stevsgarage
Contributor
There is more to Puerto Vallarta than diving. Thank God because no one would go there just to dive. With the exception of a few cab drivers and timeshare pushers I found the quaint city by the bay to be exciting, fun and as safe as any place Ive been. The mid 80s temperature, the statue lined ocean walk, and friendly atmosphere made this place near paradise.
However as near perfect as it seemed I did have some complaints. My first was that my hotel, Blue Bay Club, had no beach. In fact the beaches in Puerto Vallarta are rocky with small areas of very course sand. The better beaches in the area are on the outer edges of Banderas Bay, several miles to either the north or south.
The Ocean during the week I was there was very rough and all the dives I had planned to the better dive sights were canceled and I had to settle on doing all my diving in the Los Arcos area.
The water Temperature was 73 to 75 degrees, but visibility was only around 30 to 50 feet above 40 feet deep, with fairly strong surges. However as you dive deeper visibility improves considerably and the surges become far less noticeable. The morning I was to fly home the Pacific was as calm as Ive ever seen. Some of the more interesting sea life I spotted there were tuna, (although I didnt see any really large ones), balloon fish, porcupine fish, large eels, trumpet fish, large turtles, and many, many rays, round rays, bat rays spotted rays and skates.
Although the dive shop in my hotel, Ocean Quest, was very accommodating and did an excellent job over all I was glad I choose to bring my own equipment as theirs looked well worn.
I had a great time and could have been better had the weather cooperated, however I found diving more interesting in the San Diego area and it didnt come close to the Mexican dive mecca Cozumel.
However as near perfect as it seemed I did have some complaints. My first was that my hotel, Blue Bay Club, had no beach. In fact the beaches in Puerto Vallarta are rocky with small areas of very course sand. The better beaches in the area are on the outer edges of Banderas Bay, several miles to either the north or south.
The Ocean during the week I was there was very rough and all the dives I had planned to the better dive sights were canceled and I had to settle on doing all my diving in the Los Arcos area.
The water Temperature was 73 to 75 degrees, but visibility was only around 30 to 50 feet above 40 feet deep, with fairly strong surges. However as you dive deeper visibility improves considerably and the surges become far less noticeable. The morning I was to fly home the Pacific was as calm as Ive ever seen. Some of the more interesting sea life I spotted there were tuna, (although I didnt see any really large ones), balloon fish, porcupine fish, large eels, trumpet fish, large turtles, and many, many rays, round rays, bat rays spotted rays and skates.
Although the dive shop in my hotel, Ocean Quest, was very accommodating and did an excellent job over all I was glad I choose to bring my own equipment as theirs looked well worn.
I had a great time and could have been better had the weather cooperated, however I found diving more interesting in the San Diego area and it didnt come close to the Mexican dive mecca Cozumel.
