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Summertime Scuba Diving
by Rhea Heggaton | published: 7/8/2005
 Summer is the perfect time to experience scuba diving in Puerto Vallarta. The warm clear water makes this the best time of year to appreciate the fascinating underwater world of the Bay of Banderas, home year round to an endless number of brilliantly colored tropical fish, rays, eels and dolphins. During certain other times of the year the bay is visited by sea turtles, Giant Manta Rays and whales.About the Bay The Bay of Banderas is the largest bay in Mexico and the second largest bay in North America. It is also one of the deepest bays in the world, with depths reaching up to 10,000 feet. The Bay was named by Francisco Hernández de Sanbuenaventura in the 1500's. While Hernández was exploring the bay he was received by Indians bearing feather banderas (flags) - hence the name. Unfortunately for Zorro fans, this refutes the rumor that the Bay was named after Antonio Banderas. During the summer months the visibility underwater is between 100 and 130 feet
During the summer months the visibility underwater is between 100 and 130 feet and the water temperature is in the mid eighties. Dive trips are usually not crowed during the summer months and as an added bonus, you'll enjoy low airfare and stellar prices on accommodations. Why wouldn't you come to Vallarta and scuba dive this summer?But I am not certified. Did I miss the boat?  If you have always wanted to try scuba diving, your Vallarta vacation is the perfect opportunity to do it. You can take a "Discover Scuba Diving" course with a certified dive professional in a nearby pool and go diving the vary next day. The course is a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) developed curriculum and you will be under the close supervision of a PADI professional the entire time of your lesson and subsequent dives in the bay.PADI certifications of all levels are offered in Vallarta, from Open Water to Instructor, including many specialty classes. Open Water, the first level of PADI dive certification can be completed in as few as three days, though allowing yourself five days is a more comfortable pace. Be sure to find out the class schedule before committing to a dive shop or instructor. If snorkeling is more your speed consider booking your snorkel trip through a small dive shop. This will allow you to snorkel for hours taking in the beauty of the bay rather than the usual 20 minutes allowed on the multi-stop bay cruises. Snorkeling is also a great option for friends and family of divers. Some excellent bay cruises offer multiple activities on one trip just incase you are not interested in diving or snorkeling. PADI certifications of all levels are offered in Vallarta
Where do I go diving? Now you are ready to go diving, but where? The bay is home to three popular dive sites, Los Arcos, Majahuitas and Islas Marietas. El Morro is a spectacular option for advanced divers. Each one offers a unique experience. Smaller dive shops will customize tours to meet the desires of the divers. If you can't choose between the dive sites dive them all! Los Arcos, named for the granite rock formations above the water, is a popular destination for many dive trips and bay cruises. From the largest formation at Los Arcos depths range from 25 to 60 feet. You can follow the shelf to Devil's Canyon, which drops to 1,800 feet, and extends to the continental shelf 500 miles away.  If you find yourself in Los Arcos between 11:00 am and 12:30 you will see not only enormous schools of king angels and sergeant majors, but also snorkelers in orange life vests. If you want to see Los Arcos without the crowds, take advantage of a night dive. A night dive is for certified divers only. Even if you have dove Los Arcos during the day, it is a completely different experience after dark. Lobsters, moray eels and octopus come out to play in the bioluminescence. Los Arcos is a protected underwater national park. Collecting souvenirs and fishing are prohibited and the laws are strictly enforced. Majahuitas is a less crowded option for diving than Los Arcos, and located only thirteen miles south of the marina, is still just a short boat ride. Majahuitas is a secluded beach area, only accessible by boat. Most of the diving takes place along the rock walls there. Prepare yourself to see moray eels, sea cucumbers, and a variety of rays.  Some of the best diving is found at Islas Marietas, a group of volcanic islands located 22 miles from Vallarta. The distance over the horizon makes it impossible to see Marietas from the center of Vallarta. Several species of birds call Marietas bird sanctuary home, including Blue Footed Boobies and Spoonbills. Underwater, divers can swim through caves while encountering many schools of fish and rays. Marietas is also home to several different species of hard coral.If you are an experienced scuba diver with more than fifty logged dives (and the dive log to prove it) consider a trip to El Morro. El Morro is located 35 miles north of Vallarta, in the Pacific Ocean. It is a rock pinnacle that is home to Giant Mantas, Skip Jacks and larger fish species. Divers can swim through a tunnel that starts at 90 feet and exits at 60 feet. Currents make the dives more challenging and the dives are deep dives, greater than 90 feet. Which will you choose: the nocturnal adventure of Los Arcos, the underwater spleandor of Majahuitas, or the tunnels of Isla Mariettas or perhaps a deep dive at El Morro? No matter where you go be sure to pack your underwater camera and choose a reputable dive shop. But what about the sharks?  So you're all ready to take the plunge, but you have one last question. What about the sharks? Relax. The only sharks in Vallarta are found in the discos, not in the bay. Why not? Because the bay is the year round home to bottlenose dolphins, which are territorial animals. It is not uncommon for a pod of dolphins to attack a shark and butt the intruder with their heads until it retreats. If you want to see reef sharks you will need to go outside the bay. Or to the disco. |
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