I'm going to Puerto Vallarta over Thanksgiving. Can anyone recommend good dive spots/boats?
Diving in Puerto Vallarta
- Thread starter micboucher
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Most likely you'll end up doing at least one dive at Los Arcos. When I was there I went a little further south and dived with Boca Divers out of Boca de Tamatlan. The drive down there was beautiful. The diving was so-so. The DM, Karla, was great. Bring a full suit because the water's not really warm, but not as cold as up here. I'd have to look, but IIRC, the temp was around 65 deg F, but then again, I went in March. Bring a hood, just in case, too.
One more thing, some of the boats (like the Chico's boats) have snorkelers AND divers on the same boat, which I don't particularly care for. (And a LOT of people!)
OP
Thanks for the info! By the way, I love your pics!!
Happy diving,
Happy diving,
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Last year when we went to Vallarta. We planned to dive with Vallarta adventures. They were recommended by another scuba board member. But as it turned out, another couple at the same resort we stayed at recommended Twin Dolphins This shop accommodated us at the last minute adding us to the boat our new friends were scheduled on. They took us to El Moro and then to a drift dive at a location near the Marietas. The day before our group dove the Marietas.
Be prepared when you go. I was surprised when I learned the operators conducted a drift dive without surface markers for the divers. Our captain was very good at following the bubbles, but as it turned out when my wife needed to re board the boat before the rest of the group we lost their bubbles and spent a good deal of time searching for them. If any one of them had a surface marker it would have made finding them easier. After we recovered the remaining divers I donated my safety sausage to one of my new friends. Take my advice, if you don't have a safety sausage, take one with you.
The largest operator in the area is Chico's. If you ask about diving at your hotel or resort. most likely they will direct you to them. I haven't heard anything great about them. Just that they run large groups out to the popular spots like Los Arcos and Majahuitas Cove. these same spots are serviced by the day tour boats as snorkeling destinations.
Personally I like smaller groups. If I ever go back I'll dive with twin dolphins again.
Be prepared when you go. I was surprised when I learned the operators conducted a drift dive without surface markers for the divers. Our captain was very good at following the bubbles, but as it turned out when my wife needed to re board the boat before the rest of the group we lost their bubbles and spent a good deal of time searching for them. If any one of them had a surface marker it would have made finding them easier. After we recovered the remaining divers I donated my safety sausage to one of my new friends. Take my advice, if you don't have a safety sausage, take one with you.
The largest operator in the area is Chico's. If you ask about diving at your hotel or resort. most likely they will direct you to them. I haven't heard anything great about them. Just that they run large groups out to the popular spots like Los Arcos and Majahuitas Cove. these same spots are serviced by the day tour boats as snorkeling destinations.
Personally I like smaller groups. If I ever go back I'll dive with twin dolphins again.
OP
Thanks for the info! Vallarta adventures was who a guy in my DM class recommended but I'll check out Twin Dolphins too. Wow, drift diving without a marker doesn't sound like fun to me. Thanks for the tip...I'll definitely bring a safety sausage with me.
Happy diving,
Happy diving,
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