Puerto Vallarta is a beach resort/cruise ship port city in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Puerto Vallarta is located on a large bay facing the Pacific Ocean called Bahía de Banderas (Banderas Bay). In addition to its beautiful beaches and rapid development, Bahía de Banderas is known for being a breeding ground for humpback whales.

Scuba diving is one of Puerto Vallarta’s main attractions. Diving in Bahía de Banderas is great for novice divers because the currents are mild. Various local dive shops offer certification courses and they take their students to dive here as well. These dive shops also organize daily boat trips out to the offshore islands of Los Arcos and Las Marietas Islands for some more advanced diving. The biodiversity of marine flora and fauna at these islands is spectacular, which makes sense because Los Arcos, or Los Arcos de Mismaloya, is a National Marine Park and Las Marietas is a protected wildlife sanctuary.
 

The best time of year to dive the offshore sites such as Los Arcos and Las Marietas is from November through May when the ocean conditions are calmest. This is also the time of year when divers have the chance of spotting manta rays and whale sharks, as well as humpback whales. Visibility can be slightly worse during these times, however, due to the plankton blooms that are attracted by the cooler waters. If you prefer warmer waters (26°C) and the best visibility, June through October is the ideal time to go. 
 

Puerto Vallarta and Bahía de Banderas offer diverse diving opportunities. Divers who are passionate about macrofauna will enjoy diving at Las Marietas Islands, where they can marvel at the colorful coral and sponges and look for the well-camouflaged nudibranchs and octopi. Divers hoping for encounters with pelagic fauna will love the “La Corbeteña” dive site. Local dive shops take boat trips out to these sites every day, and some also offer certification courses for those wanting to learn how to dive while on vacation.

While liveaboard dive boats are not common for visiting dive sites within Puerto Vallarta and Bahía de Banderas, there are some liveaboards that leave from Puerto Vallarta to go to the Revillagigedo Archipelago (Socorro Islands). These islands, known for their shark encounters, are located about 650km offshore from Puerto Vallarta.
 

There is much to see when scuba diving in Puerto Vallarta and Bahía de Banderas. Since parts of the bay are protected as a National Marine Park (Los Arcos de Mismaloya) and a wildlife sanctuary (Las Marietas Islands), the wildlife is diverse and plentiful. In terms of fish, common sightings include pufferfish, damselfish, and grunts. As for pelagic species, this region attracts humpback whales, whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays, eagle rays, and sailfish.

From November through March, Bahía de Banderas in a sanctuary for humpback whales. Visitors can expect to spot these whales from afar breaching and hitting their tails against the water.
 

About 15km south of Puerto Vallarta on the coast of Bahía de Banderas is the city of Mismaloya, which is home to a series of beautiful granite islands just off the coast called “Los Arcos de Mismaloya”. These islands are just a 30-minute boat ride from Puerto Vallarta’s main marina and have been protected as a National Marine Park since 1984. Divers will find themselves immersed in an aquarium while exploring the many arches and caves and swimming along the 600m drop-off. Manta rays and moray eels can be spotted here as well. With depths ranging from 3-30m, this site is great for divers of all experience levels.

Las Marietas Islands are in the northern part of the mouth of Bahía de Banderas. These islands are part of a protected wildlife sanctuary, so it is inhabited by various endangered species of birds. The underwater diversity here is also stunning, what with the numerous molluscs, echinoderms, nudibranchs, corals, sponges, and sea fans divers will come across. These islands can be reached via a 70-minute boat ride, which gives passengers the chance to see dolphins, giant manta rays, sea turtles, and humpback whales during breeding season.

Majahuitas is a beach and protected cove on the southern coast of Bahía de Banderas that is only accessible by boat. The area’s shallow, calm waters are great for beginner-level dives, and the rocky shoreline is home to moray eels, spotted eagle rays, and various tropical fish.  

The long boat ride to get to “La Corbeteña” (a little over 2 hours) is worth it. This open ocean dive site is located about 60km offshore, northwest of Puerto Vallarta, and is considered one of the best sites for encountering pelagic fauna. The site is centered around a rock with caves, arches, and steep walls, and divers can expect to swim with reef sharks, whale sharks, sailfish, marlin, and giant manta rays. Due to its exposed nature, this dive site is only recommended for seasoned divers who have experience with strong currents.

The “El Chimo” dive site is named after the small fishing village of Chimo, which is located at the far southwest end of Bahía de Banderas. It takes about 90 minutes to get there by boat from Puerto Vallarta, and the views above and below water are breathtaking. Divers can expect to swim among large schools of fish, rock formations, and vibrant corals, and they may even experience a swooping giant manta ray.