Los Angeles Bay and the Diaz Family

Los Angeles Bay and the Diaz Family

1/28/2005

Bahia de Los Angeles or LA Bay, the name known best by the pilots who flew the area, was the home of the Artero Diaz family. Most of the travelers to the area knew them as Papa and Mama Diaz. The Diaz's were responsible for opening up the northern part of the Sea of Cortez. Without their Aviation gas we wouldn't have been able to fly from Imperial County airport where I lived and get back home.. On my first trip to LA Bay in 1955, they had 6 rooms with wooden cots. The price was $5.00 per day for a cot and 3 meals.. Most of the food was from the sea. They were in the Turtle harvesting business. Which meant that we dined on a lot of turtle steaks and turtle tacos. The small pangas were $40.00 per day. The aviation gas was 60 cents a gallon. The Diaz's were super hosts. Always helping us and telling us about Bahia de Los Angeles .They had a small bob tail truck on which they had built several racks on which they loaded the turtles. On the beach was a large turtle pen. When they got a load of turtles they would load them on the truck live and head for Ensenada. It took them 3 days to make the trip. Then back home with barrels of aviation gas and food. During those times we filtered all the gas through a shammy and we never had any problems with water in the gas. We, all of the early Pilots who flew the Baja Peninusla, owe a great deal of thanks to Artero Diaz and his family. We all loved LA Bay and the great times we had due to the wonderful hospitality of the Diaz family. Artero's son still manages the original location. LA Bay is still a super spot for RVs and fishing. They have an excellent landing strip and several nice Hotels and charter boats available.

The area is also the location of some of the famous Indian Rock Paintings.

See Cpt. Munoz Story