The lower extreme of the annual Sea of Cortez water temperatures means that hard corals are scarce. But the nutrient rich waters make for a spectacular population of fishes from small inshore dwellers to large schools of jack, tuna, dolphin, and "sportfish" such as dorado and marlin. There are resident colonies of sea lions and migratory visits from whales and hammerhead sharks. A fortunate scuba diver may also encounter manta rays, and even whale sharks in the plentiful waters of the Sea of Cortez.