Let’s be honest, if you’re travelling to Mexico specifically for diving, you’re not going to come to Puerto Escondido. The draw of the Yucatan Peninsula with its clear waters and abundant marine life - along with the famous cenotes - are paradise for divers. But if you find yourself in the area, is it worth diving in the Pacific Ocean? Read on for my experience.
The surfer town of Puerto Escondido is on the Pacific coast in the state of Oaxaca and a night bus away from Oaxaca City. The long beach of Zicotela has a strip of obnoxious, westernised cafes, bars and restaurants and some places to stay. The sea is so rough that only the brave and/or those with surf boards venture into the water. But the water contains many wonders if only you’ll look. I flip flopped my way to visit Aventura Submarina dive shop to find out more.
A huge thanks to Deakin and Blue who supplied me with the sustainable swimwear. I love it! Stand by for a full review...
Instructor Diego and owner Jorge welcomed me warmly and talked me through the dive sites that they have here. There are a range of options within a 20 minute boat ride and the rocky bottom provides a great habitat for eels, angel, puffer, box, lobster and numerous other aquatic life forms. The all important question for me was visibility. The only things I’d managed to find out online had been complaints about the lack of clear water. It’s not the Caribbean but for our dives it was 10-15 metres.
We were going out as a group of four. I was efficiently kitted out with a nice new and colourful wetsuit before a briefing and the short truck ride to the boat. Our first site was just 5 minutes away. With a further briefing and a backward roll we were in. There was plenty to see and it was fun peering into the cracks between the rocks. Diego was great at spotting and even spied some nudibranches (I would never have noticed!).
Our relaxed surface interval was in a quiet patch of ocean where a turtle poked its head above water. The second dive was similar and included a massive lobster and loads of grumpy looking eels!
The whole trip was great. Diego said to me that it’s diving like friends. Aventura Submarina isn’t a super-swanky operation. Don’t expect free snacks, or glossy brochures. It is a friendly and welcoming shop with good equipment and knowledge, and an openness to explore the watery world. If you’re in town then I highly recommend diving with Aventura Submarina.
Have you dived on this coast? Let me know what you thought. Especially if you managed to find a nicer part of town than I did!
We were going out as a group of four. I was efficiently kitted out with a nice new and colourful wetsuit before a briefing and the short truck ride to the boat. Our first site was just 5 minutes away. With a further briefing and a backward roll we were in. There was plenty to see and it was fun peering into the cracks between the rocks. Diego was great at spotting and even spied some nudibranches (I would never have noticed!).
Our relaxed surface interval was in a quiet patch of ocean where a turtle poked its head above water. The second dive was similar and included a massive lobster and loads of grumpy looking eels!
The whole trip was great. Diego said to me that it’s diving like friends. Aventura Submarina isn’t a super-swanky operation. Don’t expect free snacks, or glossy brochures. It is a friendly and welcoming shop with good equipment and knowledge, and an openness to explore the watery world. If you’re in town then I highly recommend diving with Aventura Submarina.
Have you dived on this coast? Let me know what you thought. Especially if you managed to find a nicer part of town than I did!
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