Wall

ROCA ELEFANTE

Bullseye electric ray

Rare white color phase
Guinea fowl puffer

LOS CARRIZALES

Guinea fowl puffer

THE PYRAMIDS

U/W photography

Camo flounder

LA AHOGADA

Small cave

PEŅA BLANCA

Frigate birds

POINT "B"

Yellowtail surgeons

SHIPWRECK

Swim-through

Entry into wheelhouse

LA AUDIENCIA

Balloonfish

CLUB DE YATES

Gulf turtle

LAS BRISAS JETTY

Oyster on soft coral

L'RECIF

Green moray

Whether you're a novice diver taking your first lesson, or a serious advanced diver, there are many spots that are sure to make Manzanillo diving memorable.

Pacific coast diving is quite unlike the Caribbean, in that diving conditions change daily. Visibility varies from 15 to 100 ft., and water temperature can range anywhere from 63 to 87 degrees F. Before you go out on your own, check with Underworld Scuba/Scuba Shack  for an update.

LOS FRAILES (The Friars) BOAT DIVE
A group of detached rock pinnacles in the open ocean that have a maximum depth of 120 ft. About 10 minutes by boat from La Boquita in the Bay of Santiago, Los Frailes usually has good visibility ranging from 50-100 ft. The area is teaming with grouper, hogfish and triggerfish. Smaller fish, such as wrasses and scissortail damsels dart around the rocks, and inside the fissures and crevices, hundreds  of cardinalfish school together out of the current. The rocks are volcanic in origin and are covered with large gorgonians, starfish, encrusting stony corals and brightly-colored sponges. On almost every dive, a 5-6 foot green moray can be seen poking his head from his protective hole. Some of the more unusual animals that sporadically put in an appearance at Los Frailes include dolphins, sailfish, giant Pacific mantas, large schools of jacks, and Mexican barracuda. Can have currents; for advanced divers only.

ROCA ELEFANTE (Elephant Rock) BOAT DIVE
Another great site that can only be reached by boat. There are at least 4 different dives of varying depths that can be done in this area. Elephant Rock features underwater tunnels  through the mountain (about 50 yards in length), 2 swim-through underwater arches (the first opening into a high-walled canyon with a white sand bottom, the second is great fun, and you'll find out "how low can you go"!) There are squeeze-through crevices, shallow coral reefs, and a booming, surging blow-hole.  Schools of yellowtail surgeonfish and king angels swim by, right under the boat, and several species of puffers frequent the area. Other noteworthy dive buddies we've seen include turtles, a 30-foot whale shark (a harmless plankton eater), zebra and jewel morays, dolphins, giant Pacific mantas, and electric rays. This dive can be tailored to suit those of all abilities. Just like when you're playing online poker games or attempting to run a marathon, there are a number of options available to beginners which are just as enjoyable.
Depths from 20-100 ft. Beginning to advanced divers.

LOS CARRIZALES (The Reeds) BOAT DIVE
A quiet, deep bay about 20 minutes north of La Boquita, where it is said that more than a million dollars of Spanish gold and silver were lost in a storm more than 400 years ago. One never knows whether divers will happen across the treasure while exploring this uncharted bay, but it is guaranteed they will discover other living treasures of the sea. The "Grand Canyons of Carrizales" are awesome, and the numerous cracks and crevices in shallow water serve as habitats for octopus and lobster. A giant brain coral standing 15 feet high astounds divers, while the abundant sea life in every nook and cranny tantalizes the eye. Four different dives can be done in this deep cut cove. Depths from 25 to 100 feet. Beginning to advanced divers.

THE PYRAMIDS BOAT DIVE
A spectacular diving area. Beginning in shallow water you'll see schools of grunts and yellowtail surgeonfish. There are many small holes and fissures where zebra and jewel morays hide. You'll be diving in and out and around pyramid-shaped volcanic rocks, crevices filled with big-eyed squirrelfish and grunts, and looking for octopi and eels poking their noses out of small cracks. Depth to 60 ft. Beginning to advanced divers.

LA AHOGADA or "Drowned Rock"  BOAT DIVE
Aptly named because with good visibility you can see a huge boulder about 25 feet beneath the surface. Walls and canyons, and a small cave filled with scissortail damselfish make this an interesting dive with depths of up to 70 feet. Look for spotted eagle rays, large triggerfish, some smaller parrotfish, and octopus. Beginning to advanced divers.

PENA  BLANCA  BOAT DIVE
An enormous white rock that is often visited by whales and giant Pacific manta rays. It is aptly named because its color is due to bird droppings from the brown booby, frigate birds and Pacific brown pelicans, who nest on this isolated, exposed rock. Volcanic fissures and crevices, small caves and deeper depths make this dive worth remembering. Prolific and colorful sea life, an occasional shark, black coral, virtually unexplored regions. About a 40-minute boat ride from La Boquita, this diving area is designed for experienced divers. Depths from 45-100+ feet.

THE POINT  BOAT DIVE
The northernmost point of Santiago Bay is a popular diving location. Schools of king angels, yellowtail surgeons and various species of puffer fish are your diving companions. A very rare fish for the Pacific coast, the Popeye Catalufa, is often seen in this location. This area is mostly rocky, and closer to shore, a hard coral, nicknamed "broccoli" coral grows on the rocks. This type of coral is home to coral crabs, sharp-nosed puffers, hawkfish, tiny juvenile damselfish, and wrasses. Depth to 50 ft. Easy dive.

"SAN LUCIANO"  SHIPWRECK  BOAT OR BEACH DIVE
Visit Manzanillo's most famous shipwreck, an 85-year-old cargo steamship that sunk in the hurricane of 1959. One of 9 ships that went down in the worst storm on record for Manzanillo. Resting in only 25 ft. of water, it still has compartments to explore, and has a large variety of sea life, from eels to huge schools of balloonfish, reef cornetfish, grunts and snappers. Another common resident, though very difficult to find, is the seahorse. Up to eight horses have been found on one dive. Their colors range from yellow to orange, to almost white. Another species blends in perfectly with the colors on the wreck. This 300-foot-long behemoth is suitable for beginning to advanced divers. Beginners or advanced divers.

PLAYA LA AUDIENCIA  BEACH DIVE
This normally quiet cove on the Peninsula de Santiago has diving on both sides close to the rocky shore. On the left, or south side, it is shallow (no deeper than 20 ft.), and has a variety of fish, including schools of yellowtail surgeons, butterflyfish and porcupine puffers. You also should see at least 2 species of eels, Acapulco damselfish, and soft corals and sponges. Very interesting underwater landscaping with coral-encrusted rocks, and swim-through crevices. Look closely for feather duster and "Christmas Tree" worms that pop back into their tubular homes whenever you brush your finger near them. (No touching, please!) On the north side of La Audiencia, many favorites, such as the Cortez Angelfish, reef cornetfish and balloonfish await your arrival. The underwater terrain consists of large boulders, rocky ledges, and crevices. Easy dive.

PLAYA CLUB DE YATES (PLAYA LA PERLA)  BEACH DIVE
This is a small beach that is actually part of Playa La Audiencia. Yacht Club Beach usually is calmer, and there is less motorized water sport traffic. You can dive both sides of this tiny cove, or you can use your compass to take a 10-minute swim out to the rocks that are straight out in the center of the bay. Turtles have been seen near here, as have spotted eagle rays, large schools of pufferfish, butterflyfish, and yellowtail surgeonfish. The surgeons usually feed in the shallow, surging water at the point on the right-hand side.

LAS BRISAS JETTY (HARBOR ENTRANCE)  BEACH DIVE
Manzanillo Bay's southernmost point is a long breaker at the entrance to the port. The most memorable thing about this area is the huge schools of stripped grunts, needlefish, and sergeant majors that swim effortlessly around the manmade rock habitat. You'll also see bright yellow colonial cup coral, fluorescent green encrusting stony coral, and pale pink gorgonians. The closer you get to the end of the jetty, the lower the visibility, but the fish become so thick you can barely see the rocks. Watch out for an occasional current during tide changes. Be aware if the current starts pulling you out. Sometimes, the closer you get to the end of the jetty, the stronger the current.

L'RECIF  BEACH DIVE
A small private beach that is actually part of the Vida del Mar complex located on the Peninsula de Juluapan. Although it has a magnificent coral reef right off the beach on the right hand side, Vida del Mar is a gated community, and you will have to know someone in the complex to get through the security. Conditions can change rapidly, and are unpredictable, so dive with extreme caution. The beach entry is over rocks and pebbles being picked up and rolled with the surf, so having boots and heal-strap fins can make it easier for you to get in and out. Although this area can be very calm (usually in the early morning and at sunset), sometimes the waves crash against the rocks with astounding force. This area is not for poor swimmers and beginners.

There are many other unexplored coves north of Santiago Bay, such as Copper Belt and The Elevator. When conditions permit, every location where you drop anchor has something special to offer. All of these areas make Manzanillo's diving and snorkeling something to remember, especially when winter-summer temperatures average 76-86 degrees. For underwater videos, click here.

Go to: www.gomanzanillo.com for information about Manzanillo.