You could be aware of Puerto Vallarta as a trip vacation spot, however do you know it’s additionally an incredible place for a little bit of scuba diving in Mexico?
This well-known seashore city is the proper base for exploring some superb dive websites in the world. We’ll take a more in-depth have a look at scuba diving in Puerto Vallarta in this detailed information.
For extra on travelling to PV, ensure to take a look at our full information to visiting Puerto Vallarta, the place to remain in Puerto Vallarta, the most effective seashores, the place to eat, the nightlife, and the highest excursions!
Right here we go, our Scuba Diving Guide to Puerto Vallarta
Introduction to Scuba Diving in Puerto Vallarta
It’s a brief and scenic boat journey from city to many websites in Banderas Bay, most of that are advantageous for novices and superior divers alike. Round PV, you possibly can dive shipwrecks, caves, underwater mountain ranges, and rather more.
There’s numerous superb marine life to see when diving round Puerto Vallarta. You’ll be able to spot all types of rays and turtles in addition to moray eels, dolphins, and even humpback whales.
Scuba diving actually is an unimaginable expertise and is among the greatest actions in Puerto Vallarta.
Whereas locations like Cozumel and Playa del Carmen on the east coast could also be extra well-known, Puerto Vallarta is a superb diving vacation spot in its personal proper.
In my humble opinion, it’s additionally only a nicer place to go to. I could also be a bit biased, having spent the higher a part of the final three years dwelling there, however there’s a cause I selected this seashore city on the west coast of Mexico!
Though it takes a short time from city to achieve the most effective dive websites, that’s half the enjoyable. On these boat journeys round Banderas Bay, you’ll be capable of take pleasure in some postcard-worthy surroundings en path to your dive website. It actually is a shocking place to go to.
Better of all, there’s a lot to see and do in Puerto Vallarta while you’re not in the water.
That is the proper vacation spot if you happen to’re hoping to do a little bit of diving in addition to different journey and cultural actions. In fact, you possibly can at all times simply sit back and calm down on the seashore with a margarita in hand as effectively!
In the event you’re planning a visit to do some scuba diving in Puerto Vallarta, learn on for a more in-depth have a look at the most effective time to go to, the highest dive websites, and a few highly-rated dive outlets to go along with.
When To Go Scuba Diving in Puerto Vallarta
One of the best time to go scuba diving in Puerto Vallarta will depend on what you’re hoping to do. Some would say the most effective time is between November and Could when the seas are calmest.
It’s usually sunny, heat, and dry throughout these months, so you possibly can take pleasure in your time on land as effectively. That being stated, the winter months additionally see restricted visibility and the water can get fairly chilly.
In February the water can get right down to 72°F (26°C). Plankton blooms at the moment have an effect on the visibility, however that additionally attracts manta rays and sharks that you simply’ll hopefully be capable of spot.
On the web site of 1 common dive store, they point out how the winter months convey very unpredictable situations at most of the greatest dive websites.
Robust currents and winds at the moment of 12 months can restrict or completely block off entry to a few of them, so it’s greatest to plan no less than every week in advance.
Peak journey season to Puerto Vallarta is between December and March, with issues getting particularly loopy round Christmas and New 12 months’s. Make sure to ebook your lodging effectively in advance if touring at this very busy time!
There’s one other mini-peak season when Semana Santa (Holy Week) rolls round. This is among the greatest occasions to journey Mexico if you happen to’re into tradition, however not if you happen to aren’t a fan of crowds.
Summer season means the wet season in Puerto Vallarta, which has its execs and cons.
On the one hand, it’s extremely popular and humid with frequent downpours. Coping with inclement climate means smaller crowds and decrease costs, although.
The exception to that is weekends in the summer time when Mexican households flip up in droves to take pleasure in la playa.
The water can also be warmest at the moment (round 85°F/30°C in August-September) and visibility is at its greatest, so it’s not a nasty time to go scuba diving in Puerto Vallarta.
Finest Dive Websites in Puerto Vallarta
Whereas there aren’t many dive websites offshore or proper round city, the boat journey to achieve them is half the enjoyable. Cruising round Banderas Bay on an attractive day in your manner out to a 2-tank dive isn’t such a nasty commute.
Listed here are a number of the greatest websites to go scuba diving in Puerto Vallarta:
Los Arcos
Water Temp: 65-89°F (18-31°C)
Common Visibility: 20-50 ft (6-15 m)
Depth: 29.5-130 ft (9-40 m)
Maybe the preferred spot to go scuba diving in Puerto Vallarta is Los Arcos.
This epic marine park options arches (therefore the identify) in addition to caves, tunnels, and a reef filled with marine life like lobsters, octopuses, moray eels, rays, and all types of colourful fish.
There are a number of completely different trails that divers can comply with at Los Arcos. These are appropriate for divers of all ranges as they vary significantly in depth.
Novices can take pleasure in “El Acuario” (The Aquarium) whereas extra superior divers can take a look at “La Quijada del Diablo” (The Satan’s Jaw).
Chimo
Water Temp: 65-86°F (18-30°C)
Visibility: 20 – 60 ft/ (7-18 m)
Depth: 40-80 ft (12-25 mt)
This secluded fishing village in the bay is a superb dive website for extra superior divers.
On a 2-tank journey right here, you possibly can take pleasure in recognizing tropical fish and enormous pelagic species. This contains manta rays, sea turtles, and even humpback whales between December and April.
As well as, you possibly can admire “Las Iglesias”, rock formations that resemble the pillars of a cathedral and “Las Torrecillas”, which is a powerful sequence of pinnacles rising up from the ocean ground.
Marietas Islands
The Marietas Islands are a nationwide park situated about an hour-long boat journey from Puerto Vallarta. That is thought of the highest place to go scuba diving in Puerto Vallarta.
Because it’s protected against looking and fishing, there’s an abundance of marine life right here. On a diving journey, you may see big manta rays, sea turtles, dolphins, eels, and presumably whales in the winter months.
It takes about an hour to achieve the Marietas Islands by boat.
As you get nearer to the islands, you can too spot a number of completely different species of birds, together with the blue-footed booby. Better of all, divers of all ranges can take pleasure in a visit to the Marietas Islands.
Water Temp: 62-86°F (17-30°C)
Common Visibility: 40 ft (12 m)
Depth: 25-60 ft (7.5-18 m)
Value of Scuba Diving in Puerto Vallarta
The price of scuba diving in Puerto Vallarta varies relying on which internet sites you go to. As I discussed, a lot of them are fairly an extended distance away from the middle of city.
For instance, diving at Los Arcos prices between $90-110. In the meantime, journeys out to the Marietas Islands price a bit extra ($120-150). It’s an extended distance to journey plus most operators embody lunch and drinks as effectively.
Two-tank excursions to El Chimo common round $150.
By no means been diving earlier than? Puerto Vallarta is a superb place to study and begin exploring the opposite 70% of the planet.
To give it a shot, you possibly can join a Uncover Scuba Diving course for simply $50. This offers you the prospect to see if scuba diving is best for you.
Those that need to go all-in can join a PADI Open Water course as an alternative.
These usually take 2-Three days to finish. You’ll be able to join Open Water programs at Puerto Vallarta dive outlets for round $450 whole after the price of studying supplies. When you’re completed, you’ll be licensed and able to rock!
An alternative choice is to do a referral course for as little as $240.
That is while you full the bookwork portion at an area dive store again house earlier than touring to Mexico. Doing that lets you deal with the learning half at house and spend extra time in the water in Puerto Vallarta.
In the event you’re trying to take your scuba diving to the subsequent stage, you can too join Superior Open Water, Rescue Diver, Deep Diver, and a number of other different programs. Costs for these usually vary from $350-500 and take a number of days to finish.
Dive Retailers in Puerto Vallarta
High quality of dive outlets can change because the years go by. At all times guarantee that the corporate you’re going with is PADI acknowledged, skilled and follows correct security pointers. Additionally, at all times ensure to test latest opinions on-line, and your diving gear earlier than heading out.
Banderas Scuba Republic
BSR has been in the scuba diving enterprise for a few years and has earned rave opinions from divers all the time. This can be a skilled operation via and thru, from the gear to the dive instructors.
Vallarta Adventures
The most important and greatest tour operator in Puerto Vallarta additionally does scuba diving programs and journeys. You at all times know that the standard might be top-notch when reserving with these guys.
PV Ocean Excursions
Run by a father and son crew from the UK, PV Ocean Excursions began only a few years in the past and is already one of many prime dive outlets in Banderas Bay. They’re recognized for being very skilled and personable.
Hyperbaric Chambers in Puerto Vallarta
Whereas scuba diving is mostly a secure exercise, accidents do occur. That’s why you at all times need to know the place the closest hyperbaric chamber is.
Sadly, there is no such thing as a SSS Community hyper chamber in Puerto Vallarta. The closest one is over in Cabo San Lucas in Baja California Sur. You’ll be able to click on right here to take a look at their website and get extra data.
Earlier than you go scuba diving in Puerto Vallarta (or wherever, for that matter), be sure to have strong journey insurance coverage. The DAN (Divers Alert Community) comes extremely advisable for divers. Click on right here to study extra about their insurance policies.
Learn how to Get to Puerto Vallarta
Most guests will arrive on the Puerto Vallarta Worldwide Airport (PVR). It’s at all times potential to seek out direct flights to PV from the US and Canada, with probably the most choices in the course of the excessive season (December-March).
There aren’t numerous different worldwide choices for arriving in Puerto Vallarta. You may get direct flights to and from Panama Metropolis in addition to each London and Manchester, however that’s about it.
In the event you can’t discover a whole lot on a flight to PV, I like to recommend testing choices into both Mexico Metropolis or Guadalajara. Each cities are numerous enjoyable to go to and also you’ll then be a really brief and low-cost home flight away from the seashore!
Puerto Vallarta can also be a serious cruise ship vacation spot. These arriving for a fast tour from a ship can nonetheless squeeze in a scuba dive (or two) in Puerto Vallarta.
The factor about touring to Puerto Vallarta is that you’ve got many choices aside from staying in city. By flying into PVR, you can too simply base your self in locations like Sayulita, Bucerias, Punta de Mita, Mismaloya, or Yelapa.
All of those locations are simply reached by native bus or water taxis and can put you nearer to a number of the greatest dive websites in the bay.
Able to Go Scuba Diving in Puerto Vallarta?
Whereas it might not make many lists of the most effective locations to go scuba diving in the world (or in Mexico), Puerto Vallarta remains to be a incredible selection if you wish to embody a little bit of diving throughout your seashore vacation.
Even if you happen to solely go to one of many epic websites just like the Marietas Islands or Los Arcos, it’s effectively price it to check out scuba diving in Puerto Vallarta.
Extra superior divers will certainly need to tack on a number of further days to go to a number of the tougher websites in the world resembling El Chimo — the place you’ll hopefully spot humpback whales from the boat!
If you’re again on land from a giant day of diving, you possibly can take pleasure in all of the facilities of this lovely city. Puerto Vallarta has some unimaginable eating places and bars to select from, making for the proper solution to unwind after a giant day trip in the water.
Pictures in this submit have been sourced on Shutterstock.
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