Punta Arrocito

Punta Arrocito is a thrilling advanced dive site along the Huatulco coast of Oaxaca, where a rocky point extends into the Pacific and channels powerful currents that create some of the most exciting diving conditions in the region. This exposed headland sits near the eastern boundary of the Huatulco National Park's most productive dive zone, offering divers a frontier-like experience where the Pacific's raw energy meets volcanic reef in dramatic fashion. The point's underwater profile is defined by steep rock walls and massive boulder fields that cascade from the shoreline into deeper water. The volcanic origin of these formations is evident in the dark, dense rock that has been sculpted by millennia of wave action and current erosion into an intricate landscape of overhangs, tunnels, and vertical drops. Every surface is colonized by marine life, from the shallow sun-drenched zones where hardy corals compete for space to the deeper walls where spectacular soft corals and gorgonians create underwater forests swaying in the perpetual current. Diving Punta Arrocito is fundamentally about embracing the current. The point creates a hydrodynamic effect that accelerates water flow around its tip, and divers must be comfortable with strong and potentially shifting currents to dive here safely. Those who manage these conditions well discover a site where the powerful water movement supports an extraordinary food web. Plankton concentrations attract massive schools of baitfish, which in turn draw larger predators to the point in a classic pelagic feeding scenario. The pelagic encounters at Punta Arrocito are among the most reliable in the Huatulco area. White-tip reef sharks patrol the deeper sections regularly, while spotted eagle rays pass through with their characteristic grace. Schools of jacks form enormous spiraling columns that catch the light in breathtaking displays of natural choreography. During plankton-rich periods, whale sharks have been reported in the surrounding waters, though sightings are seasonal and unpredictable. The reef walls themselves reward close inspection with a wealth of macro subjects. Nudibranchs in astonishing color combinations traverse the rock faces, while tiny gobies and blennies peer from holes with comical expressions. Octopuses hunt in the crevices, their color changes providing a mesmerizing show for attentive divers. The gorgonian fans harbor commensal species including delicate porcelain crabs and partner shrimp that require patience and a keen eye to spot. Access to Punta Arrocito is by boat from Huatulco's harbor, with the journey revealing the spectacular undeveloped coastline that makes this region so special. Dive conditions are assessed carefully by experienced operators who understand the site's moods and rhythms. When Punta Arrocito is diveable, it rewards with an intensity and authenticity that represents Pacific diving at its finest, making it a must-dive destination for advanced divers exploring the treasures of the Oaxacan coast.