Puerto Vallarta & Banderas Bay · Mexico · Wreck
Princesa Vallarta wreck
A former Banderas Bay snorkelling boat, among 10 or 11 sunken ships
The Princesa Vallarta was one of the snorkelling boats that crossed Banderas Bay to Los Arcos and Las Animas. Since 2016 it has rested less than 200 m off Las Gemelas beach with another 10 or 11 ships, the deepest at 38 m (125 ft). The boat itself lies from 21 to 27 m (70 to 90 ft). Sea turtles live on it and big groupers sometimes visit.
Also known as Princesa Vallarta.
Where it is and how deep
20.5524° N, 105.2707° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The Princesa Vallarta once carried snorkellers across the bay to Los Arcos and Las Animas. Since 2016 it has lain on the bottom less than 200 m from Las Gemelas beach, one of 10 or 11 ships resting there, with the deepest of them at 38 m (125 ft). Dives in the ship field run from 17 m (55 ft) to 41 m (135 ft).
Close to the bottom at around 17 m (55 ft) lies a mid-size sailing boat, and a minute or two to the north-west a second sailing boat lies face down. Beyond it is the Princesa Vallarta, from 21 m (70 ft) at its high part to 27 m (90 ft) at the bottom. Some sea turtles live on it and big groupers sometimes visit. Strong currents are not usual; summer is the best time, as winter brings low visibility.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Princesa Vallarta
- Type
- Snorkelling tour boat
- Sunk
- 2016
- Cause
- Cause not recorded
- Lies
- Less than 200 m off Las Gemelas beach, from 21 m (70 ft) at the high part to 27 m (90 ft) at the bottom
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Groupers
| 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 ship field reaches 41 m (135 ft); divers watch depth and no-decompression time when moving toward the deepest ships.
Dive videos
Princesa Vallarta graveyard · BANDERAS SCUBA REPUBLIC on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Princesa Vallarta wreck?+
The Princesa Vallarta lies from 21 m (70 ft) at its high part to 27 m (90 ft) at the bottom. Dives in the surrounding ship field run from 17 to 41 m (55 to 135 ft).
Sources
- Diving Sites in Banderas Bay — Banderas Scuba Republic
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