We spent a week in PV earlier this month and dove with Alex and Donna's company, La Ola Ocean Adventures. It was all around a fantastic experience! We researched and contacted several companies -- our criteria were small groups, personal service, and good value -- and La Ola came out ahead. Alex and Donna were responsive to our queries and came through with a super deal. (and this was back in January, before the swine flu made it a total buyer's market)
Alex picked us up at the airport, and picked us up in the boat each morning (we were staying at Vallarta Torre, next to Chrystal). It was just the two of us with Alex and Captain Victor. We went all over the place -- Los Arcos, Caletas, Majahuitas, Marietas -- and saw everything: turtles, octopus, sea snakes, eels more zebras than I have ever seen and the biggest green moray I have ever seen), spotted eagle rays, stingrays, stonefish, shrimp, nudibranchs, anenomes, jellies, lobsters (watching Alex catch one by hand was awesome) and all the big and little reef fish. John and I are very good on air consumption, and we told Alex we love to poke along and poke around, so we had very long and relaxing dives. He completely accomodated our dive style, took us to every nook and cranny, and showed us everything.
In addition to awesome diving, Alex set up the poles and we also enjoyed fishing. John caught a nice Dorado (mahi) one day and I caught one the next. It was too cool! Then, while we were diving, Victor made fresh ceviche for us! (Yes, they came prepared with limes, onions, tomatoes, secret sauce and tortillas.) Now that was a cut above!
So we will definitely go with La Ola when we go back to PV. check them out at laolaocean.com
Karen
