Puerto Vallarta dive report

[Scuba Diver Mexico]

Hi,
I'm planning to come to PV the week of March 15th and am wondering about the typical water conditions at that time (Los Arcos specifically). My wife and I are newly certified divers (only 2 dives logged) and would typically stay above 60ft. Your most recent report reads that visibility to 70ft is limited. My question is: for us novice divers, is it worth diving at this time of year given the limited visibility? Thanks

My personal opinion is that it is always better to dive than not to dive. The water in the bay of Banderas is much more plankton rich this time of year than during the summer but it also has more invertebrate life. Viz can be around 20 to 50 feet and some time much better under the thermocline (which sometimes can be as shallow as 40 feet).

Los Arcos is one of the most biodiverse dive sites in the bay and the underwater topography is amazing. I wish I could direct you to the website that a group of us it trying to put together about this area, similar to what is available of the Point Lobos state reserve in California USA developed by BAUE divers on their spare time. It unfortunately still needs a lot of work.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Scuba


Meanwhile here are some images of the animals that live underwater at los Arcos

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. July 2009 - Kevin Lee's Photos- powered by SmugMug

These images were all shot above 30 feet.

 

[ednedfred]

Hola everyone,

Headed to P/V in June and staying at the Vallarta Palace. This is our first trip to this side of Mexico. We typically go to Playa or Coz for vacation and diving for me. Anyway, it doesn't appear that our hotel has a dive shop. Any recommendations on one? Also, not sure how far good shops are from hotel. I like smaller boats 6 divers tops. Normally use Jason at Fantasea in Playa and Blue Angel in Coz for reference.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Scuba Diver Mexico]

Hi! I´m going to Puerto vallarta next weekend (March 6-7, 2010). I'm diving in El Morro, Marietas and Los Arcos, can someone tell me how are the conditions over ther? water temp and visibility?

Thanks!

Going to Los Arcos and/or Majahuitas on one of Vallarta Undersea´s small boats Saturday through Monday (teaching a technical course). The latest I know is what I posted here a few days ago. I suspect the thermocline at these sites will not be very deep which will make good viz at depth. My dry suit is being serviced so we will be diving wet ( 5 or 7 mm with a hood, more than enough for those diving above the themocline).

Call or email Adolfo or Ali at 322 209 0025/26 to get the latest conditions. Scuba diving puerto Vallarta Vallarta Undersea :: Escuela de Buceo Vallarta Under Sea - Scuba Diving

 

[Brewski]

A quick Report from last Thursday.
We arrived on time at PV Scuba's location in the marina, to find Alex, Ramses, and Moises waiting. after the usual pleasantries and catching up, Alex left us in the Ramses capable hands and we boarded his boat.
The short cruise to Los Arcos was pleasant. quickly gearing up, we entered the water, did a quick buoyancy check and off to Devils throat we went. I buddied up with Ramses since the Mrs wasn't feeling well. as we descended I could feel a drop in temp around 65 feet and a definate thermocline was present. the cold layer has arrived. This is when I was thankful I brought my 7mm one piece, Ramses wearing his 5/7 and no hood had to be cold, but he signaled he was fine and we went on. Sea life was everywhere, along the way we encountered Morray's, scorpion fish, Rays, many Jacks etc. My camera's white balance post was stuck in the extended position and locked me out of the controls but I did manage to get a few shots regardless.
After a nice surface interval watching the tour boats bring snorkelers into Los Arcos, we moved over to our next site, Christs Pinnacle This site was shallower, but still teaming with life. Still having the same issue with the camera housing, many of the shots are unusable but I fire away hoping to be able to adjust them later. Just as I fill my memmory card Ramses signals that he sees a turtle. I can only watch him swim away but still a very enjoyable dive.

If your planning on diving PV give Alex a call. I can't recommend him highly enough. Not too many operators give this kind of service. They waited for us since the ship arrived at 9 am, The Mrs decided to forgo her 7mm and they provided a 5 mil for her. Best of all they treat you like friends not just someone who is here for the day never to be seen again.

Next year Amigo, I look forward to your offer of fresh Cervece!

 

[Jax]

A quick Report from last Thursday.
We arrived on time at PV Scuba's location in <snipped>
If your planning on diving PV give Alex a call. I can't recommend him highly enough. Not too many operators give this kind of service. They waited for us since the ship arrived at 9 am, The Mrs decided to forgo her 7mm and they provided a 5 mil for her. Best of all they treat you like friends not just someone who is here for the day never to be seen again.

Next year Amigo, I look forward to your offer of fresh Cervece!

Thanks, Brewski!!

 

[Scuba Diver Mexico]

At least two large chevron mantas were around at the wall in Los Arcos today.


They kept on coming back for most of the dive at depth and in the shallows. They behaved very much like their cousins in the Revillagigedos aka Socorros (execept for the Clarion Angel fish that come to clean them). They also diplayed wonderful jumps at the surface doing full loops out of the water.

Temperature at 100 feet 73 F / 23 C.

We will see tomorrow, hoping to see them again .

 

[Scuba Diver Mexico]

2 days so far of great manta interaction at the wall in los Arcos !!

At least 4 of them, all chevron and they are coming very, close to eyeball and check us out mostly in the shallows .

Viz in the shallows from 20 to 30 feet, temp of 76 F. The thermocline is at 110-130 feet with very good visibility and a temp of 66 F.

No more surface marker deployments from depth with the mantas around (their vision has a blind spot between their cephalic fins and s.... hit the fan yesterday with the line. Nothing bad happened .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulton_surface-to-air_recovery_system


The mantas are doing awesome aerial displays too.

 

[kratos21]

Have never seen mantas behaving like this before at Los Arcos, I mostly spotted lonely Mantas at El Morro or Marietas but this year for sure it has been different and this weekend an incredible one with the Mantas around us during deco stops coming back of the experience dives in Trimix down to 150ft and 160ft, definitely Helium is my new addiction....been that deep with 0 narcosis? Awesome!
Added to the Mantas I can say that the perspective of the wall at Los Arcos changes dramatically when looked up from 150ft, it is impressive, more than words can say!!!!!
The cracks across the wall, the rocks that look like they are about to fall...and obviously evidence of us men not respecting the environment, a big net, some fishing lines, and couple of bottles of beer, wonder what else will be down the wall.
As impressive as looking up is to look down, even with a good primary light you can see the wall going down for another 50-70ft and then the always intriguing dark, some friends have gone down to 300ft and the wall keeps going down!!!!
Amazing.....I just hope that the Manta that took my SMB does not get hurt with the line, we recovered the SMB and most of the line about 700mts from the place we were doing our deco.
That is why I loved Vallarta, you never know what you will see even if you dive the same place over and over.

 

[Jax]

My husband and I go to Mexico all the time - Mostly San Carlos, but PV, Cozumel, and Cancun / Playa Del Carmen. We have not encounter any problems except pilferage.

The violence is in the border towns. If you are looking for trouble, you will find it there.

 

[Brewski]

Seriously? have you been to Puerto Vallarta? I have many times. I feel safe walking the streets. the people are friendly. Just because there are areas that have problems don't condemn the whole country.