Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico is on the same latitude as Hawaii and the bottom structure is much the same. There are rocks, boulders, ledges, walls, pinnacles, canyons, coral, lava flows, cracks and crevices for divers to explore. The location is volcanic in origin and one can see evidence of early lava flows underwater. Water temperatures range from 72°F in the winter to 82°F and higher in the summer.It is much warmer seasonally than Cabo San Lucas or mid-Sea of Cortez for example.

Manzanillo bottom formations attract a wide diversity of fish and critters for you to watch. The diversity of fish life is fantastic and has been proclaimed so, by many groups and divers. Diving in Manzanillo is as good as Cancún and Acapulco without the crowds.

The most endangered turtle in the world, the hawksbill, has been observed in Manzanillo both by divers underwater and on the surface. Visibility varies based on the season, weather, wind and waves. Visibility can be very good in deeper spots more offshore but on the same day can be dismal in shallower waters if the sand is stirred up due to surge.

This stretch of Pacific Coast is home to a phenomenal number of fish of all shapes, sizes and colors. Some are spectacular with their coloring and others hide very well and are hard to spot. Manzanillo offers a variety of dive types suitable for everyone from a casual snorkeler to an advanced SCUBA diver.

There are “structured dives” where the main attraction is the bottom formation and there are “critter dives” where you can see a wide diversity of fish. There are offshore sites that have appeal to advanced divers due to the shifting currents and ocean swell. There are sites closer to shore that are suitable for novice divers.

The "La Boquita" beach has a wreck just offshore that can be explored by any level of diver. This wreck went down in the hurricane of 1959, the only category 5 ever to hit the Manzanillo area. More information on this wreck is available online. Divers that have been through some formal training know that when diving in a new area or situation they will benefit from an orientation dive. This can be as simple as dropping into the local dive shop and talking to the staff to working with a dive instructor on an actual dive that will show you what it is like. An example is a diver that learns to dive in a freshwater lake is best trained to dive in freshwater lakes. If they venture to a coast and want to make surf entries from shore it is a good idea to learn from and observe a more experienced diver in surf entries. You learn the tips and tricks from a professional rather than have a nasty experience getting thrown around like you were inside a washing machine. .

All pictures supplied by Terry Sovil - Aquatic Sports Adventures

Article written by Terry Sovil