- Islas Marietas: it is one of the most famous areas on the Pacific thanks to the filmed documentaries of the 1960s directed by late Jacques Cousteau.
Even rookie divers can adventure in the Marietas, where they will discover a submarine landscape of caves, canyons and cliffs, besides having the chance of watching colourful tropical fishes, mantle rays and turtles, due to the tranquillity of the sea. The zone is also suitable for snorkelling.
It is located on the north coast of the Bay of Banderas.
- El Morro: it is a place renowned worldwide due to the importance of its canyons, cliffs, tunnels, caves and submarine arches, where a multitude of tropical fishes, turtles, dolphins and mantle rays thrive. It is located 6 miles west of Islas Marietas.
- Corbateña: it is an excellent scuba diving spot for exploring caves, arches and deep drops, inhabited by mantle rays, turtles, sharks, dolphins and schools of tuna fish.
- Yelapa: it is perfect for snorkelling due to the transparency of its waters. There is an old town of fishermen nearby from where it is possible to watch dolphins and humpback whales during the winter.
It is located south of Puerto Vallarta and travellers wishing to visit it have to embark on motorboats unmooring every half an hour at Los Muertos Beach. The trip takes 30 minutes.
- Majahuitas: it is that deserted beach we all have dreamt of sometime. A space of out flowing beautifulness that can only be accessed by sea. It has bent palm trees, white sand and calm waters; meaning ideal for swimming, snorkelling and even riding on a kayak.
It is located 20 minutes away from Puerto Vallarta and you have to get onboard motorboats or water taxis that depart from Los Muertos Beach.
Requisites and recommendations:
*You have to produce a certification that accredits you as a diver in order to do it in here. The most accepted ones are those of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), valid in 87 countries included Mexico, the World Confederation of Sub Aquatic Activities (CMAS), or the Scuba School International (SSI), amongst others.
*No matter how much experience you have gotten, never dive by yourself; besides, inform at the reception desk of your hotel about the place you intent to go to in order to practice your sport activity.
*When hiring the services of a firm renting scuba diving and snorkelling gear and providing guides, verify its accreditations and make sure that they are specialists on these activities.
*When diving you have to abide by the following rules:
Do not extract any living organism out of the water.
Do not pull out seaweeds, plants or corals.
Do not use harpoons or fishing nets.
Do not obstruct the right of pass of migratory or nesting animals such as turtles and sea mammals, besides other species.
Do not dispose of any type of plastic residue or garbage in the sea.
Use natural sunscreens and tanners.
