Here's my last TR on PV:
"PV charming & romantic with lots of good places to eat (Cafe des Artistes highly recommended) & drink - not a dedicated diving destination. I trust you appreciate how different this Pacific coast diving is than Caribbean diving. Little coral, no sponge or vegetation, cool water, rocky/volcanic/sand bottom & good marine life, e.g., varieties of butterfly fish & surgeon fish far exceed that off eastern Yucatan. There is a possibility to see a manta, though unlikely.
If you want to dive & are inexperienced to modestly experienced:
Twin Dolphins (
www.twindolphins.com.mx or
www.twindolphinspv.com).
Chico's (
www.chicos-diveshop.com).
Vallarta Adventures. Usually do not respond to outside inquiries. Just visit the shop when you get there. Runs fun party boat to Marietas Islands. Continental b'fast, open bar from around 11:00AM on, & snorkeling or 2 tank dive upon arrival. Boat holds upwards of 80 people. Diving on this trip can be unsafe. If you want to dive with them, do it from one of their smaller boats.
You'll want to dive Chimo, El Morro & El Morrito, where mantas are a possibility.
If you are an experienced diver who doesn't mind ~30 mile trip into the ocean, go to La Corbatenia with Mario Zornoza, "Vallarta Divers," Marina Del Rey #17, Marina Vallarta (322)1-04-92, email:
vtadiver@tag.acnet.net.
Do be sure & inquire where any shops' marina (there are a couple) is relative to your hotel. This can be some distance & the dive shops usually do not include this transfer."
You may also wish want see the threads from the recent archives on PV, such as this one--->
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7730&highlight=puerto+vallarta
I haven't been to Acapulco in many years, but do get regular reports on it. It is a beautiful area with many fine resorts, restautrants & shops, but the diving is not generally recommended. Vis is poor, bacteria counts high & the better spots can have strong/risky currents.
Bottom line on both: Super topside, but so-so diving. PV best diving, AC best topside.
Hope this was helpful.
DocVikingo
