Puerto Vallarta - Anyone know a good dive shop

[Jumpinjax]

Will be diving three mornings. I have check out one dive shop Vallarta Adventures but they are limited to where they go based on the day of the week. Since our trip is a Thurs - Tues the advance site are out of their schedule and of the other three, which all sound awesome only one fits.

So we are looking for some Divers that have experienced Vallarta's Bahia de Banderas. For a good dive shop and tips on the area.

Muchas Gracias.

Jumpinjax

[nferra2]

I don't know about the diving, when I went I went on a "experiance diving" dive, and from what I know now I am probably lucky to be alive. The City however is great. I loved that fact that you are on the beach, 2 minutes from the mountains, and seconds from downtown. You have to watch the water though, depending on the amount of logging, and the current, the water could be crystal clear, or really muddy, I am sure the dive boat can work around that though.

If you have extra time go on the dunbuggy tour through the mountains, it is a blast (a little scary at times) but a blast. Don't go with the "Main" tour though, there is a small operator, with around 4 "dune buggys" that are in great shape, and it is a better experience than the "oldest dune buggy operator in Puerto Vallarta".

[Jumpinjax]

Thanks, we were looking at doing something in the jumgle area, dunebuggy sounds like fun.

[JugglingMonkeys]

what happened? Why are you "lucky to be alive"?

[MxDiver]

Originally Posted by Jumpinjax

Will be diving three mornings. I have check out one dive shop Vallarta Adventures but they are limited to where they go based on the day of the week. Since our trip is a Thurs - Tues the advance site are out of their schedule and of the other three, which all sound awesome only one fits.

So we are looking for some Divers that have experienced Vallarta's Bahia de Banderas. For a good dive shop and tips on the area.

Muchas Gracias.

Jumpinjax

Jumpinjax
I hope I didn't catch your post too late, when are you coming down? I live in Guadalajara and PV is my diving backyard. I will be there next weekend (Aug 23-26).
for dive shops try:
http://www.chicos-diveshop.com/ ( I dove with them a couple of times)

http://www.puertovallartadivers.com/ ( I don't know them, but the have gotten really good reviews in SB)

http://www.pacificscuba.com.mx/ (Also good reviews on SB)

[Chocoholic]

Originally Posted by Jumpinjax

Will be diving three mornings. I have check out one dive shop Vallarta Adventures but they are limited to where they go based on the day of the week. Since our trip is a Thurs - Tues the advance site are out of their schedule and of the other three, which all sound awesome only one fits.

So we are looking for some Divers that have experienced Vallarta's Bahia de Banderas. For a good dive shop and tips on the area.

Muchas Gracias.

Jumpinjax

Hope this isn't too late.

I have dove with Pacific Scuba, Twin Dolphins and Vallarta Adventures. PS and TD are both small boats with about 6 to 8 divers and get to the sites quickly (well, Los Arcos is 30 mins, Las Marietas is 1 1/2 hours and El Morro is 1 1/2 hours too). Vallarta Adventures is a big party boat with 100 or so people on at one time, some are divers, it has two bathrooms, an upper sun deck and a kitchen area. VA serves sandwhiches and stuff after the dive in a buffet line. PS and TD gave us sandwiches and vegs too. So... if you don't mind a cattle boat with inexperienced divers mixed in with the bunch VA is fun, the other two boats split us up according to experience.
Have fun.

[seaboy&girl]

Hey,
Being that there are over 1000 US and Canadian boats in PV, would Larry allow us to have a PV gringo divers post?

[Jumpinjax]

Okay, I know this is a little late getting back. But wanted to follow up. The diving season in PV is late Oct./Nov/Dec/Jan. The rainy season, spring through late summer the rain washes off the mountains and causes the water to be merky. One dive, first 20 feet vis was only 3'. So hold on to your dive buddy going down/up.

We went with Chico's, I guess they were okay. Not like Martin's dive shop in Cozemel. A little disorganized in the dive shop getting everyone arranged on what boats. Mostly trying to determine who is going where.

Our first outing was on a larger boats and 6 divers, there was also a dive class on board that had 20 folks doing their OWD. No fresh water for camera's. Oranges and water to drink.

If the water had been clear, I am sure the experience with Chico's would have been better. We had bought a 3 day 2 tanks per day package and ended up only diving two days.

[Jumpinjax]

MXDiver,

Sorry I missed your post, head out a day prior. Heading to Cabo next weekend. Not sure how far you way from there, but if your looking to dive. Reply.