Dive Guide for Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta offers some of Mexico's most rewarding Pacific diving. Instead of coral walls and drift dives, you'll find volcanic reefs, underwater arches, rocky pinnacles, and abundant marine life throughout Banderas Bay.

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Puerto Vallarta's dive sites are centered around protected marine parks and offshore islands, making boat diving the primary way to explore the region. Expect healthy rocky reefs, swim-throughs, turtles, rays, moray eels, octopus, and seasonal encounters with humpback whales on many winter boat rides.

Unlike many Caribbean destinations, visibility in Puerto Vallarta changes throughout the year, but the diversity of marine life and dramatic underwater landscapes continue to make it one of Mexico's most popular Pacific dive destinations.

Puerto Vallarta Dive Sites

Types of dives in Puerto Vallarta

Boat Current Deep (80ft/24.5m) Salt water Surge Swim through Snorkel site Wreck

Water Temperature

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Diving in Puerto Vallarta is shaped by marine life, weather, and operator choice.

• Boat rides and dive site selection can vary significantly between operators.
• Visibility changes more throughout the year than many Caribbean destinations.
• Winter often brings humpback whale sightings during dive trips.

These factors can make the same destination feel very different depending on when and how you dive.
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When to dive in Puerto Vallarta

Water temperatures range from approximately 75°F (24°C) in winter to 86°F (30°C) in late summer. Visibility is often best from late fall through spring, while warmer summer water brings increased marine life activity. February through April are particularly popular thanks to comfortable conditions and humpback whale season.