Diving
in the Riviera Nayarit is one of the top attractions for travelers looking for
more than fun in the sun during their vacations. If anyone has ever dreamed of
diving with whales, dolphins, or turtles, this is your chance!
The
floor of our more than 300 km (186 mi) of coastline stretching from Nuevo
Vallarta to Playa Novilleros is rich for adventurous divers who can easily peer
through their visors at everything from schools of colorful fish, giant
turtles, mantas, rays, and other marine species thanks to the crystalline
quality of the water.
There
are multiple establishments in the area manned by professional guides to take
both beginner and expert divers to the best sites. Among the shops dedicated to
scuba diving are Vallarta Adventures, Nayarit Adventures, Pipilas Tours and
Punta Mita Expeditions.
Below
6 great sites for diving in the Riviera Nayarit:
Islas Marietas
Located
in Banderas Bay, the Islas Marietas are one of the most popular diving sites in
Mexico thanks to their incredible marine diversity. You’ll marvel at the amount
of colorful fish that live there! It’s ideal for beginners: the depth ranges
from 7.5 – 23 m (24 – 75 ft) and the average visibility is 12 m (39 ft), which
means that if you decide to venture in all you’ll need is one oxygen tank. You
can also kayak, snorkel, and paddleboard in the vicinity.
El Morro
If
you’re a more experienced diver and want more thrills and adventure, head just
12 km (7 mi) west of the Islas Marietas and you’ll reach El Morro (still
considered part of the Islas Marietas protected area). This is a series of
rocky peaks that reach above sea level and descend up to 45 m (148 ft). At El
Morro you can wall and cave dive, and there is a 15-m (49-ft) long tunnel to
swim through. It also offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe
lobsters, turtles, octopi, sharks, seahorses, dolphins, colorful fish, and
enormous mantas and eels. It’s important to point out these tours are reserved
only for small groups of certified divers.
Los Anegados
The
Los Anegados rock bank is a very popular site for qualified expert open-water
divers. Located in Banderas Bay halfway between El Morro and the Islas Marietas,
this site is filled with caverns and rocky formations that go down up to 9 m
(30 ft) under water, although in some areas the depths reach 24 m (79 ft). It
has a fabulous diversity of marine creatures and it’s very common to see rays
and eels, as well as tuna and pikes. Giant mantas and sharks have also been
spotted.
La Corbeteña
La
Corbeteña this remote location has moderate currents and depths of up to 36 m
(118 ft). This is the dream of every expert diver, with caves, arches, and
inclined walls. It’s located in Bahía de Banderas, 65 km (40 mi) from Nuevo
Vallarta. Here you’ll find all kinds of sea life: mantas, turtles, sharks, and
dolphins, not to mention groups of tuna fish seeking food. The depths at La
Corbeteña are only open for private tours of groups of eight or more divers.
Islas del Coral
The
Isla El Coral and its smaller sister island, Isla El Cangrejo, are located 3 km
(2 mi) from the beach at Guayabitos. They’re considered protected ecological
areas of the state of Nayarit and they are the natural habitat of a wonderful
variety of flora and fauna. Responsible scuba and snorkeling are popular around
these islands, as the water is home to small coral reefs. You have to take a
small motorboat off the beach at Guayabitos to get to the island and you’ll be
there in just 10 minutes.
Isla Isabel
Eco-tourists
will find their paradise in Isla Isabel with its spectacular landscapes and
incredible diversity of marine species and birds on its nearly 2-sq-km (less
than 1 mi) surface. It’s also a National Park with a mountainous surface and
cliffs that over panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. It’s located two hours
by boat off the coast of San Blas and its underwater treasures are unparalleled.
Mantas, humpback whales, whale sharks, and gorgeous coral, not to mention 79
species of fish, await the professional and recreational diver.
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The Riviera Nayarit Convention and
Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Bahía de Banderas Hotel and Motel Association
(AHMBB) work hard to promote the destination with the support of the Government
of the State of Nayarit via its Tourism Promotional Trust (Fiprotur). The
cultural tourism product offer is an invaluable asset for these promotional
efforts.
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