Spearfishing in Mexican waters with tanks is illegal. Freediving and spearfishing is not illegal.  The law specifically allows this and includes multi band guns but only one shaft.  Powerheads are considered a firearm and may not be posessed anywhere in Mexico.  Many times the freediving is so easy you can shoot cabrilla while floating on the surface and only dive to retrieve the fish.  We have had many great adventures on these trips.  Many trips will be a mix of divers and spearfisherman but since they are not paired on the same panga there is no conflict. The pictures to the right were taken after about 2 hours of laying on the kelp as the cabrilla chased bait by us and almost all were taken in under 10 ft of water.