Diving in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen sits along the second largest barrier reef in the world, the 600 mile/965 km-long Mesoamerican reef. Famous for its abundance of fish life and variety of dive sites, Playa offers amazing dives for all levels. The fantastic drift dives are famous for big animal life such as turtles, groupers, barracuda, and tarpon. The macro-lovers will also be pleased as treasures abound on Playa’s reefs such as seahorses, pipefish, fire worms, and all sorts of tiny shrimp and crabs. Let our instructors and their keen eyes guide you through this aquarium of life.

2 Tank Dive

$69

All dives include full equipment.
Water and snacks will be provided on the 2T dives.
NITROX available on demand. $6 per tank.
Cancellations/alterations must be made 24 hours prior to planned activity. Later cancellations may be subject to cancellation fees.

Playa Dive Sites

Tortugas (turtle reef)

	Travel Time	15 min
	Max Depth	15 – 30 m / 50 – 100 ft
	Bottom Time	40 – 50 min
	Current	Moderate – Strong
	Skill Level	Intermediate
	Description	Playa’s most famous dive site due to the abundance of turtles (Greens, Hawksbills, and the occasional Loggerhead). This flat-bottom reef is rich with barrel sponges and a plethora of larger animals such as barracuda, groupers, and tarpon.

Barracuda

	Travel Time	15 min
	Max Depth	14 m / 45 ft
	Bottom Time	45 – 60 min
	Current	Moderate – Strong
	Skill Level	Novice/Intermediate
	Description	A finger-like wall dive with a white sandy bottom holds surprises at every corner. The small caverns and over-hangs are filled with large schools of grunts and snappers with hidden treasures of giant morays, tiny seahorses, and resting turtles.

Sabalos (Tarpon Reef)

	Travel Time	15 min
	Max Depth	14 m / 45 ft
	Bottom Time	45 – 60 min
	Current	Moderate – Strong
	Skill Level	Novice/Intermediate
	Description	Being next to Barracuda reef, this dive enjoys similar cavern formations and exceptionally large schools of colorful fish. The drastic turns and corners make it a slightly harder reef to navigate but you will be rewarded with the large animal life enjoying the currents: huge tarpon, schools of barracuda, and giant groupers just to name a few.

Mama Viña Shipwreck

	Travel Time	15 min
	Max Depth	28 m / 92 ft
	Bottom Time	25 – 40 min
	Current	Moderate – Strong
	Skill Level	Intermediate/Experienced
	Description	A shrimping boat sunk for divers in 1995, this shipwreck has quickly become a hangout for many schooling fish. Schools of spadefish, jacks, and barracuda can often be spotted around the wreck. While inside the cabins, you will be greeted by an aquarium of small colorful fish, green morays, and intricate coral growth.

Punta Venado (Deer Point)

	Travel Time	25 min
	Max Depth	20 – 30 m / 65 – 100 ft
	Bottom Time	30 – 40 min
	Current	Moderate – Strong
	Skill Level	Intermediate
	Description	Playa’s furthest southern reef and the richest in coral formations and sponges. Be sure to look in the nooks and crannies as the diversity on this reef is unparalleled. Eagle rays, nurse sharks, and large turtles are common sights on this lush drift dive.

Jardines (Gardens)

	Travel Time	3 min
	Max Depth	12 m / 40 ft
	Bottom Time	45 – 60 min
	Current	Weak
	Skill Level	Novice
	Description	Our closest reef, this relaxed shallower dive is a nursery for many tropical fish and crustaceans. The large schools of fish will impress even the seasoned divers. Be sure to look under the many overhangs to find morays, stingrays, shrimp and lobsters.

Chunzumbul

	Travel Time	5 min
	Max Depth	10 m / 33 ft
	Bottom Time	45 – 60 min
	Current	Weak
	Skill Level	Novice
	Description	Our longest shallow reef, this multi-layered dive is lush with large fan coral, sponges, and nooks and crannies filled with interesting life. Highlights can include snacking turtles, giant barracuda, and large stingrays off in the sandy areas.

Cueva del Pargo (Snapper Cave)

	Travel Time	6 min
	Max Depth	10 m / 33 ft
	Bottom Time	45 – 60 min
	Current	Weak
	Skill Level	Novice
	Description	As the name would indicate, this reef boasts a large circular overhang filled will schooling snappers. A great dive to feel submerged in fish life with very little current and lots of time to enjoy the underwater bustle.

Moc Che

	Travel Time	8 min
	Max Depth	15 m / 50 ft
	Bottom Time	40 – 50 min
	Current	Weak – Moderate
	Skill Level	Novice/Intermediate
	Description	Reaching all the way to the surface, this reef can also be used for snorkeling and offers intricate vertical formations. The small tunnel towards the end of the dive is home to a large green moray grumpily greeting divers as they swim through a school of grunts.

Moc Che Deep

	Travel Time	10 min
	Max Depth	30 m / 100 ft
	Bottom Time	30 – 40 min
	Current	Moderate – Strong
	Skill Level	Intermediate/Experienced
	Description	The first of the deeper wall dives, this long drift dive is rich with large coral formations, huge fans, and varied sea life. Make sure to look in the cracks and crevices for king crabs, green morays, and sleeping turtles.

Pared Verde (Green Wall)

	Travel Time	12 min
	Max Depth	30 m / 100 ft
	Bottom Time	30 – 40 min
	Current	Moderate – Strong
	Skill Level	Intermediate/Experienced
	Description	Directly after Moc Che Deep, this site boasts similar formations and life. In the winter months, it is also possible to spot bull sharks out in the sandy flats. Diving a multi-level profile on our wall dives will also allow for an extended bottom time to truly enjoy the site.

Los Arcos (The Arches)

	Travel Time	15 min
	Max Depth	30 m / 100 ft
	Bottom Time	30 – 40 min
	Current	Moderate – Strong
	Skill Level	Experienced
	Description	The furthest of our wall dives, this site is less uniform in shape making for interesting passages and formations. You can often spot a great barracuda or two cruising the reef or large stingrays resting on the sandy bottom.

Cerebros (Brains)

	Travel Time	20 min
	Max Depth	12 m / 40 ft
	Bottom Time	45 – 60 min
	Current	Weak
	Skill Level	Novice
	Description	True to its name, this reef is covered in large blocks of brain coral. Zigzagging around, you will find an abundance of lobsters, schools of grunts, and occasional eagle rays sweeping down over the reef. The narrow canyons throughout the dive make this site unique and one of our favorites after a deeper morning dive.