The 5 Best Scuba Diving Trips in Puerto Vallarta

1.Scuba Diving with a 5-Star PADI Center in Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 135 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $119Our pick

Spend about seven hours exploring Banderas Bay with a PADI 5-Star center. Certified divers use two tanks at sites such as Las Caletas, Los Arcos, or the Marietas Islands, with guides including Rogelio, Joaquin, Charlie, and Ali. Expect marine life, tunnels, lunch or snacks, and extra fees to budget for.

“Rojalio from Vallarta Adventures was an amazing dive master! Such a fun experience, went as a solo female but felt safe and protected the entire time! Would recommend for sure and will probably do this exact dive again in the future.”

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2.Scuba Diving Marietas Islands

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 107 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $195

From Sayulita, Sebastian Briones and his team take you by boat across Banderas Bay to Punta de Mita and the Marietas Islands for two guided scuba sessions. Equipment, water, transport, and a professional guide are included. Leila may lead your group, with a maximum of seven people.

“I had two days of excursions with Oceano Adventures. First day I went diving and the second day I went snorkeling and entered the Hidden Beach. Both days were awesome🤩 I had not been diving in over 5 years so I was quite nervous but Sebastian reassured me that they would go over everything to make sure I felt comfortable before we descended. And Leila the dive instructor/guide was phenomenal!!🏆 Her passion for diving, the ocean the wildlife on land, and in the sea just beamed thru her. Enjoyed all the fish and bird talk. 🐟🦅🐠🦜 I got over my nerves and really enjoyed both dives. The Hidden Beach was…”

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3.Scuba Diving Puerto Vallarta Undersea Arcos or Marietas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 77 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $125Top rated

Spend 4 to 6 hours exploring Puerto Vallarta’s underwater sites with Eco Explorer Vallarta. Los Arcos welcomes beginners, while Marietas requires certification. Guides including Eric, Carlos, Nahum, and Javi provide patient instruction, equipment, and safety help. Dolphins and seasonal whales may appear during the boat ride.

“We saw and had the most amazing dolphin viewing experience in addition to the scuba. We also had a chance to see two pods of whales. It was a memorable and very exclusive trip as only a few other boats were around, not like the usual tourist swarms during other trips where you see dophins and whales.”

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4.Puerto Vallarta Undersea Private Scuba Diving

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 39 reviews · 5 hours (approx.)

Take a private five-hour boat trip from Marina Vallarta to Los Arcos or the Marietas Islands. Your crew provides scuba and snorkel gear, snacks, water, and park permits. Carlos, Nahum, Berenice, and other staff tailor the day to your group, with beginner instruction available for 500 MXN per person.

“This was an excellent experience due to the amazing dive master(totally forgot his name) and captain Javier. They treated us like royalty from the moment we arrived and they greeted us by name. We took the private scuba trip, so it was just the 4 of us. I absolutely loved everything about this tour.”

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5.Discover Scuba experience at Las Caletas, Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 33 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $189

Learn scuba basics with a PADI instructor, then take a scenic 50-minute boat ride from Puerto Vallarta to Las Caletas. You’ll practice in protected coves, spend about 40 to 60 minutes underwater, enjoy lunch, and use the beach and other activities before returning.

“To start off my husband and I went to the wrong location and got there late. Despite of that, they took such good care of us and still got us to the right place. Nicco ensured us many times and checked in with us to make sure we got to the right place. We were both very appreciative of that. Once we got there, it was a very quick and thorough lessen. They are very knowledgeable and gave great instructions. This was both our first time ever scuba diving and it was such a good experience. You got about an hour dive and got to see lots of fish and…”

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