After extensive research, we decided to do our diving with Manta. Since we were staying on the “other side” of the marina, we were given daily rides to the shop from the Main Dock (about a block and-a-half from our room) in one of Manta’s boats. This was a nice service, saving us a good deal of money in cab fare.
Manta has three boats, the Manta (28’
, the Manta I (35’ equipped with fresh water shower hose and head) and the Mantita (26’. We spent all our time on the Manta and Mantita. Both had ample shade (which was good, since it was 90+ degrees each day with extremely high humidity), but there was no a lot of room to move around. Being a full-service dive op, Manta divemasters set up our gear prior to each dive. I double-checked both my gear and that of my buddy before splashing each time and never found anything out of place, air was always on, etc.
Though we did not rent gear (outside of tanks/weights), I did have the opportunity to see their rental gear in the shop and in use by other divers. Everything appeared to be in good condition and I heard no complaints nor saw any problems with their equipment.
Manta has to be the safest outfit I have ever dived with. The very first site you go to when you begin diving with them is Pelican Rock. This is an easy dive, albeit deep, where the divemasters check your buoyancy, ease in the water, etc.
Method of entry is backroll off the side. Getting back on board is a bit trickier. Once you complete a dive, you have to remove your gear in the water and hand it up to a crew member, then climb a metal ladder that’s hooked over the side of the boat. Thanks goodness I had my Wheaties before this trip.
We found one divemaster to be a bit “touchy” with the marine life, which I have been told is the norm in that area. When he would pull an octopus out of his lair or make a puffer puff up, I would simply swim on by without taking a photo. A second divemaster, Mark, was much more “hands off” and it was clear he had a great respect for nature. He also took great pains to educate us about what we were seeing and could expect.
At the end of each day, Manta gave us a ride back to the Main Dock. In addition, they not only stored our equipment securely in their shop, but carried it from the shop to the boat and back each day.
In addition to local and Corridor diving, Manta offers day trips to Cabo Pulmo, Gorda Banks and La Paz. However, due to hurricane activity in the area, we were not able to take advantage of either of these expeditions.
OUR DIVES
Bottom composition was mainly rock and sand. This was very different diving than what we’re used to (Caribbean and tropical Atlantic), but still very nice, despite the churned up water and limited viz. We saw king angels, Moorish idols, goatfish, yellowtail surgeonfish, various eels, pompanos, cornetfish, groupers and hundreds of different variety of puffers on each dive. We repeated a couple sites, due to poor overall conditions. Safety stops were spent swimming around in shallow areas looking for critters instead of just “hanging out”, which was nice.
Day One
Pelican Rock/AKA Sand Falls (20-100’: 35-40’ viz., octopus, large scorpionfish, an orange Pacific seahorse, eels
North Wall (10’-90’: 25-40’ viz, solitary eagle ray on descent, eels, large frogfish
Day Two
Chileno (10-50’: Viz at this site was 10-15’ at best, due to Hurricane John, which had just recently passed through here, and another hurricane which was currently making its way up the Corridor. Due to so much debris in the water and huge amount of surge, I took no photos, but enjoyed the dive nonetheless. Completing this dive was a personal accomplishment for me in that I had never done an ocean dive in less than 50’ viz nor with such a large amount of surge.
Santa Maria (15-60’: Viz opened up to maybe 20-25’ at the end of this dive, orangeside triggers, eels, bumphead and bicolor parrots, Pacific mutton hamlets
Day Three
Pelican Rock: Viz about 40’, bumphead parrot, finescale triggerfish
Neptune’s Finger (25-100’: Viz approx. 40’, zebra eel, octopus, electric ray, nudibranch, Mexican hogfish
Day Four
Pelican Rock: Viz about 40’.
It was just me, my dive buddy and one other diver (Elizabeth) on the boat, today. Elizabeth had gotten her OW certification some time ago, so had just taken a quick refresher before this day. She was nervous and informed us that she had never dived in the open ocean before. I was quite impressed with the way Mark handled her, encouraging and supporting and all the while reminding and reinforcing skills necessary to make the dive.
My max. depth on this dive was 15’ before pain in my ear precluded me from continuing. I sat out the remainder on the boat, popping a couple Sudafed and hoping to make the next dive.
Neptune’s Finger: Viz 40-45’, small (juvenile?) eagle ray on bottom upon descent, large scorpionfish, two huge Panamic green eels in one lair, garden eels. My ear felt better, so I decided to give this dive a try. Mark reminded me to use the anchor line and to go very slowly, continuously clearing my ears as I went. As a result, I felt no ear discomfort and was able to complete the dive.
All things said, I do plan to return to Cabo San Lucas to dive as well as to Cabo Pulmo and La Paz, when things are a bit less stirred up. I was very impressed with Manta and will not hesitate to use them, again, as well as to recommend them to others travelling to Cabo.
Since this report is a bit lengthy, I will post more, later, regarding lodging, food, activities, etc. Anyone having any specific questions, feel free to PM me.
I have photos that I will post, later, also. Unfortunately, those uncaring heathens at my place of employment insisted upon me returning to work after my trip.
Manta has three boats, the Manta (28’
, the Manta I (35’ equipped with fresh water shower hose and head) and the Mantita (26’. We spent all our time on the Manta and Mantita. Both had ample shade (which was good, since it was 90+ degrees each day with extremely high humidity), but there was no a lot of room to move around. Being a full-service dive op, Manta divemasters set up our gear prior to each dive. I double-checked both my gear and that of my buddy before splashing each time and never found anything out of place, air was always on, etc.Though we did not rent gear (outside of tanks/weights), I did have the opportunity to see their rental gear in the shop and in use by other divers. Everything appeared to be in good condition and I heard no complaints nor saw any problems with their equipment.
Manta has to be the safest outfit I have ever dived with. The very first site you go to when you begin diving with them is Pelican Rock. This is an easy dive, albeit deep, where the divemasters check your buoyancy, ease in the water, etc.
Method of entry is backroll off the side. Getting back on board is a bit trickier. Once you complete a dive, you have to remove your gear in the water and hand it up to a crew member, then climb a metal ladder that’s hooked over the side of the boat. Thanks goodness I had my Wheaties before this trip.
We found one divemaster to be a bit “touchy” with the marine life, which I have been told is the norm in that area. When he would pull an octopus out of his lair or make a puffer puff up, I would simply swim on by without taking a photo. A second divemaster, Mark, was much more “hands off” and it was clear he had a great respect for nature. He also took great pains to educate us about what we were seeing and could expect.
At the end of each day, Manta gave us a ride back to the Main Dock. In addition, they not only stored our equipment securely in their shop, but carried it from the shop to the boat and back each day.
In addition to local and Corridor diving, Manta offers day trips to Cabo Pulmo, Gorda Banks and La Paz. However, due to hurricane activity in the area, we were not able to take advantage of either of these expeditions.
OUR DIVES
Bottom composition was mainly rock and sand. This was very different diving than what we’re used to (Caribbean and tropical Atlantic), but still very nice, despite the churned up water and limited viz. We saw king angels, Moorish idols, goatfish, yellowtail surgeonfish, various eels, pompanos, cornetfish, groupers and hundreds of different variety of puffers on each dive. We repeated a couple sites, due to poor overall conditions. Safety stops were spent swimming around in shallow areas looking for critters instead of just “hanging out”, which was nice.
Day One
Pelican Rock/AKA Sand Falls (20-100’
: 35-40’ viz., octopus, large scorpionfish, an orange Pacific seahorse, eelsNorth Wall (10’-90’
: 25-40’ viz, solitary eagle ray on descent, eels, large frogfishDay Two
Chileno (10-50’
: Viz at this site was 10-15’ at best, due to Hurricane John, which had just recently passed through here, and another hurricane which was currently making its way up the Corridor. Due to so much debris in the water and huge amount of surge, I took no photos, but enjoyed the dive nonetheless. Completing this dive was a personal accomplishment for me in that I had never done an ocean dive in less than 50’ viz nor with such a large amount of surge.Santa Maria (15-60’
: Viz opened up to maybe 20-25’ at the end of this dive, orangeside triggers, eels, bumphead and bicolor parrots, Pacific mutton hamletsDay Three
Pelican Rock: Viz about 40’, bumphead parrot, finescale triggerfish
Neptune’s Finger (25-100’
: Viz approx. 40’, zebra eel, octopus, electric ray, nudibranch, Mexican hogfishDay Four
Pelican Rock: Viz about 40’.
It was just me, my dive buddy and one other diver (Elizabeth) on the boat, today. Elizabeth had gotten her OW certification some time ago, so had just taken a quick refresher before this day. She was nervous and informed us that she had never dived in the open ocean before. I was quite impressed with the way Mark handled her, encouraging and supporting and all the while reminding and reinforcing skills necessary to make the dive.
My max. depth on this dive was 15’ before pain in my ear precluded me from continuing. I sat out the remainder on the boat, popping a couple Sudafed and hoping to make the next dive.
Neptune’s Finger: Viz 40-45’, small (juvenile?) eagle ray on bottom upon descent, large scorpionfish, two huge Panamic green eels in one lair, garden eels. My ear felt better, so I decided to give this dive a try. Mark reminded me to use the anchor line and to go very slowly, continuously clearing my ears as I went. As a result, I felt no ear discomfort and was able to complete the dive.
All things said, I do plan to return to Cabo San Lucas to dive as well as to Cabo Pulmo and La Paz, when things are a bit less stirred up. I was very impressed with Manta and will not hesitate to use them, again, as well as to recommend them to others travelling to Cabo.
Since this report is a bit lengthy, I will post more, later, regarding lodging, food, activities, etc. Anyone having any specific questions, feel free to PM me.
I have photos that I will post, later, also. Unfortunately, those uncaring heathens at my place of employment insisted upon me returning to work after my trip.
