Scuba diving in Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta scuba diving centers on Banderas Bay, one of Mexico's largest bays, where rocky islands, underwater pinnacles, and deep-water pelagics sit a short boat ride from town. It's Pacific diving: less coral than the Caribbean, but more fish, big animals, and seasonal encounters, from giant mantas to humpback whales that you can often hear underwater in winter.

The signature dives

Los Arcos, a protected marine park of granite arches just south of town near Mismaloya, is the go-to local dive — easy, fishy, with swim-throughs, and a dramatic wall that drops away on its seaward side. The Marietas Islands, a national park at the mouth of the bay, offer rocky reefs, turtles, and chances for rays and dolphins; access is regulated and visitor numbers are limited. El Morro, a rocky pinnacle near the Marietas, has walls, caves, and schools of fish, with mantas in some seasons. The most ambitious trip is Corbeteña, a remote pinnacle beyond the bay where currents bring schools of jacks, big rays, and occasional sharks and dolphins — a long, open-water run for experienced divers only.

Conditions and season

The Pacific here changes with the seasons. From summer into early fall, water warms into the mid-80s °F and visibility tends to be at its best, though this is also the rainy season, with hurricane risk from June to November. In winter and spring, upwelling can cool the water into the low 70s °F or lower and reduce visibility, while bringing plankton and big animals; a 5 mm suit is sensible then, while a 3 mm is enough in summer. Visibility typically ranges from 30 to 80 ft. Humpback whales are in the bay from roughly December to March.

Good to know

• Boats leave from Marina Vallarta, Mismaloya, and Punta de Mita, depending on the site — Punta de Mita is closest to the Marietas and Corbeteña.
• The Marietas Islands are a national park with permits, daily limits, and rules on where you can land or swim; go with a licensed operator.
• Corbeteña and El Morro can have strong currents and surge, so Advanced certification and recent experience are usually expected.
• Los Arcos is sheltered enough for beginners, training dives, and snorkelers.

Who it suits: divers who want big-animal Pacific diving without a liveaboard, and beginners who want easy, fishy dives close to town.