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DIVING CONDITIONS IN PUERTO VALLARTA :
Vallarta in one of the main diving destinations in Mexico. The best season is in summer when the visibility extends to more than 40m, while in winter the average visibility is 18 m (59 ft). The average water temperature in summer is 29º (85ºF) and in winter it is 24º (75ºF).
TOP DIVE SITES IN BANDERAS BAY (PUERTO VALLARTA & RIVIERA NAYARIT) :
SOUTH BAY
Los Arcos (The Arches)
This place has become one of the natural icons of the destination and is a National Marine Park. The arches are a series of five islets or granite rock formations that offer a whole underwater adventure with tunnels and underwater arches and an incredible biodiversity where you can find surgeonfish, snappers, eels, seahorses, lobsters and octopus, among others.
In addition, the islets are also a bird sanctuary where pelicans, blue-footed boobies and sea hawks can live, among other species.
The depth here is between 9 to 40 m (30 to 130 ft.), however the rocky west side of Los Arcos has a vertical wall that drops down to 244 m (800 ft.) that offers two dive sites exclusively for experienced divers, called El Cañón (The Canyon) and La Quijada del Diablo (Devil's Jaw) where you can descend to 36 m (120 ft.). In these depths you will find moray eels, rays, turtles and colorful fish.
In the Marine Park there are other diving sites such as El Bajo del Cristo with a depth ranging from 9 to 24 m (30 to 80 ft.) and is characterized by its bright and colorful nudibranchs and its submerged volcanic formations house countless marine life such as snappers, parrotfish and moray eels, among others.
El Paredón is another of the sites identified in Los Arcos and here you can find giant mantas, turtles and rays.
In Las Lajas the depth is 12 m (40 ft.) and it is very common to see groups of eagle rays and green turtles.
Diving in Puerto Vallarta
Princesa Vallarta Shipwreck
This is a shipwreck of a boat that transported tourists from Yelapa to Vallarta and is located on the shores of Garza Blanca. This boat is accompanied by other small boats, so it is a fun place for all the divers who visit it. The depth ranges from 12 to 25 m (40 to 80 ft.).
Mismaloya
It is a beautiful beach located in a small bay with several diving sites at a depth ranging from 7.5 to 12 m (25 to 40 ft.) with rocks and falls that go as deep as 30 m (100 ft.). Here you can find eagle rays, crabs, nudibranchs, lobsters, moray eels, scorpion fish and angel fish. It is located 35 minutes from downtown Puerto Vallarta.
Colomitos
It is a beach that is not very visited and it can only be reached by boat. The depth is 7 m (20 ft.) and gradually gets deeper until it reaches 15 m (45 ft.), although there are some places for experienced divers where it can go as deep as 39 m (120 ft.). ). It is distinguished by having excellent visibility and a wide variety of marine life including rays, manta rays and a diversity of tropical fish. It is located 45 minutes from downtown Puerto Vallarta.
Majahuitas
It is a paradisiacal place can only be accessed by boat and consists of a series of shallow bays, one of the best dive locations for beginners and snorkel. Visibility is very good most of the year, although it decreases from January to June and the depth ranges from 7 to 24 m (25 to 80 ft.). Although it does not have impressive coral formations, it is the habitat of a large number of marine species including rays, eels, surgeonfish, seahorses, giant manta rays, octopus, a diversity of tropical fish and green turtles.
Las Caletas (The Coves)
It is another beautiful corner of Banderas Bay only accessed by boat. It's a good place for beginners as you don't have to dive very deep to enjoy the scenery, but there are enough challenges for experienced divers as there are two wrecks to explore and an attractive reef. Visibility is generally good and there is a wide variety of marine life such as eagle rays, garden eels, turtles and tropical fish. The depth goes from 7 to 18 m (25 to 60 ft.)
El Chimo
Located in the south of the bay near Los Corrales where there are black and white corals, as well as sponges, giant rays, turtles and schools of fish. The most peculiar thing about the place is an impressive series of pinnacles that emerge from the ocean floor that resemble church pillars, for which the place is known as Las Iglesias, while another section is known as Torrecillas. The depth ranges from 12 to 25 m (40 to 80 ft.). It is recommended for expert divers.
Pizota
This is a small fishing village located in a beautiful isolated bay. In the coasts are a large number of sea snakes and moray eels at a depth of 21-40 m (65-120 ft.).
La Corbeteña
This is a place that is a little further from the bay and it takes about an hour and a half to get there, however, the long trip is worth it since it is a true paradise with crystal clear waters with great visibility with a great variety of caves, walls steep and low arches. Just where you can see the rock is the point where the caves, grottoes, and deep walls meet. The marine variety here is extraordinary where you can see some of the largest fish including dolphins, manta rays, marlin, sailfish and nurse sharks. It is a place for experienced divers and the depth ranges from 9 to 40 m (20 to 80 ft.).
El Sequial
It is located a little further from La Corbeteña and, like the previous site, it has an enormous variety of marine life, including large species. The underwater landscapes of this place are impressive, there is a large plateau that ends in a deep drop. The visibility is very good so you can have close encounters with large tuna and sailfish, among others. The depth ranges from 9 to 40 m (40 to 80 ft.).
NORTH BAY
Marietas Islands
Located almost 8 kilometers north of Punta de Mita, it is a Protected Natural Area. The islands are part of an underwater mountain range with rich biodiversity. It is a true paradise with one of the most incredible beaches in the world, as well as being the habitat of more than 30 species of birds.
When exploring its underwater world, you can discover a variety of volcanic formations, arches, and caves with surprising marine life, including lobsters, giant manta rays, turtles, and even some whales in the winter months. Average visibility is 12 m (39 ft.) and depth is 7 to 18 m (25 to 60 ft.).
El Morro
It is located at the northern end of Banderas Bay, just 10 km from the Marietas Islands. Average visibility is 12 to 36.5 m (40 to 120 ft.) and depth ranges from 9 to 27 m (30 to 90 ft.). It is a place with moderate currents recommended for experienced divers as it offers a pleasant underwater landscape with impressive pinnacles that rise from the ocean floor and are pierced by dozens of tunnels and caves.
The place is made up of a group of stone mounds that reach a depth of almost 46 m (150 ft.), with caves, tunnels and rocky walls, which are quite a challenge for expert divers.
When you enter the caves you will be surprised by the walls full of sea fans, corals and invertebrates. You can also see octopus, lobsters, moray eels, seahorses, turtles, yellowfin tuna, dolphins, nudibranchs and shrimp. It is not difficult to find some dolphins, sailfish, moray eels, nurse sharks and humpback whales in the winter season.
Los Anegados
It is outside the bay, between El Morro and the Marietas Islands, and consists of a rocky bank inhabited by stingrays, eels, giant manta rays, tuna and a wide variety of tropical fish where you can dive to a depth of 9 to 25 m (30 to 80 ft.) with an average visibility of 12 to 36.5 m (40 to 120 ft.).
It is a place for experienced divers due to strong currents. Here you will find several caves and capricious rock formations that are the habitat of moray eels, tuna and eagle rays, as well as some nurse sharks.
Las Viudas (The Widows)
It is located near the Cruz de Huanacaxtle where you can find sponges and nudibranchs, as well as a wide variety of tropical fish.
El Malinal
It is located in Punta Mita and very close to the coast there are two good options for diving with tunnels and caves with a large amount of underwater life such as sponges, nudibranchs, mollusks and shrimp.
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