates back about 25,000 years when this unique coral reef began to form along the Tropic of Cancer. At that time, of course, there were no names or borders, so let’s fast forward thousands of years to the period between 1910 and 1912. During this time, the Sea of Cortez played a crucial role in the jewelry industry due to its abundant pearl beds, with Cabo Pulmo being one of the most important locations. The area was heavily exploited for several decades, eventually depleting nearly all its pearls.
Between the 1940s and 1950s, Cabo Pulmo transformed from a pearl diving community to a commercial fishing village. In the following decades, history repeated itself, but this time with overfishing. Excessive fishing of fish, turtles, and sharks, both for sport and commercial purposes, began to seriously damage this fragile ecosystem.
With its growing reputation for sport fishing and beautiful beaches, Cabo Pulmo became a favorite spot for windsurfers during the 1970s. Windsurfers would travel to Baja California Sur in caravans, spending the winter season enjoying nature and taking advantage of the perfect northern winds that made the coast ideal for windsurfing.
In the mid-1980s, the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur (UABCS) and its Marine Biology Department conducted the first scientific study of the area. This study revealed the declining condition of the reefs and laid the groundwork for developing a conservation plan. After 10 years of research and political and bureaucratic struggles, the area we now know as Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park began to take shape.
The park’s journey as a protected natural area had just begun. Overnight, the residents of Cabo Pulmo traded their fishing nets and hooks for scuba diving gear. This was a quick and abrupt transition for the town’s 320 inhabitants, who had once made their living from fishing but were now turning to tourism services.
The collaborative efforts of Cabo Pulmo’s residents began to show remarkable results between 2010 and 2012. A final study revealed astonishing data on the ecosystem’s recovery: the park’s biomass had increased by 500% compared to adjacent areas that were not under protection. This achievement filled the community with pride and attracted global attention to Cabo Pulmo as one of the national parks with the highest recovery rates in the world. The work of conservation continues to be passed down to future generations, as the people of Cabo Pulmo understand that protecting their environment is the path forward.