El Morro
Puerto Vallarta · Mexico
El Morro is an exposed rocky headland near the tip of Punta de Mita that funnels current and concentrates marine life in the northern reaches of Banderas Bay. The site is best known for giant manta rays — sometimes 20 or more in a single session — that come to cleaning stations on the rock faces. Scalloped hammerheads visit in the deeper blue water off the point. The reef structure itself is richly encrusted and reliably productive for photography.
Conditions
Depth
10 to 40 m
Advanced depths
Current
Can be moderate
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
12 to 22 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
21 to 29°C
3mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 24 | 22 |
| Vis (m) | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
| Current | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Strong | Strong |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Cortez Rainbow Wrasse
Last confirmed May 27, 2026 · 51 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Pacific King Angelfish
Last confirmed Jun 18, 2026 · 34 records
Very likely
Most dives
Panamic Sergeant Major
Last confirmed May 20, 2026 · 29 records
Very likely
Most dives
Creolefish
Last confirmed May 25, 2026 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Green Sea Turtle
Last confirmed Dec 28, 2025 · 2 records
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Muricid Sea Snail
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Yellow Coral Crab
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Giant Manta Ray
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear