Puerto Vallarta · PUERTO VALLARTA SNORKELING & SCUBA
55 reviewed
The clearest water on the bay sits around Los Arcos and the Marietas, and these trips take you straight to it. The best snorkeling and scuba tours in Puerto Vallarta are here with prices, depths, and gear notes, plus which ones suit first-timers and which reward a certified diver.
All-inclusive Mega Yacht cruise from Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa Waterfall plus snorkeling and water toys, with an open bar and fajita lunch.
“The staff was amazing and so accommodating I would recommend this mega yacht to anyone. The waterfall was beautiful as well”
Small-group snorkel at Los Arcos: sea caves, bird islands, gear and permits included, plus Mismaloya beach time and Puerto Vallarta history.
“Sebastian was amazing !! Very nice gentleman, very courteous, gave us good history of the island . Even guided us well with snorkeling and we felt comfortable and eased since it’s our first experience with snorkeling!”
Snorkel the Marietas Islands from Puerto Vallarta with gear, permits, and a strong chance at Hidden Beach via a water tunnel.
“Great adventure! First of all, it's a nice ride through the Bay of Banderas, which alone would have been great. The views were amazing, going over the waves in a speed boat was fun, and more importantly - we got to have multiple sighting of whales and dolphins! At the Islands we had 2 stops. The first one was for snorkeling, where we got to see quite a bit of tropical fish. Not the same caliber as coral reefs in Hawaii, but still very enjoyable. What was also very good was that we had 2 guides with us in the water, so it felt very safe. The second stop was…”
Intimate 5-hour Leopard catamaran cruise to Majahuitas with snorkeling, paddleboards, lunch, and unlimited premium open bar from Puerto Vallarta.
“Bring sunscreen and dramine if you’re prone to motion sickness. Had a wonderful time! Great crew! Fun time.”
Hike from Puerto Vallarta to quiet beaches like Colomitos, with snorkel gear, jungle views, and a boat ride back for $38.
“We loved this hike. The ocean was rough and the tide was high the day we went so the beaches were just beautiful rest spots. The hike was just challenging enough. Good shoes are definitely recommended and its certainly not flat walking. Our guide, Juan, was great. Highly recommend.”
Hike to six off-the-radar Puerto Vallarta beaches with a local guide, then swim and snorkel by secret coves.
“We had the best time, wonderful family day. Loved how informative our guide Juan was. Very friendly and had a great attitude. Would recommend!”
Los Arcos Islands boat tour from Puerto Vallarta with guided snorkeling in a marine park, bird-cave stops, and a short bus ride.
“Armand was an awesome guide! We had such a great time and Armand was very knowledgeable about the area. PS- the water is cold! Bring a wetsuit.”
Speed across PV’s coast for optional cliff jumps, snorkeling at Los Arcos, and a boat-only hidden beach.
“Max was a fabulous host. Cliff jumping was a great start to the day. Just the right amount of snorkeling for the size of the reef. Great day!”
Snorkel Puerto Vallarta’s Islas Marietas with a small-group biologist-led trip, plus a possible Hidden Beach swim under strict rules.
“We went in a small group which was nice we got to see the hidden beach! Then we snorkeled and saw pretty fish, waves were a little bumpy so I recommend medicine if you get sea sick.”
Half-day snorkeling at Los Arcos de Mismaloya from Puerto Vallarta with lunch, open-bar drinks, and a 30-minute swim.
Small-group Puerto Vallarta cruise for wild dolphin spotting with a biologist guide, plus snorkeling at Los Arcos de Mismaloya.
“Extremely well run operation, and fantastic staff - we had a wonderful time snorkeling with Dolphins!”
Two-tank scuba in Puerto Vallarta’s Banderas Bay with a 5-star PADI center, top gear, lunch, and standout marine life spots.
“Didn’t get to participate. I didn’t realize the trip was for certified divers and not as a scuba training course. I contacted to cancel. One person said I could cancel and get my money back while another told me that I could not after the original person told me I could. The second person was not friendly about the exchange and not getting my money back. Would not recommend as it is too difficult to cancel or even contact anybody as they make you speak with multiple people/companies to get anything done.”
Small-group snorkeling at Los Arcos with permits, gear, snacks, and attentive guides. Expect arches, rays, turtles, and wildlife.
“Great personalized attention on small boat excursion. I’m not an experienced snorkeler and they made it so easy. We saw loads of fish, a sea turtle and the first humpback whale of the season! Gracias to Angel, Carlos and the rest of the crew! Highly recommend.”
Private 6-hour sailing cruise from Marina Vallarta with Los Arcos views, snorkeling gear, guacamole snacks, and attentive crew.
“A private cruise is the way to go! The crew was incredibly helpful. They catered the tour to our needs by adjusting the tour to our time requirements and what we wanted to see and do. They let us sail to the best spots for swimming and snorkeling, and they provided us with delicious snacks and drinks along the way.”
Small-group scuba sessions to the Marietas Islands from Sayulita, with gear, boat transport, and two underwater windows for wildlife spotting in Banderas Bay.
“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…”
