Cruise ship- 1 day in Cabo & Puerto Vallarta

[Kryssa]

Hey All,

I'm cruising down from LA in February with family and thinking about diving during our 1-day stop in Cabo or Puerto Vallarta, or possibly both.

Any tips? I hear it's best to avoid the ship-sponsored trips. I'm a beginner diver without a buddy on this trip so I'd like a nice DM to follow around and show me cool stuff. I have my own gear if a 5mm full is enough exposure protection.

Does one area have better diving than the other? Any recommendations for shops to go with? I am a beginner so I'd like to stay relatively shallow (above 75' unless there is something really amazing deeper) and avoid strong currents.

Thanks!!!

 

[hdtran]

Hey All,

I'm cruising down from LA in February with family and thinking about diving during our 1-day stop in Cabo or Puerto Vallarta, or possibly both.

Any tips? I hear it's best to avoid the ship-sponsored trips. I'm a beginner diver without a buddy on this trip so I'd like a nice DM to follow around and show me cool stuff. I have my own gear if a 5mm full is enough exposure protection.

Does one area have better diving than the other? Any recommendations for shops to go with? I am a beginner so I'd like to stay relatively shallow (above 75' unless there is something really amazing deeper) and avoid strong currents.

Thanks!!!

Hello, Kryssa,

If you do Puerto Vallarta, I recommend pvscuba. He's a user on SB also. If you do Cabo, I recommend Land's End Divers; other SB'ers have given good reviews to Manta and to Amigos Del Mar.

In either of those cases, if you are buddy-less (and if you tell the shop), you can buddy with the DM. I generally go scuba diving by myself (spouse doesn't like to dive), and in Mexico, I've been very fortunate that the shops set me up with a DM as my buddy.

I haven't been to either Cabo or PV in February, but I'm told the water temperature is cooler and the visibility poorer. From the cruise point of view, I'm not sure I'd bother packing a wetsuit (in other words, rent from the shop), but if you want to pack one, I'd go with a 7mm in February, and a 5mm in May. But it all depends on your tolerance for cold water. (Expect mid 50's at depth).

From limited data, I found both PV and Cabo to be easy diving; lots to see at 50 ft. I find that the boat rides at Cabo are a lot easier (5 minutes from the Marina to the dive site).

If you can figure out how to navigate the gallery, you should find an album that I posted containing PV photos, and photos not in an album containing Cabo photos.

Regards,

hdtran

 

[ScubaMike05]

Definitely dive with PV Scuba. Puerto Vallarta Scuba Diving and Specialty Diving School: PVSCUBA Reach out to Alex and he'll help you out. I'm not affiliated with PV Scuba; just a very satisfied customer.

 

[Kryssa]

Oooh, 50's at depth is colder than I was hoping for. Here in Nor Cal I wear a drysuit, so I guess I will rent a 7mm. I am a odd shape (short and round) so renting wetsuits is always a bummer because it usually winds up being a mens XXL with the arms and legs being WAY too long

 

[hdtran]

Oooh, 50's at depth is colder than I was hoping for. Here in Nor Cal I wear a drysuit, so I guess I will rent a 7mm. I am a odd shape (short and round) so renting wetsuits is always a bummer because it usually winds up being a mens XXL with the arms and legs being WAY too long

I've got 56F in my logbook for one dive in Cabo in May. I'm told that this is about as cold as it gets, though. In addition, the temperature was from the DM's computer, so I don't know how well calibrated that is. I was wearing a (rented) 2-pc 7mm, and aside from the injuries sustained while putting the suit on , I was pretty comfortable.

Puerto Vallarta is geographically a bit further south, but also has Sea of Cortez type of marine life. (Again, limited data points from me...)

Regards,

hdtran

 

[diverdude09]

Hey All,

I'm cruising down from LA in February with family and thinking about diving during our 1-day stop in Cabo or Puerto Vallarta, or possibly both.

Any tips? I hear it's best to avoid the ship-sponsored trips. I'm a beginner diver without a buddy on this trip so I'd like a nice DM to follow around and show me cool stuff. I have my own gear if a 5mm full is enough exposure protection.

Does one area have better diving than the other? Any recommendations for shops to go with? I am a beginner so I'd like to stay relatively shallow (above 75' unless there is something really amazing deeper) and avoid strong currents.

Thanks!!!

Sounds like you should Dive Cabo. Boat ride is only 5 min.s from the Dock and your in World class Diving.Baja Dive takes small groups 5 or 6 Divers.There is way more to see in The Cabo sites fish on top of fish and then some more.Carlos and Dee lead the tours cant go wrong with Diving with them. Boats are new and nice rental gear.
If you have trouble with wet suits get a new one now that way you wont have any problems at Dive time.My wife is a large size woman she had a custom wet suit made for $250.00 from a mail order co. out of New York they sent a pattern with a taylors tape she did all the sizing and got it back in a week.
Most sites in Cabo are under 80 feet 65 being average.

 

[baystr]

I dove pro dive pv may of this year(out of the vill del palmar) nice op, and good dm, dove three days there, below thermocline saw 58 degrees, viz was 10-30, dove around mismaloya for the most part. Saw some turtles and rays, but it really wasnt my favorite. They cater to beginners I think as PV is not really a dive destination by any means............