
Rock reefs, volcanic islands, and winter whales on Mexico's Pacific bay
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Overview
Puerto Vallarta and the Bahia de Banderas wrap Mexico's central Pacific coast with easy day-boat access to rock reefs, caverns, and offshore pinnacles. Divers base in Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, or Punta Mita, then hop to Los Arcos for shallow training dives and nudibranch hunting, push farther to El Morro for caves and pelagic chances, or head north to Islas Marietas for volcanic tunnels and reef fish. Winter brings humpback whales in the bay, while summer and early fall deliver the warmest water and often the clearest visibility. Topside, you get a walkable Malecon, jungle day trips, surf towns like Sayulita, and sunset sea turtle releases. The region rewards early starts, flexible planning around rainy season squalls, and respect for protected-area rules in Marietas and Los Arcos.
Puerto Vallarta sits on the south edge of Bahia de Banderas, a broad, boat-friendly bay on Mexico's Pacific coast shared by Jalisco and Nayarit. The diving is built around rocky reefs, arches, tunnels, and volcanic formations rather than hard coral walls. Most sites are day trips, so you can base in town and still reach marine parks and offshore pinnacles.
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Last updated: January 23, 2026 • 14 sources
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Trip callouts
Pair Los Arcos' rock formations with Islas Marietas' regulated national-park style rules for a full-spectrum bay itinerary.
Winter brings humpback whales and drier weather. Summer and early fall bring the warmest water and frequent best-visibility windows.
Divers, snorkelers, and non-divers can share the same boat days and regroup easily for food, sunsets, and day trips in town.
Short hops for beginners in sheltered coves, plus condition-dependent pinnacles like El Morro for advanced divers.
scuba
Why Puerto Vallarta and Bahia de Banderas for Scuba Diving
Base in a full-service beach city, then day-boat to Los Arcos, Islas Marietas, and offshore pinnacles like El Morro. You get caves, tunnels, rocky reefs, and even a local artificial reef wreck, with winter whale season and summer warm-water visibility making the calendar surprisingly dynamic.
freedive
Why Puerto Vallarta and Bahia de Banderas for Freediving
snorkel
Why Puerto Vallarta and Bahia de Banderas for Snorkeling
topside
What to do when you are not in the water in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a rare dive gateway that is also a real city: sunset Malecon walks, markets, galleries, and an easy food scene. Beyond town, you can ride boats to waterfall villages like Yelapa, drive to surf towns like Sayulita and San Pancho, or head into the Sierra Madre for cooler-air mountain day trips.
Bahia de Banderas is not a pure blue-water training destination, but it offers workable freediving windows: calm south-shore coves for skills, and occasional clear, warm-water days around Marietas and mid-bay banks for deeper line sessions. Pair sessions with yoga, breathwork, and easy recovery days in Puerto Vallarta.
Snorkeling here is about dramatic rock scenery, volcanic islands, and warm-water wildlife days rather than endless coral gardens. Los Arcos is the classic half-day choice from Puerto Vallarta, while Islas Marietas delivers a true protected-area experience with strict visitor rules and limited-access zones.