The Oceans Surrounding Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico
- The Persaud Catalog
- Jan 20
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 20
In this article, we shall be discussing the oceans surrounding Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico. Sayulita is a small resort town on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. It is located in the Nayarit state, & is just north of Banderas Bay. Their beaches are extremely popular amongst surfers, & have been popular for a long time. Additionally, the coastline is popular amongst snorkelers & scuba divers alike.
Its proximity to Puerto Vallarta also helps with domestic tourism. The nightlife is extremely active, which is a very auttractive feature. Well known for its food, never ending parties, & wildlife, the city truly has something to offer to almost everyone.
However, with all of these intriguing things to do, many often forget about the magnificent wildlife of Sayulita. Sayulita has many, many different creatures, from whales, to geckos, to land crabs. The landscape is vast, & unequivocally biodiverse. Approximately 300 bird species are found in the city, both near the coast & the mountains.
The city is extremely popular amongst ecotourists for the reason, & for its jungles, white sand beaches, magnificent water falls, & clear waters. Sayulita directly borders the Pacific Ocean, on Mexicos western coast. The area is known to have a fairly strong tide, which as said prior, has attracted many surfers. The most popular surfing destinations next to the town, are Litibu Beach, La Lancha, Punta Burros, & San Pancho.
In this article, we will discuss the salinity, tides, temperatures, marine geography, & depth of the oceans surrounding Sayulita, the most prominent marine ecosystems of Sayulita, the documented marine flora & fauna, & how ocean acidification & rising oceanic temperatures are affecting the oceans surrounding Sayulita.
The Salinity, Tides, Temperatures, Marine Geography, & Depth Of The Oceans Surrounding Sayulita
Unfortunately, the Salinity of the waters surrounding Sayulita is unmeasured. Salinity is measured in 1,000 gram water samples. For every 1000 grams of water there will be a certain number of grams that are pure salt. This measurement is called parts per thousand, or practical salinity units. This is the way that salinity is currently measured.
The tidal charts for Sayulita may be found on a plethora of websites, including: https://www.swellinfo.com, https://www.surfline.com, https://www.tideschart.com, & finally https://seatemperature.info. Generally, the tide does not go over 1.93 meters (6.332021 feet) tall, & the tide does not go below -0.7 (-2.29659 feet) meters tall.
The oceanic temperature charts may be found on similar websites, a few of which are: https://www.surf-forecast.com, https://seatemperature.net, https://www.tideschart.com, & finally https://seatemperature.info. The average yearly temperature is approximately 81.316666666667° Fahrenheit (27.3981481481483229° Celsius). Using this a wetsuit chart, there is no need for a wetsuit of any kind, as this is a very warm temperature. Sayulita is perfectly safe for swimming, with a low pollution rate. Occasionally, there are reports of contamination from sewage in certain areas, however it is specific to certain beaches, & the water quality is usually favourable. There is very low riptide around the city, & the beaches are relatively safe for swimmers.
Snorkelling, Scuba Diving, Surfing, & Kayaking are all extremely popular, & rental companies for these may be found all over the city. The ocean around Sayulita is generally very shallow, however we are unable to find any depth charts for it. There aren’t any nearby seamounts, or anything of such a nature. The primary composite material that makes up the ocean floor is sand.
There are no designated marine protected areas close by Sayulita.
The Most Prominent Marine Ecosystems Of Sayulita
Ecosystem Type No. 1: Intertidal Zones
Intertidal zones are located along the coastlines, & are exposed to air at low tide. These zones are where the ocean meets the shoreline, & contrary to popular perception, are absolutely teeming with oceanic life. From crabs to bivalves, this ecosystem has a unique variety of marine life, as well as a unique variety of features. These zones generally have species from the phyla Echinodermata, Arthropoda, & Mollusca in them. Additionally, these zones may have tide pools.
Ecosystem Type No. 2: Fringing Coral Reefs
As of 2026, there are multiple fringing coral reefs around the city, all of which contain warm water coral. Coral reefs are considered to be on of the main hubs for all marine life, & used for practically everything. Coral reefs are mass structures of coral polyps, typically located along the ocean floor. These coral reefs act as a breeding ground, hunting ground, spawning ground, & shelter.
There are various different kinds of coral reefs, the most important of which are atoll, barrier, & fringing. The coral reefs of Sayulita are fringing, meaning that they grow directly against the shoreline, with a shallow water barrier. The coral reefs of Sayulita are shallow, & are positively enraptured with marine life. It is unfortunately not clear what species of coral inhabit the area.
Ecosystem Type No. 3: Mangrove Forests
Along the coasts of the island, Coastal Mangrove forests can be found. Coastal mangrove forests are a particular kind of forest, that adorn the shoreline of the island. These forests are incredibly important to biodiversity, for terrestrial, oceanic, & avian creatures. The forest provides shelter, food, & a spawning ground for many different species. These mangrove forests are found farther to the south of Sayulita. Unfortunately, due to lack of accessible information, it is unclear what mangrove tree species are found in the area.
The Documented Marine Flora Of Sayulita
Unfortunately, we are unable to confirm what marine flora live around Sayulita.
The Documented Marine Fauna Of Sayulita
Sayulita is without a doubt an extremely biodiverse area. Sayulita has many coral reefs, making it an especially attractive area to most marine animals.
The most prominent marine creatures are the Caretta Caretta (Loggerhead Turtle), Lepidochelys Olivecea (Olive Ridley Sea Turtle) Megaptera Novaeangliae (Humpback Whale), & a few different Dolphin Species.
How Ocean Acidification & Rising Oceanic Temperatures Are Affecting The Oceans Surrounding Sayulita
Ocean acidification is caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased, largely because of human-caused burning of fossil fuels, & deforestation, for the past 150 years. When carbon dioxide contacts sea water, it forms carbonic acid. Carbonic acid gives off positive H+ ions, which causes increased oceanic H+ concentrations & decreased oceanic Ph. When the ocean has decreased Ph, it effectively acidifies. When this happens, it causes conditions that will eat at the shells of bivalves, stress out & eventually bleach coral, & utterly destroy seagrass patches.
As of 2026, it is unclear whether or not Ocean Acidification is having an impact on Sayulita, however if this negative trend continues, the effects could be devastating. As for Rising Oceanic Temperatures, this is actively effecting Sayulita. The warm water coral reefs cannot handle these rapidly rising temperatures, & are becoming extremely stressed out. When they become stressed out, they expel algae that live in the polyps tissue, causing the coral to bleach & die. There have been mass coral bleaching events around this area already, & if temperatures continue to rise, an uninviting future will emerge.
Directories / Credits
Citation No. 1: “Wetsuit thickness & temperature guide”, Written By Mark Evans, & Published On April 24th, 2023, at 3:05 PM. Published By Scuba Divers Magazine. Retrieval Date: March 19th, 2024.
Citation No. 2: “Sayulita Mexico’s Wildlife: Guide To Exotic Fauna & Sightings”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Sayulita Life. Retrieval Date: March 20th, 2024.
Citation No. 3: “Sayulita: A Whale & Dolphin Paradise” Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Sayulita Life. Retrieval Date: March 20th, 2024.
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