Dive Review of Manta Scuba Diving in
Mexico (Western)/Cabo San Lucas

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Manta Scuba Diving, Apr, 2010, by Paul M Price, GA, US ( 1 report). Report 5431.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations	N/A	Food	N/A
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Since we were on a cruise ship I wanted to avoid the "herd mentality" of cruise ship diving and decided to conduct some research utilizing the Chapbook. An UC diver in 2007 gave Manta a pretty decent review so we booked a one day, two tank, local dive package. Big mistake. There were four divers and the divemaster. We arrived early at the Manta Dive Shop and they immediately took care of my rental equipment needs but left my buddy hanging until we asked for assistance more than once. They rigged gear but needed prompting to go over the operation of the unfamiliar BC operation with my novice dive buddy. Boat set up was decent with a canopy covering, limited storage, bottles of water, no rinse capability, mandatory roll off the side and a climb back up the ladder. Did not observe any first aid equipment or O2 but in fairness to them I did not ask either. DM gave a decent brief with the standard comment to surface at 500 PSI. DM needed to be prodded to review basic safety procedures. Boat Captain hit a moored boat at low speed as soon as we got underway so it crossed my mind to give him a sobriety test or offer to assume Captain duties. Our first dive was on Pelican Rock which is literally just off the main channel that runs along the rock formations that all of the harbor traffic utilizes. We grouped at the anchor line and went down together. Dozens of fishing boats, sightseeing boats and other dive boats were transiting overhead the entire dive. I knew surfacing could end up being hazardous to everyone on the dive. Typical reef fish, several grouper of modest size and star fish. Visibility is apparently more limited this time of year but the constant boat traffic contributed to the silty view. Max depth of 70 feet but mostly spent at 40 to 50 ft. We surfaced directly under our boat whose engine was not running. This was without a doubt the best way to protect ourselves from the other boat traffic. Had a safety stop at 20 ft of 5 minutes. Profile kept us out of the water for 40 minutes and we dove the "North Wall" about 45 minutes after our first dive. Big disapointment with a long sloping white sandy bottom to get there and limited marine life. Coral was in fair shape. We did see a 4-5 ft Manta resting on the bottom at about 35 feet. Once again boat traffic was a problem along with the issue of other groups of divers in the vicinity and probably 30 snorklers paddling around on the surface. All in all I would not suggest any level diver sign up for the local dives with Manta. I take partial responsibility for our poor experience since I should have asked more questions about destinations dive sites when I corresponded with them via email. They do offer other locations that are about a 30 minute ride away and I am confident it would have been a much better experience. Manta was a so so operation and I would be cautious in endorsing it to others...
Websites	Manta Scuba Diving
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	All over the world.
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	choppy
Water Temp	70-72°F / 21-22°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	25-30 Ft/ 8-9 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Had to remain in close proximity to the dive master who had a surface flag attached to his BC. With signifiant boat traffic overhead I concur with the requirement.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments

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Dive Review of Manta Scuba Diving in Mexico (Western)/Cabo San Lucas

Manta Scuba Diving, Apr, 2010,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Manta Scuba Diving in
Mexico (Western)/Cabo San Lucas