Puerto Vallarta & Banderas Bay · Mexico · Reef
La Corbeteña
Low arches, fish schools and nurse sharks asleep in caves
La Corbeteña is an islet in the open sea outside Banderas Bay and the most remote dive site in the bay, dived from 18 to 43 m (60 to 140 ft). It is full of low arches and schools of tropical fish, with nurse sharks sleeping in small caves by day. It is for experienced divers only and is visited only once or twice a year.
Also known as Corbetena.
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
La Corbeteña is dived from 18 m (60 ft) down to 43 m (140 ft). A small construction on the islet once served as a lighthouse, and two deep rock falls drop away on either side of the rock. The rock is full of low arches, and innumerable small schools of tropical fish move around them.
Small caves cut into the rock, and nurse sharks sleep in them during the day. The west side of the rock is normally protected from currents and has a shallow area. There are no safe places for snorkelling, so boats carry no snorkelling passengers and the crew focus only on the safety of the divers, which is why the site is kept for experienced divers only.
Marine life and season
- Reef fish swarms
| 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
- The rock is in the open sea outside the bay, with two deep rock falls and dives to 43 m (140 ft); the west side is normally protected from currents.
Dive videos
MISMALOYA,La Corbeteña Bart, Julian,Gaby,Lily Chipol..wmv · Chipol Guzman on YouTube
Sources
- Diving Sites in Banderas Bay — Banderas Scuba Republic
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