Even though less popular among divers than the Caribbean side of Mexico, the Banderas Bay offers some amazing scuba diving options.
If the destinations on the east coast of Mexico might be more well known, Puerto Vallarta area though is a great diving destination in its own right.
With its warm waters and its ocean full of life and colors, our bay is a wonderful location for beginners and experienced divers alike.
There aren’t many dive sites offshore however and all the most interesting locations will require at least a 20 min boat ride to get there.
Scuba diving in Banderas Bay
For Sayulita and surrounding towns, our van leaves directly from the dive center downtown Sayulita.
DIVE SITE
Las Marietas
Marietas are two uninhabited islands, a few miles off the North Coast of the Banderas Bay, 20 min boat ride from Punta de Mita. Created by volcanic activity, the islands are an ecological treasure, listed as UNESCO biosphere reserve. The islands are part of an underwater mountain range which extends to the further out diving locations of el Morro and La Corbeteña. Because the Islands and the waters around them are a protected National Park, a rich array of underwater species find shelter in their water. When scuba diving at Marietas Islands, you will find yourself gliding impressive descent, swim through reefs tunnels and caves surrounded by tropical fish. On lucky days you might also get to dive with the giant mantas that have their home in the waters of the Banderas Bay.
Explore amazing dive sites, we will take you on your best guided dive experience
Scuba Diving in Puerto Vallarta Banderas Bay
Great dive trip to Marietas Islands
We had an excellent day diving with Jamie! She was an awesome dive master. Very knowledgeable about the area and the fish we saw. The boat crew were great too! Roberta and Stephan were wonderful with the communication about the trip. The fish taco lunch after the dive was some of the best food we had on our trip! My underwater camera don’t do the fish and coral justice!
Stacy K.
Great Dive Trip in Sayulita
Went diving with my family and had a great time. The equipment was in great shape and the guides were friendly, fun, and knowledgeable. It is even better that the max number of divers is 6 so the small group make the trip even better. Highly recommended.
Troy S.
Great divemasters!
My wife and I did two two-tank dives: one at El Morro and one at Marietas. We’ve been diving for almost 10 years but only one dive trip/year, so we’re not advanced. We’ve dived to 100 feet before, but El Morro was tough: cold, little visibility, we were both having a tough time breathing. Our divemaster Jamie was AWESOME, calmly guided us up to about 70 feet, we immediately felt better and enjoyed the rest of the dive.
Jay W.
OUR TESTIMONIALS
Don’t take our word for it. Here’s what our clients say
OUR DIVE TRIPS
Scuba experience opportunities for certified divers
DIVE SITE
El Morro
Just outside the protection of Banderas Bay, El Morro is one of the best diving location in the area with the chance to explore underwater caves and pinnacles and to spot reef regulars such as Moorish idols, turtles, bass, grunts and wrasse, as well as occasional pelagic wanderers such as oceanic mantas, sailfish, dolphins and schools of jacks.
This site is for experienced divers only. It features a cave at 90 feet depth whose granite walls are covered with invertebrates such as sea fans, corals and sponges, as well as many species of crab, shrimp, nudibranchs and octopus.
DIVE SITE
Los Anegados
This stone bank known as Los Anegados can be found between El Morro and Marietas Islands. The bank begins at around 30 ft beneath the sea's surface and is loaded with caverns and intriguing rock arrangements. This shallow site on the edge of the bay is often dived as a second tank after nearby site El Morro.
A rocky slope at about 30 ft provides interesting underwater topography and on the sandy bottom you can see rays and eels. The maximum depth is 82 ft and the site is particularly well known for the nurse sharks that frequently put in an appearance. This is a well known diver location rich in sea life and enjoyed by many.
DIVE SITE
La Corbeteña
A far from shore rock located northwest of Puerto Vallarta, La Corbeteña is considered as one of the best sites for pelagic encounters and clear waters.
Caves, walls, and steep arches to explore with barnacle-encrusted walls attracting all kinds of marine life. A complete paradise of cristal clear waters, with visibilities often exceeding 100 feet. An hour boat ride each way, this is a site for experienced divers only, due to the possibility of challanging currents. Our diving trips there are limited to the summer months only.
DIVE SITE
Los Arcos
7 miles south of Puerto Vallarta, Los Arcos Marine National Park, has options for all levels with a depth range from 10 to 90 feet. "El Acuario", a shallow site of 30/40 ft depth is perfect for beginners. Schools of angelfish, pufferfish, butterfly fish, parrotfish, seahorses, trumpetfish, sea turtles and at times large manta rays are not difficult to spot. The rocky west side of Los Arcos has a unique 800 ft vertical wall where the experienced divers can enjoy a descent into another impressive site, “El Cañón del diablo” The drop-off is at 60 ft and the dive itself runs between 80 and 120 ft. Here you’ll see schools of bright fish, morayeels and when lucky mantas and turtles. At “El Bajo del Cristo” with depths from 30 to 80 ft, enjoy an underwater peak and several submerged volcanic formations that offer lots of marine life including parrotfish, snappers, moray eels, nudibranchs, and many other surprises.
ALTERNATIVE NAME The Arches, Los Arcos de Mismaloya
AVERAGE DEPTH 29.5-130 ft / 9-40 m
MAX DEPTH 147.6 ft / 45 m
CURRENT Low
VISIBILITY 20-50 ft / 6-15 m
DIVE SITE QUALITY Good
EXPERIENCE Certified divers - All levels
BIO INTEREST Interesting
DIVE TYPE Reef
DIVE SITE ACTIVITIES Snorkeling, Scuba Diving
Stephane Panetta
Born in 1970 in France, Stephane learnt to dive in Lake Annecy. A few years later, in his 20s, he received his PADI certification as a professional diving instructor and began travelling. During the years he has tought in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic and Mexico. In 2000, he moved to Sayulita, where the business is now based.
Owner & Padi Instructor #917839
Roberta Commisso
Originaly from Italy, Roberta moved to Mexico in 2009. Here she joined forces with Stephane to create what is now Sayulita Entourage. She is the first contact with Sayulita Entourage, the one dealing with reservations and customer support. "La Patrona" as the boys like to call her, is also a certified guide for Marietas Islands National Park and a recreational diver.
Co-owner and Front Desk
Oscar Gomez
The man behind the scenes, Oscar, sets up the bases for all of us to work smoothly. In charge of the equipment maintenance, he also takes care of the diving tanks filling station. Oscar is also the one driving our guests from Sayulita to the boat in Punta de Mita everyday, the first smiling face you will see when checking in at Sayulita Entourage office.
Equipment Manager
Christian Hauser
Born and raised in Mexico, Christian learnt diving in the water of the Banderas Bay. His deep connection with the area and love for the ocean, keep him busy in different local projects aiming to raise awareness and help in the conservation of our beautiful Banderas Bay. Very passionate about underwater photography, you can also hire Christian to take pictures and videos during your diving adventures.
Padi Instructor #364176
Franco Gonzalez
An original Vallartense, Franco has been diving around the Banderas Bay since a young age.
A certified PADI divemaster, Franco is also a marine biologist.
His extensive knowledge of the area, his enthusiasm and love for his profession makes Franco one of the best dive guides you could find around.
Padi Dive Master #362084
Edgar Loza
Born and raised in Punta de Mita, Edgar has been with Sayulita Entourage for many years. His experience as boat captain is extensive and comes with the deeper knowledge of the Bay and its waters. He has the biggest smile you will see during your Mexican vacations!
Captain
Manuel Ortega
Everyone around calls him Palma so do we! Like Edgar, Palma was born in the area and has been working in the ocean since young age. A trained boat captain as well, at Sayulita Entourage he is in charge of our snorkeling excursions. He loves his job, he enjoys being with people and mostly he likes to tell stories, so be ready!
Snorkeling Guide
Hector Reginald Velasco
A key presence among the Entourage team, you can meet Hector at the office or out in the ocean leading our many snorkeling excursions. Born in Mexico City, Hector moved to Puerto Vallarta many years ago; working on boats since then, he now knows the water of the Bay and its inhabitants extensively. Hector is kind, knowledgeable and a great person all-around, either for a chat at the office while taking your reservation or to spend a few hours together while guiding your excursion.
Front Desk and Snorkeling Guide
Jose Salcedo
Jose, aka Picudo, has become a constant presence in our daily operations; a skilled and experienced boat captain, he and Carlos are the hosts on board of our sister boat "Orion".
Growing busier and busier everyday, at Entourage we can rely on their expertise, when a second boat is necessary to run our excursions and accommodate all our guests.
Boat Captain
Carlos Gomez
Knowledgeable and enthusiastic, Carlos is the snorkeling guide on board of our sister boat "Orion".
Professional, safety oriented and an enjoyable person to spend time with, we can gladly count on him to take care of all our snorkelers. Growing busier and busier everyday, at Entourage we can rely on Carlos and Picudo expertise, when a second boat is necessary to run our excursions and accommodate all our guests.
Snorkeling Guide
OUR CREW
Meet our amazing staff
Our crew makes the difference: people with experience and super friendly professionals in love with the ocean.
DIVE SITE
El Chimo
Opposite side of the Bay, about 1h boat ride away, el Chimo has some of the most fascinating rock formations.
A quite big area, more than 1300 feet across, the seafloor has an impressive series of pinnacles that rise from the bottom. There are reefs and rocky formations with depths from 30 ft to more than 200 feet and an amazing line of columns called “Las Iglesias” (The Churches) that rise straight from the seabed much like cathedral pillars. Our excursions there are limited to the summer months only.
DIVE SITE
El Malinal
Just north of Punta de Mita, no more than 5 min boat ride from the shore of Litibu, an enjoyable dive site called el Malinal. Unknown to the most, it's a place where you can enjoy an impressive and bountiful variety of sea life and underwater biodiversity. El Malinal is a small sea mount with tunnels and caves teeming with life, including shrimp, sponges, nudibranchs and mollusks. Seldom visited by divers, this site has large schools of fish.
OUR EQUIPMENT
We offer you modern equipment and all the infrastructures for quality diving
diving compressor COLTRI 9.5 cft
80 cf aluminium tanks
snorkeling equipment
diving masks
diving lights
open heels diving fins
diving boots from 4 to 12
BCD Mares
Reg Mares metric and imperial
5.5 mm long wetsuit
2.5 mm shorties
life jackets
Sayulita Entourage
Calle Miramar 20, Centro,
63734 Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico
Tel: +52 322 191 1066
Email: info@sayulitaentourage.com