The Ultimate Guide To Scuba Diving In Puerto Vallarta
Are you ready to embark on an unforgettable underwater journey? Dive into the crystal-clear waters of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and uncover the hidden treasures beneath its waves.
Located on the West coast of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta offers vibrant marine life and breathtaking underwater landscapes that make for a scuba diving experience like no other. Keep reading to explore the diving paradise that awaits you.
Getting there and Accommodations
For flights to your Puerto Vallarta vacation, you’ll be heading into Puerto Vallarta Airport also known as Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR). There are many direct flights to PVR, which is the seventh busiest airport in Mexico. The cites offering direct flights include New York, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Denver, Seattle, Salt Lake City and, from Canada, Ottawa and Toronto.
Once in-county, a range of accommodation options catering to various preferences and budgets await divers visiting Puerto Vallarta. Budget-friendly hostels like Oasis Hostel offer a comfortable and affordable place to stay, while hotels, such as the all-inclusive Hilton Vallarta Riviera, provide a more luxurious experience.
Additional all-inclusive resorts include Hyatt Ziva, HotelKrystal, Barcelo and for you romantics, Villa Premiere Boutique Hotel & Romantic Getaway. With a variety of accommodations to choose from, divers can find the perfect place to rest and relax after a day of exploring the underwater wonders of Puerto Vallarta.
Now that you are there and have a place to stay, let’s get to the diving…
Dive Operators in Puerto Vallarta
The array of dive shops and operators in Puerto Vallarta enables divers to find a perfect match for their skill level, preferences, and budget. From the small shops, like Banderas Scuba Republic, to large shops, like Vallarta Adventures, divers will not have a difficult time finding good reputable companies to dive with. Other popular dive operators include Dressel Divers, Silent World Divers, Vallarta Under Sea and PV Ocean Tours. These are just a few of the reputable options available, each offering unique diving experiences and a focus on safety and customer satisfaction.
Scuba Diving in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a dream come true for scuba divers. With its easy accessibility, diverse marine life, and unique underwater landscapes, it’s an amazing diving destination. It is also a good choice for those looking for something a little less crowded, like Cancun or Cozumel. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, Puerto Vallarta has something for everyone, with numerous dive sites just waiting to be explored.
Diving in Puerto Vallarta is more than just a hobby; it’s a passion shared by the friendly and experienced local diving community.
Location and Accessibility
Nestled on the western coast of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta is easily reached by international flights, cruise ships, or even a scenic drive. The city’s location on the Pacific Ocean and Banderas Bay provides easy access to some of the most amazing dive sites in the region.
Nearby towns like Punta de Mita present excellent diving opportunities, ensuring a wealth of underwater wonders for your exploration.
Diverse Marine Life
The remarkable variety of marine life populating Puerto Vallarta’s waters is a key attraction for scuba diving here. From playful sea turtles and elegant manta rays to elusive moray eels and mesmerizing schools of tropical fish, each dive offers a unique encounter with the underwater world. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a whitetip reef shark or an electric ray hiding among the rocks.
Additionally, the nutrient-dense waters of Puerto Vallarta are also a magnet for larger marine species like humpback whales, whale sharks, and dolphins. These majestic creatures are a highlight for many divers, and their presence in the area makes it an even more special place to explore.
Unique Underwater Landscapes
Puerto Vallarta’s underwater landscapes match the diversity of its marine life. From fascinating shipwrecks and mysterious underwater caves to awe-inspiring underwater mountain ranges, there’s something to captivate every diver’s imagination. With dive sites suitable for beginners and experienced divers alike, Puerto Vallarta offers the perfect setting to satisfy your thirst for underwater exploration.
One of the most popular dive sites in the area, Los Arcos (see below), boasts unique rock formations and a stunning reef that teems with marine life. In addition to the many other amazing dive sites scattered throughout the region, this variety ensures that each dive in Puerto Vallarta is a new and unforgettable experience.
Scuba Diving Seasons in Puerto Vallarta
Varied sea conditions throughout the year in Puerto Vallarta allow divers to encounter various forms of marine life, depending on the season. Whether you prefer warm and clear waters during the summer, or the chance to spot majestic whales in the winter, Puerto Vallarta is a fantastic diving destination year-round.
Summer Season (June-November)
Puerto Vallarta’s summer season (June-November) is optimal for diving, offering excellent visibility and warm water temperatures (approx. in the low/mid 80sF). Although the summer months can be hot and humid, with regular rain showers, this also means fewer crowds and lower prices for accommodations and diving.
Winter Season (December-May)
Winter season (December-May) provides a unique diving experience as colder water temperatures draw humpback whales to the area. While visibility may be affected by the colder waters and nutrient-rich currents, the opportunity to witness these magnificent creatures up close is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Divers visiting Puerto Vallarta in the winter can also enjoy the cooler air temperatures and clear skies, making it an ideal time to explore both above and below the water. Water temperatures in the winter months are generally in the mid to high 70sF.
Gear Up
Depending on the time of year you are visiting, you are going to be looking at a wetsuit with a thickness from 3mm (summer months) to 5mm (winter months), depending on how hot or cold you run. For those that get chilled easily, you may even want a 7mm, when going in February when the average water temperature is 75F.
Some nice wetsuit options that won’t break the bank include XCEL, SCUBAPRO Men’s Sport Steamer, Neosport, Lemorecen and Hevto. Don’t forget your fins, the Scubapro Go Sport fins travel nicely and are a Jay’s Faves, as well your diving knife, surface marker buoy and a signaling device.
Top Dive Sites in Puerto Vallarta
Reef dives, cave dives and wall dives, oh my!! Puerto Vallarta has a mix of all three types of dives, and some shipwrecks too, giving divers an opportunity for a little bit of everything. Below are the top dive sites. From the protected marine park of Marietas Islands to the advanced diving haven of El Morro, each site offers unique diving experiences and opportunities to encounter the region’s aquatic life.
Marietas Islands
The protected marine park of Marietas Islands is a dive site that anyone exploring Puerto Vallarta’s underwater realm must visit. With calm conditions and vast array of marine life, the islands are suitable for divers of all levels. The shallow sandy areas are teeming with bright corals and tropical fish, while deeper areas offer exciting swim-throughs for more experienced divers to navigate.
Not only is the diving experience at Marietas Islands exceptional, but the wildlife encounters are also unforgettable. The islands are home to:
- Giant manta rays
- Sea turtles
- Dolphins
- Humpback whales during the winter months
So, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned diver, the Marietas Islands will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression.
El Morro
Experienced divers craving a thrilling underwater adventure should consider El Morro as the perfect dive site. This advanced dive site features underwater caves, pinnacles, and an abundance of large marine life such as eagle rays and, occasionally, whale sharks. Located outside Banderas Bay, El Morro has depths over 150ft and can require divers to navigate strong currents and unpredictable conditions, making it ideal for those seeking a challenge among dive sites offshore.
Aside from the adrenaline-pumping experience, the marine life at El Morro is truly spectacular. Divers can expect to encounter:
- Oceanic mantas
- Sailfish
- Dolphins
- Schools of jacks
With its captivating underwater landscape and unique marine life, El Morro is a challenging dive site that is not to be missed.
Los Arcos
Los Arcos is a versatile dive site suitable for divers of all skill levels. This marine park is known for its towering granite formations that have been present for hundreds of years. The underwater landscape features:
- caves
- tunnels
- arches
- an impressive reef teeming with marine life
Los Arcos offers several exciting sites to dive, such as Bah Hol De Cristo (Shadow of the Christ), Devil’s Canyon and Aquarium, making it an ideal spot to explore regardless of your experience level.
The marine life at Los Arcos includes:
- Schools of angelfish
- Pufferfish
- Butterflyfish
- Parrotfish
- Seahorses
- Trumpetfish
- Sea turtles
- Occasional manta rays
With its diverse underwater landscape and vibrant marine life, Los Arcos is a dive site that should be at the top of every diver’s list when going to Puerto Vallarata.
Chimo
Chimo is an ideal choice for advanced divers seeking a remote and challenging dive site. This secluded fishing village and dive site boasts fascinating rock formations, refferded to as cathedral-like, strong currents, and the opportunity to spot large pelagic species. Due to its remote location and challenging conditions, Chimo is best suited for experienced divers seeking an adventurous dive.
Divers at Chimo can enjoy encounters with:
- Tropical fish
- Manta rays
- Sea turtles
- Humpback whales during the winter months
The unique underwater landscape, including large rock pinnacles jutting out from the ocean floor, and the chance to spot these incredible marine creatures make Chimo a dive site worth traveling to.
Princesa Vallarta
You shipwreck lovers will also have something to explore. The Pincesa Varllarta was a snorkeling boat sunk on purpose to create an artificial reef. With depths of up to 125ft, this is another dive best suited for advanced divers.
While there, you can check out the “graveyard” of smaller shipwrecks that is made up of about 10 other ships.
The marine life found around this site includes:
- Schools of tropical fish
- Sea Turtles
- Eels
- manta rays
Other Activities
Beyond scuba diving, the main attraction for many, Puerto Vallarta also offers a variety of other activities and attractions for travelers to enjoy.
Snorkeling is a popular and budget-friendly way to explore the underwater world, with numerous snorkeling sites available throughout the region. For those who prefer to stay on the surface, whale watching tours provide an unforgettable opportunity to witness these majestic creatures up close.
Puerto Vallarta is not just about water-based activities; the vibrant local culture is also worth exploring. Visitors can wander through the picturesque streets of the Romantic Zone, visit the Cuale Museum, or take in the breathtaking views from Mirador de la Cruz. With so much to see and do in Puerto Vallarta, divers and non-divers alike will find plenty of activities to fill their days.
Wrapping Things Up
In conclusion, Puerto Vallarta is a scuba diver’s paradise, offering incredible dive sites that include beautiful marine life and unique underwater landscapes.
With easy accessibility, a range of accommodation options, and a variety of additional activities and attractions, it’s the perfect destination for your next scuba diving adventure. So grab your gear, dive in, and experience the unforgettable underwater world of Puerto Vallarta.
If you like Mexico, check out these other Locations you’ll love:
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- The Ultimate Guide To Scuba Diving in Cancun, Mexico
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“How boring would the world be if everywhere and everyone were the same. Safe travels and good adventures.” Scuba Jay
