![\"puerto](\"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/puerto-vallarta-city-1024x683.webp)
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhether you are looking for nightclubs, quiet beaches, family-friendly resorts, or adventures on the water, you can find it all in Puerto Vallarta.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t
- Scuba Diving in Puerto Vallarta<\/a>
- Best Diving Spots<\/a>
- Los Arcos<\/a>
- The Aquarium<\/a>
- Devil\u2019s Canyon<\/a>
- Bajo de Cristo (\u201cChrist Shallows)<\/a>
- El Morro<\/a>
- Anegados<\/a>
- Caletas<\/a>
- Princesa Wreck<\/a>
- Chimo<\/a>
- La Corbete\u00f1a<\/a>
- El Sequial<\/a>
- Majahuitas<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- How to Get There<\/a>
- Where to Stay<\/a>
- Dive Shops<\/a>
- FAQs<\/a>
- Is it safe to scuba dive in Puerto Vallarta?<\/a>
- What\u2019s the best time of the year to dive in Puerto Vallarta?<\/a>
- How much does diving cost in Puerto Vallarta?<\/a>
- Do you have to be certified to dive in Puerto Vallarta?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Conclusion<\/a><\/ul><\/ul><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n
Scuba Diving in Puerto Vallarta<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Puerto Vallarta has a thriving scuba community made up of local guides, international instructors, and divers from all over the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diving is possible year-round in Banderas Bay \u2013 one of the largest bays in Mexico. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many types of dive sites to choose from, including shore dives for beginners or discover scuba diving courses, and pinnacles for advanced divers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wrecks, tunnels, caverns, walls, and rocky reefs create a variety of landscapes all over the bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are distinct seasons in Puerto Vallarta with different sea conditions that bring varying wildlife throughout the year. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Species that remain year-round include sea turtles, jacks, parrotfish, pufferfish, eels, lobsters, and eagle rays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"spotted](\"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/spotted-eagle-ray-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\nSometimes lucky divers can glimpse a shy white-tip reef shark or an electric ray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Octopuses like to hide in the rocks at almost every site, and macro fans can enjoy looking for tiny nudibranchs and arrow crabs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the warm summer months from July to October, the sea temperatures can be as high as 30\u00b0C (86\u00b0F) with up to 30 meters (100 feet) of visibility. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The average visibility is probably closer to 15-20 meters (50-65 feet). Seahorses hang out in the shallow sandy sites, while sea lions are sometimes sunbathing and swimming at the more remote boat ride sites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"yellow](\"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/yellow-seahorse-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\nMost divers comfortably dive without a wetsuit during the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The winter season from December to March brings migrating humpback whales that put on a spectacular show visible from the dive boat. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"humpback](\"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/humpback-whale-puerto-vallarta.jpg-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf they\u2019re close enough, you can even hear their songs underwater during your dive.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The colder sea temperatures attract stingrays into shallower waters, so you can spot them swimming together or resting in the sand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The water temperature averages about 23\u00b0C (73\u00b0F) in the winter, but can drop as low as 19\u00b0C (66\u00b0F). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are usually one or more thermoclines where water of different temperatures forms layers, so the temperature can vary wildly during a dive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cold arctic currents bring nutrient-rich water to the bay, which attracts larger marine life like giant manta rays but also reduces visibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visibility averages 5-15 meters (16-50 feet) in the winter. Most divers wear a 5-7 mm wetsuit in the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dive sites closer to shore usually have mild conditions and little current, especially in the summer when sea conditions are calm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These sites are ideal for beginners or student divers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dive sites farther out into the bay frequently have strong currents that change rapidly and are reserved for experienced divers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best Diving Spots<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"marietas](\"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/marietas-idlands-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\nMarietas Islands: The two Marietas Islands form a protected marine park and bird sanctuary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thousands of birds fly and nest around the islands, including the famous blue-footed booby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marietas usually offers calm conditions because the dive sites are protected from currents by the islands, so it\u2019s a great place for newly certified divers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are sandy shallow areas with bright corals and abundant tropical fish as well as deeper areas with swimthroughs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wall on Island 1 features a long swimthrough at 18 meters (60 feet) and a large cavern. Green morays love to hang out in the rocks all over Marietas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since Marietas is a protected area, only certified divers are allowed to dive there with a guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Los Arcos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"los](\"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/los-arcos-puerto-vallarta-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\nLos Arcos (\u201cThe Arches\u201d) are impressive rock arches close to the shore at the southern end of Puerto Vallarta. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are multiple sites at Los Arcos for beginners and advanced divers. Currents and conditions are usually mild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Aquarium<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"school](\"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/school-of-grunts-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis shallow site has a maximum depth of 10 meters (33 feet) and is one of the best dive sites for students, beginners, or divers looking for a refresh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sandy bottom slopes down from the rocky island and provides a protected area where schools of grunts gather and lobsters hide in the rocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Devil\u2019s Canyon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"hawksbill](\"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/hawksbill-turtle-school-of-fish-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\nMoving deeper from The Aquarium, divers will pass through a tunnel to a spectacular wall to dive deep that drops over a thousand meters into the Banderas Trench. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Open water divers can remain at 18 meters (60 feet) while advanced divers can explore 30 meters (100 feet) along the wall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a great place to spot turtles or an elusive manta ray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bajo de Cristo (\u201cChrist Shallows)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"whitetip](\"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/whitetip-reef-shark-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis site features both shallow and deep areas covered by rocky reefs and huge boulders. In the shallows, rays often lay in the sand, while the occasional turtle or white-tip reef shark rest in alcoves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A tall pinnacle reaches from 25 meters (82 feet) almost to the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
El Morro<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
- What\u2019s the best time of the year to dive in Puerto Vallarta?<\/a>
- The Aquarium<\/a>
- Best Diving Spots<\/a>
![\"spotted](\"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/spotted-eagle-ray-1024x683.webp)
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"yellow](\"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/yellow-seahorse-1024x683.webp)
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"humpback](\"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/humpback-whale-puerto-vallarta.jpg-1024x683.webp)
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"marietas](\"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/marietas-idlands-1024x683.webp)
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"los](\"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/los-arcos-puerto-vallarta-1024x683.webp)
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"school](\"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/school-of-grunts-1024x683.webp)
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"hawksbill](\"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/hawksbill-turtle-school-of-fish-1024x683.webp)
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"whitetip](\"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/whitetip-reef-shark-1024x683.webp)
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\n