[3][4] The reef has a number of colonies[citation needed] of hard coral atop rock outcroppings that run parallel to the coast,[5] occurring in progressively deeper water offshore.

After organizing by local community groups,[6] the area was designated a national park in 1995, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2008.

[7] On June 5, 1995, newly elected as of December 1995,[8] Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo declared the 71.11-square-kilometre (27.46 sq mi) area surrounding Cabo Pulmo a federally protected National Marine Park.

On May 2, 1997, Jose Luis Pepe Murrieta was the first volunteer Park Director appointed by the INE (National Ecological Institute).Universidad Autónoma de Baja Calif came in to research local fishing patterns and ways to protect the fish populations, they ended up helping to lobby the government into assisting their protection efforts.

[14] Other research shows that although the introduction and increase of tourism in the park might have economic gains for the local community, the potential damage to the ecosystems might be detrimental.

[16] Researchers explain that big predators such as whales, dolphins, or sea lions enjoy taking dives to the deeper coral at around 40 to 50 feet.