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Ixtapa Zihuatanejo - Scuba diving, Snorkeling and Surfing

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All prices are approximate and for reference
purposes only
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If
scuba diving is your vice or if you have declared yourself an "aquaholic",
you have just come to the right place because Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo can
offer you WORLD CLASS DIVING without world class crowds.

We
have over 30 great sites around us and we are sure that you will run out
of vacation time before you run out of the diversity of sites we have
around.
Some
of ours first class sites are: Morro de Potosí, Piedra Solitaria,
Sacramento, Bajo de Jaime, Bajo de Chato, Bajo del Borracho, Manzanillo,
Cueva de la Gata and many others. Some less spectacular sites but still
worthwhile are: Las Gatas, Contramar and Caleta de Chon, among many
others.
Local
diving shops and schools have many options for you. From beginners up to
experts, even for first timers with a fast and very safe training by a
professional instructor. Certification courses are also available by some certified NAUI or PADI facilities with bilingual
instructors if you are interested on it.

Dives
start at US$75.00 including equipment and supervision by a qualified
guide/instructor or you can bring your own equipment if you feel more
comfortable with it.
If
you are a Certified Diver bring proof of it, so they may log your dives
or in case you decide to take an upgrading course. If you are a first
timer, please don't take risks, take a safe course with a qualified
divers school.
Diving
shops offer one and two air-tanks dives. Day and evenings dives and some
schools offer night outings for those who like extra excitement and adventures. Remember that you'll
have continuous guidance by qualified instructor.
Also,
you may take a specialty course that some
local schools are certified for and offer. |
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Basic
recommendations for first timers. Do not eat solid foods the last 12
hours before your dive, do not dive if you have breathing or ears
problems, you must not fly for at least 20 hours after your last dive
or you may have very serious health problems because of the nitrogen in
you blood. The instructor will advice you about all this, take it
seriously and follow instructions!!!
In
case of a decompression emergency at the Navy Hospital in Ixtapa they have a
Hyperbaric Chamber operated by qualified personnel and available for all
divers.
We
also have some great snorkeling areas (diving with mask, air tube and
optional flippers). The best sites are located in
Playa Las Gatas, Playa Manzanillo
beaches and at Ixtapa Island. |
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Snorkel
equipment is available for rent at Las Gatas and at the Island. Most
shops have a set fee for as long as you want to use it. Of course, you
have to return the equipment before the shop closes down for the day.
Take an I.D. along, they may ask you for one as a guarantee for the
return of the rented equipment.
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To
see a map with a list of excellent sites for scuba diving and snorkeling, with approx. location, rating and
dive-site's name
(a pop-up window will open).
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When
in town, try to take a look at the "Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Guía de
Buceo 98" ('98 Diving Guide) that some dive shops still have
around. It is really full of detailed information about all our
diving sites and very worthwhile to peek at. Picture on left
side is in
the cover of the guide.
Average
annual water temperature is 79 degrees Fahrenheit or 26 degrees Celsius.
For experienced divers it is recommended to bring your own "wetsuit"
(3mm) as help against possible scratches. |
By
the way, do you know what the word SCUBA means?... answer at bottom of page.

IN MEMORY OF
OLIVERIO MACIEL DIAZ
"King Neptune"
1924 - 2001† |
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The
best diver in the history of Zihuatanejo. His life was dedicated
to the sea and diving. Great promoter of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo land
he loved deeply. Founder of the first diving school in
Zihuatanejo. Excellent guide, instructor and teacher of several
generations of divers from his shop at Playa Las Gatas beach. He
collaborated with Jacques Cousteau when he made documentaries
in Mexico and traveled with him on his ship Calypso. For his
great experience at sea he was hired to act in films like
Tintorera (Blue shark), The Child and the Sea, Stories of King Neptune, among
several others. Charismatic, hospitable, good-natured, a
character and a legend of Zihuatanejo. They say that if
reincarnation exists, Oliverio will return as a fish.
Zihuatanejo will remember him forever. |
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For
those who love surfing, definitively
we do not have the big waves of other resorts like Hawaii, Australia,
etc. but also our waters are not so dangerous. Nonetheless, in
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo and nearby areas you will find
very good places for a full day of fun surfing.
In
our resort we had very important tournament such as The Latin-American Tour
with rating for the World Surfing Tournament, among others. For information
of upcoming surfing activities check "News & Events"
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Within
our town, Las Escolleras and
Playa Linda beach are your best spots and
other option is
Playa Las Gatas beach. If
you don't mind traveling a bit, only 30 to 45 minutes away there is
La Saladita and El Rancho or
in the other direction, La
Barrita, all of them with bigger waves, and just 60 minutes away is
Playa Petacalco beach in the town of the same name with usually the
biggest waves in our region. Other places are
Manzanillo Bay and Majahua in
nearby Troncones. |
Local
surfing shops offer boards for rental and some also for wind-surfing.
Rental
boards are usually the short type or styrofoam body for inexperience
surfers. If you are accustom to use the
professional ones, then we recommend to bring your own. No problem with
customs if you are coming from abroad.
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For
further information you may contact the local representative of "Asociacion
de Surfing del Estado de Guerrero A.C." (Guerrero's State Surfing Assoc.) at e-mail
catchalola333@prodigy.net.mx |
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For
surf forecast and reports of our area
(Courtesy surf-forecast.com, new window will open)

Answer
to the SCUBA question... its the abbreviation of
Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, neat ah!
Another
answer submitted by a visitor...
Seldom Comes Up Breathing Again... it is a joke, but that might
be true for some irresponsible divers, don't be one of them!
LISTING... |
CATCHA L'OLA SURFING.
Surfing lessons, surfing trips, shop, surfboards and bodyboards rentals and repair.
Centro Comercial Kiosco, L12, Ixtapa.
553-1384.
www.ixtapasurf.com |
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for advertisers |
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