El Chimo is the southernmost dive point in Banderas Bay, 70 to 80 minutes by boat from Puerto Vallarta, dived from 18 to 43 m (60 to 140 ft). It is a meeting place for giant mantas, with fish schools, moray eels and sea turtles. Depth and current limit it to experienced divers with more than 50 dives.
Also known as El Chimo - Las Iglesias.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Puerto Vallarta & Banderas Bay and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
El Chimo is a deep dive: the profile starts at 18 m (60 ft) and goes down to 43 m (140 ft). With depth and current together, it is recommended only for experienced divers with more than 50 dives, and not for a first dive after a long time out of the water. The boat ride from Puerto Vallarta takes 70 to 80 minutes.
The rock formations here have two openings at their base that recall the portico of a church, and the dive spots are called Potrerillo, Torrecillas and Iglesias. The site is full of fish schools, moray eels, corals and sponges, sea turtles are seen many times, and it is known as a meeting place for giant mantas.
Marine life and season
- Manta rays
- Sea turtles
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
Season follows Puerto Vallarta & Banderas Bay: June to November is warm and opens the open-sea islets to the north; from December the sea outside the bay roughens and 20 m water can fall to 13 °C.
Know before you go
- Depth to 43 m (140 ft) and current; divers need recent experience and close watch on depth and gas.
Dive videos
scuba diving Chimo · silentworlddivers on YouTube
Sources
- Diving Sites in Banderas Bay — Banderas Scuba Republic
Photo credits
- A ridge of rugged rock reef rising from the seabed in blue-green water, seen underwater by ChrisDag, CC BY 2.0, via Openverse
More dive sites in Puerto Vallarta & Banderas Bay
Reef
A tunnel through the whole rock, from 37 m up to 15 m
Volcanic islands with hard coral, sea fans and passing manta rays
Reef
Low arches, fish schools and nurse sharks asleep in caves
A no-take islet reef with a wall that drops from 18 m to 37 m
Reef
A garden eel colony dense enough to look like grass
A former Banderas Bay snorkelling boat, among 10 or 11 sunken ships
Similar dives elsewhere
A winter carpet of rays in the cove, small caves on the rock.
Sea turtles on the inner coral plate, eagle rays at La Grieta.
Rated advanced for swift current rather than for depth.
The only known reef dominated by blushing star coral