Surf Scuba Safari

Our PADI-certified SCUBA lessons begin at a pool where we start learning safe diving skills. We then hike to a remote beach campsite, only accessible by foot or boat, where our SCUBA gear and instructors await us. Dives, appropriate for all levels, take us from the shallows to off-shore wrecks and islands. When not exploring the wonders of the deep we enjoy surfing, boogie boarding, volleyball and fishing.

We are joined by experienced instructors on an exciting overnight survival skills course near the 17th century mountain town of San Sebastián. Our goal is to use only what we find in nature and our imagination to survive this unique adventure!

Surfing at Boca de los Iguanas beach camp includes surfing and boogie boarding in the morning, afternoon sea kayaking, then beach cook-outs and campfires at night. Local town visits give us a chance to habla español.

The Playa Mayto Sea Turtle Service Project helps to save thousands of sea turtles through daily protection of nesting beaches. We help out by translocating eggs, patrolling beaches and releasing baby turtles. Our adventure ends with an amazing canopy tour, zipline, swimming holes and a farewell fiesta.

All students must pass a thorough SCUBA diving physical and cannot have used an inhaler or suffered from asthma in the past three years. For those not wishing to SCUBA dive, alternative water activities are available.

» Day 1:
You will be met upon arrival at the airport gate by your experienced AAVE expedition leaders. After a complete gear check, to assure that you are prepared for the diverse, demanding and remote regions we explore, we load up our custom vehicles and head off! During orientation we get to know each other and learn what to expect in the days ahead. Our daily routine, jobs and safety rules are explained and the process of growing together as a group begins. We can stop to pick up some cheap guitars, tambourines, drums, and other instruments so we can jam around the campfire at night.

» Day 2:
Today begins with our first morning scuba training class. This lesson is broken down into two parts. The first part is dry theory with the instructor teaching not only the how but also the why in basic equipment knowledge, communication and equalization skills. The second part is pool work in 4ft. of water where students will practice the basic theory they gained and gradually work their way to deeper waters of the pool. (NOTE: Only after successful completion of this morning course will students be allowed to join the scuba tours offered in the subsequent days.)

After lunch we pack up our bags and load them on to our support boat. We will be dropped off at the trailhead and hike into our remote beach camp at Quimixto. This beach is only accessible by boat or foot and will be our home for the next few nights. We overnight at our Quimixto beach camp.

» Day 3:
Today we board our scuba boat and head to Majahuita for our first day diving. After diving, we will return to camp and enjoy lunch. The afternoon is free for playing beach games and having our first surf lesson. Overnight at our Quimixto beach surf camp.


» Days 4:
Morning surfing and boogie boarding on the beach, afternoon river hike to a waterfall. Overnight at our Quimixto beach surf camp.

» Days 5:
Morning surfing and boogie boarding on the beach, afternoon, scuba dive off of our boat in Los Arcos. Overnight at our Quimixto beach surf camp.

» Day 6:
Morning fishing with the locals and in the afternoon the whole group enjoys cooking a typical Mexican beach BBQ with fresh fish. Overnight at our Quimixto beach surf camp.

» Day 7:
Morning boat back to our van waiting for us to head into the mountains to the 17th century mining town of San Sebastian. After our 2 hour drive up the windy roads into the mountains, we pull into the San Sebastian Plaza and head straight for papeler’a and general store of Mar’a Francisca Perez Hern‡ndez to get a cool drink! Step back in time and stretch out your legs by visiting the town, including the Museo de Do–a Conchita, and the restored 17th century church, dedicated to Saint Sebasti‡n all in the center of town. As one of the oldest mining towns in Mexico, San Sebastian reached its glory in the 1700's during which time it was a highly prosperous Colonial town. It now remains as a living museum of how villagers lived and worked in a remote mountain town. We will have a typical taco lunch at Lupita's Taco Shop and then head to the spectacular lookout close to the top of the landmark mountain La Bufa (elevation about 8,400 ft.). We can park the van and then hike up over 1,000 ft. into the unexpectedly cool mountain air to the sweeping views that look down to the Pacific. We enjoy dinner back on the cobblestone streets of the town.

» Day 8:
This morning we head out to tour the ruins of "La Quiteria", the most famous local archeological mine site. About five miles from town, this mine was one of the main reasons that the coastal city of Puerto Vallarta was founded. The machinery, the bare walls, gaping processing pits, and great ore tailings are all that remain of a mine that produced millions in gold and silver before closing around 1930. After lunch we will meet with a traditional family, visit their home, watch them grind coffee beans and make homemade tortillas. We can even have a hand at tortilla making! We will visit one family who runs a coffee plantation and grows indigenous tangy-sweet arrayan and limas, an orange-lemon hybrid.

» Day 9:
After breakfast, we pack up our van and head back to the coast! We have a 2 hour drive back to the coast and then a 3 hour drive to our next beach camp. We break for lunch en route and get to our campsite with time for beach games and a refreshing swim before making dinner together at camp. We overnight at our Boca de los Iguanas beach surf camp.

» Day 10:
Surfing and boogie boarding in the morning, afternoon sea kayaking. Overnight at our Boca de los Iguanas beach surf camp.

» Day 11:
Surfing and boogie boarding in the morning, lunch in town, kayak back to camp in the afternoon. Overnight at our Boca de los Iguanas beach surf camp.

» Day 12:
Morning mangrove tour. Surfing and boogie boarding in the afternoon. Overnight at our Boca de los Iguanas beach surf camp.

» Day 13:
Final Day Surf Competition and beach BBQ. Overnight at our Boca de los Iguanas beach surf camp.

» Day 14:
Pack up, snorkeling and beach picnic at Chamela en route to our camp at Playa Mayto. Night hike to hot spring. Overnight at our Playa Mayto beach surf camp.

» Days 15-16:
Sea Turtle Service Project: This coast on the Eastern Pacific, is one of the most important beach systems for nesting sea turtles in the world. Despite protection by Mexican law since 1986, human depredation of leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), black (Chelonia agassizii) and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles continues illegally in this area. Various governmental organizations and NGOs are working to restore populations in this region through the daily patrolling of nesting beaches during the reproductive season, and by locating nests and translocating eggs to incubate and hatch in protected hatcheries. Volunteer Options include: To patrol beaches on a nightly basis looking for nesting sea turtles. When found, turtles are measured, and checked for general health conditions. Nests are then collected and relocated and protected in hatcheries. Hatchery duties include monitoring for hatching baby turtles and releasing them into the ocean, as well as post hatching nest excavations to determine success rates.

» Day 17:
We are up early to do our final camp clean up before heading northwards. We will arrive to El Eden mid-morning where we will spend the entire day enjoying the amazing ziplines and swimming holes of this paradisiacal water wonderland. We then head into town for our last night Farewell Fiesta.

» Day 18:
Today we will get an early start and return to Puerto Vallerta, sharing our memories, and relishing our friendships and unforgettable experiences of the past 18 days.