Diving Banderas Bay

[easyrider Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close easyrider]

This recent trip I got back into diving. We booked our excursions with Vallarta Adventures in Nuevo Vallarta. They wouldn't let me dive with the advanced group as I didn't have my certificate with me. No problem with the exception of having to take the pool test during the Seahawk game. I missed the first half.

The first dive was at Mariatas Islands. I was able to get to the 40 ft sea bottom rather quickly but had to wait for the new people. One of the new guys had a panic attack and surfaced. After 10 minutes of so everyone made it. This area has very good visibility and the sea life was abundant. My problem on this dive was the new people took too long and used up their air very quickly.

The second dive was Los Arcos. This is a pretty good dive area, imo. Lots of structure and abundant sea life. In this area I saw schools of giant trevally and a few really big turtles. This was the first time I had seen a large banded sea snake surfacing. This dive was with a group of 2 other bubble makers who were comfortable with diving. I liked this area better than the Marietas.

Anyway, I back into diving.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Welcome back. How did you ever stop?

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Of course diving is in the Fishing forum. Lol.
Shall we chronicle our dives/sites here?
I just did 14 dives, each at a different site, in Grand Cayman with Morritt's Tortuga Divers. Fantastic. And suffice to say I no longer have fear of sharks (at least not Caribbean Reef Sharks).

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Of course diving is in the Fishing forum. Lol.
Shall we chronicle our dives/sites here?
I just did 14 dives, each at a different site, in Grand Cayman with Morritt's Tortuga Divers. Fantastic. And suffice to say I no longer have fear of sharks (at least not Caribbean Reef Sharks).

Fishing and FINANCE how else will we manage the additional flights to warm diving conditions and the dives themselves.

[easyrider Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close easyrider]

Well Im planning on diving in the Cancun area in a couple of weeks. Im good to 60 ft. Where and who should I consider ? Im thinking of going out with manta as they were refereed by a guy in my group last week.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

It never crossed my mind to go to Mexico to dive.

I wonder how it compares to GCM? That's a hard place to measure up to and a much easier trip for me from the east coast.

The next one I have planned is Bonaire.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

It never crossed my mind to go to Mexico to dive.

I wonder how it compares to GCM? That's a hard place to measure up to and a much easier trip for me from the east coast.

The next one I have planned is Bonaire.

The dive instructor I had for my refresher course dives in Cozumel and the DR. Loves them both. He said it's less expensive to dive there. In Bonaire you'll be able to do a ton of shore diving, also a big cost savings. He also works as a volunteer at the Coney Island Aquarium as a diver cleaning the tanks, what fun!

[easyrider Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close easyrider]

Im reading there are 15 different reefs with a max 60 ft depth in Cancun. I might head south to Cozumel but I think if I do I would go to Playa del Carmen and dive the west side of Cozumel.

We stayed at Morritts and I wish I would have been diving instead of snorkeling and fishing. I was told that Morritts is really close to an underwater wall.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Im reading there are 15 different reefs with a max 60 ft depth in Cancun. I might head south to Cozumel but I think if I do I would go to Playa del Carmen and dive the west side of Cozumel.

We stayed at Morritts and I wish I would have been diving instead of snorkeling and fishing. I was told that Morritts is really close to an underwater wall.

Yes there is great wall diving in GCM, some a short ride from the dock at Morritt's. Many of our dives offered deep and shallow options, with the deep dive going to 100 ft along the wall (for about 15 or 20 minutes, then up to 50-60 ft for rest of dive) and the shallow divers staying at around 50-60 ft on top of the wall. Personally, at least for the time being as I am but a baby diver, I prefer the sea life along the top to the wall itself, and I can preserve more air that way. Still, there is some great snorkeling in the area if conditions are ok.