Vallarta Palace

[jboress]

I am planning on going to the Vallarta Palace Resort in Puerta Vallarta Mexico in May. Has anyone been diving in the area? or stayed at the resort? Where should I go who should I go with?

Thanks,

Josh

[jbell]

I was there last July and had a hard time finding a good diving solution. The Westin Resort next to the Palace has a dive booth, but it is snorkle/dive combo on a "party" boat. I opted to drive south of Vallarta to the restrauant area where "The Night of the Iguana" was filmed. I hired a (small) boat and dive master/captain, Hoarto, there and dove the small sister islands just off shore: Las Maretas "Pated" and Montana. Hoarto was a good dive guide and knew all the right places to find crabs, lobsters, eels, etc. Did four dives which had poor vis of 35' to 40,' not much current, which I was told were a good days. But the coral and abundance of fish life made up for the vis. Water temp was 82f. I really enjoyed all the dives.

I also did one day on the "party" boat. They separated the divers from the snorklers which made it much more enjoyable. We went off shore about 4 miles to a larger island which made the vis a little better and the 2 dives were okay. Saw more turtles (3 pair mating) on these dives than I had seen almost anywhere else except Hawaii. A green moary eel was "free" swimming with us for about 2 minutes. I actually enjoyed the "party" on the way back with the free beer, although the music was very loud.

The next day, I hired Hoarto again and went back to the large island and enjoyed the 3 dives with him again much more. If you do this you must bring and set up all your own equipment; so it not as convenient as having a dive operation. I enjoyed it and all the dives; but I pretty much have enjoyed every dive I have done-though some more than others.

Overall, the diving around Vallarta is just fair. It is not the Keys, Bonaire or Cozumel.