Puerto Vallarta dive report

[vetdiver]

Roberto (this is you, yes??) -

Excitement for my upcoming PV nudi/macro safari has reached fever pitch, despite excellent conditions right now in San Diego!! I can't wait to get back down there for my second trip - with a more appropriate set of camera lenses and a bit of luck, I should be able to really do the creatures down there some justice this time around. In fact, I have already started thinking about a third trip down...a surefire sign of addiction!

To anyone with an appreciation for macro life and "critter hunting", Puerto Vallarta is an unexpected and top-notch place to go!

Allison

 

[Scuba Diver Mexico]

You bet Allison,

This is me !!


Looking forward to your visit and shots.

Mi casa es tu casa !!

 

[Scuba Diver Mexico]

Beginning on Monday the 28th and until yesterday the conditions have been very good !!

Water temp between 80 to 84 F from the surface all the way to 150 ft. Water has been blue with viz around 70 feet. Very little or no current, and negligible swell.


On the surface the summer makes the mountains look beautiful with different layers of clouds, even the vegetation at los Arcos where the Pelicans nest is now very lush. The jungle is looking great in all of the south side !!



Wide angle and macro images coming soon,

Felices buceos !!

 

[pvscuba]

Today at Marietas was very nice. Temp 86F / 30 C and viz around 80 ft / 24 m.

The day has been cloudy with scattered showers. Thunderstorms at night / late evening, which is the norm for this season.

Next tuesday we´ll be diving at Chimo and wednesday at La Corbeteña, which we only do a few times a year because of the distances involved (36 mile trip) and the type of divers that can do the trip (only for advanced divers).

happy diving and best wishes from Alex at PVScuba

 

[Scuba Diver Mexico]

Today Arcos had pretty good summer conditions (4th of July) !!

84 F and viz ranging from 50 t 70 ft depending on time of the day depth and location. Zero swell !! (great for shalow picture taking) .

We were there from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, around 4 hrs of diving with Ali Hernosillo at the amarraderos (moorings) and shollower areas of the wall mostly, and bajo del cristo.

The summer safari is going fine , about 20 species of opisthobranchs have been sighted today so far !! plus some mantis shrimp , blenies, sea horses, and more ..

Here are some images of photographers/divers while pictures were being taken,

Images of nudies and small animals in the following posts,

 

[Divingguy]

I have not even finished unpacking yet, so this will have to be brief. I was able to do two days of diving on July 3 and 4th. I had booked through Alex at PV Scuba, who was great to work with. Although my son and I did not get to go out on Alex's boat, apparently because of logistical issues, Alex made arrangements for us with other boats. On Friday, I do not recall whose boat we were on, but we were the only divers with 4 snorkelers. Alex had sent an instructor named Ramses to serve as our guide. The snorkelers were having a hard time with jellyfish, but the jellies were only a minor nuisance for us. Ramses was very enjoyable company. We did both dives on Marietas. I enjoyed them. The vis was over 50'. On Saturday my son was not able to go, so it was just me. Alex did not send Ramses again, and instead put me on a boat of Vallarta Undersea. I did not realize until I was assembling gear that the weight pockets had not been put back into the rental bc from PVS which they sent with me. Minor problem. However, Nacho of VU took very good care of me. No snorkelers this time, but multiple other divers. We did two dives on Los Arcos. To be honest, I enjoyed the two dives on Los Arcos the most. More fish, and great topography. This trip was my first time using my G10 in the Canon housing. I really enjoyed diving with the camera. I enjoyed my trip, and met some very nice people.

 

[Scuba Diver Mexico]

I have not even finished unpacking yet, so this will have to be brief. I was able to do two days of diving on July 3 and 4th. I had booked through Alex at PV Scuba, who was great to work with. Although my son and I did not get to go out on Alex's boat, apparently because of logistical issues, Alex made arrangements for us with other boats. On Friday, I do not recall whose boat we were on, but we were the only divers with 4 snorkelers. Alex had sent an instructor named Ramses to serve as our guide. The snorkelers were having a hard time with jellyfish, but the jellies were only a minor nuisance for us. Ramses was very enjoyable company. We did both dives on Marietas. I enjoyed them. The vis was over 50'. On Saturday my son was not able to go, so it was just me. Alex did not send Ramses again, and instead put me on a boat of Vallarta Undersea. I did not realize until I was assembling gear that the weight pockets had not been put back into the rental bc from PVS which they sent with me. Minor problem. However, Nacho of VU took very good care of me. No snorkelers this time, but multiple other divers. We did two dives on Los Arcos. To be honest, I enjoyed the two dives on Los Arcos the most. More fish, and great topography. This trip was my first time using my G10 in the Canon housing. I really enjoyed diving with the camera. I enjoyed my trip, and met some very nice people.

Sorry I did not meet you at los Arcos on Saturday, we were diving there at the same time you were,


You very probably saw some divers shooting pictures underwater without swimming to far from the moorings !!

Did you take any good pictures that day ?? Maybe you can post a few, I agree, dive conditions were very nice.

More about the picture taking UW safari from yesterday and today coming ASAP.

 

[Divingguy]

Roberto:
I agree, it is a shame I did not get to meet you while there.
Since I had never taken underwater pictures before, I have obviously never tried to upload any either, but here goes.
These were taken with Canon G10, WPDC28 housing, NO flash. I did try to use the "fish" icon on some, and manual white balance on most.
Tom

 

[Scuba Diver Mexico]

As reported by Dr. Ali Hermosillo:

On Sunday, Marietas did not have too good diving conditions. Temperature around 84 F but visibility was bad and also there was wave action.

During the night, Lindo Mar beach at Conchas Chinas was very calm, with much less wave action and better visibility conditions. Lots of rain in the afternoon in this part of the bay !!


Monday the 6th at Majahuitas the visibility had also been reduced compared to when I was there on Thursday the 2nd but two specimens of the seldom seen and very photogenic Chromodoris marislae were found by Kevin !!!

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=chromodoris marislae&w=all
http://slugsite.us/bow/nudwk283.htm

I am now in Quintana Roo for a few days so I was not able to get a shot of the other participants the last two diving days, but here are two pictures of the photo safari divers on Saturday the 4th of July at Arcos.

Links and thumbnails to some of the pictures that have been shot in the following posts.

 

[Scuba Diver Mexico]

Back from Q. Roo,


Conditions were pretty good on the weekend,

Even warmer water now !! 87 F down to 20 ft and 85 to 86 F below that to 100 ft

Good viz at Majahuitas and also at Arcos (a little better at Majahuitas).

Totally flat seas and very, very mellow current from north to south !!

The last portion of the 70 foot survey line we had left in the southern area of the Arco grande (along the wall) was retreived on the second dive yesterday !!


Happy diving