DIVE PLAYA
The
type of dive along Playa del Carmen is a drift dive which allow divers to admire the beautiful flora
and fauna in a very effortless and relaxing way because you simply
glide with the current and feel the rush of flying under the water.
The water temperature normally stays between 26ºC/78ºF and 30ºC/86ºF
(we still wear a 3mm wetsuit) and visibility varies from 20m/60ft
to 30m/90ft , always depending on weather and ocean conditions.
The most important concern while diving in the Mayan Riviera is
safety and conservation. For the safety of all divers it is important
to stay within the recreational dive limits (no deeper than 30m/90ft),
and be careful not to touch or disturb marine life. We strongly
do not support/allow marine life feeding or/and touching, we define
our operation as ecological, recreational and safe.
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By MAURO BIANCO |
Cerebros
(brain)
This is the most northern dive site in Playa del Carmen. It got this name
due to the large amount of coral brains that you will find as you dive
in this reef. Here live lobsters, king crabs, shrimps and eels. It is
the typical second dive after diving in Arcos. The maximum depth is 13m/39ft. |
By MAURO
BIANCO
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Los
Arcos
It gets its name from the two arches that divers
can explore. It also has a wall section, which is 5m/15ft high that is
covered by hard corals, sponges and sea fans. The sandy area is home for
turtles and stingrays. When the water is colder it is common to see bull
sharks and if you are very lucky, you might see whale sharks, mantas and
large mammals passing this place on their migratory travels. The maximum
depth is 29m/87ft. |
By MAURO BIANCO
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Pared
Verde (green wall)
If you are a walls lover, then this is a place you shouldn't miss
while diving in Playa. At the beginning you'll find small walls divided
by sandy areas, as you advance through the reef you'll find the main wall
with a spectacular coral formation full of large and small marine life.
It is pretty common to see sharks cruising this wall along side the typical
marine life of the Caribbean Sea. At ¾ of your dive you may find a chimney
which you can penetrate and start your ascend from it. The current could
be strong some days. The maximum depth is 28m/84ft. |
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Moc-Che
Deep
In this reef, the current normally travels south
to north but it is possible that it will change suddenly, although it
is a very easy dive. You will likely discover a large diversity of corals
on the wall which is home for lobsters, moray eels, crabs normally lives
inside of sponges, and it is very common to see turtles, schools of jacks,
stingrays, groupers, and patrolling great barracudas among others. In
the wintertime, when the water is colder, it is possible to find bull
sharks crossing the reef... f you are lucky enough. The maximum depth is
27m/81ft. |
By MAURO
BIANCO
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Moc-Che
Shallow
This is the shortest between the shallow dive sites
in Playa del Carmen, although it has a very impressive amount of flora and
fauna for all divers to enjoy. At the end of the reef you'll find a little
tunnel, which normally is home to schools of tropical fish, and if you are
lucky, you'll meet a huge green moray eel, which has been living there for
years. The maximum depth is 13m/39ft. |
By MAURO
BIANCO |
Ciun-zunbul
Reef ("There's no bins" in Mayan)
This is one of the longest and shallowest reefs
in the area. The best days to visit it is when the current is very slow.
Right in the middle of the reef you'll find the most colorful section
of it. Take your time to look for all kind of creatures, which live inside
of the little holes that you'll find along the reef. The maximum depth
is 10m/30ft. |
By MAURO
BIANCO |
Jardines
Reef (Gardens)
This reef takes its name from the abundant vegetation
and large amount of sponges, hard corals and sea fans. We take our time
to admire the variety of schools of tropical fishes, moray eels and all
that the ocean is in the mood to allow us to see. Maximum depth is 11m/33ft.
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By MAURO
BIANCO |
Sabalos
Reef (Tarpon)
This
is one of the most demanding shallow dives in Playa del Carmen due its strong
current, so we recommend staying close to the bottom where the current is
not as strong. The reef is composed by soft and hard corals and you'll find
many sea stars and schools of fish along this spectacular reef, close to
the end of the reef you'll find a little cave to explore. The maximum depth
of this reef is 15m/45ft. |
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Inna
The typical second dive after Punta Venado is Imma. This is a nice reef
decorated by a large amount of corals, fans and sponges, being a perfect
shelter for small fish, eels and some turtles. It is common to see great
barracudas patrolling this reef. Sometimes the current can be a bit strong
but it is easy to find protection by staying close to the sandy bottom.
The maximum depth is 14m/42ft. |
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Tortuga
Reef (Turtle)
Is one of Playa del Carmen's most popular dive site
due to the large amount of sea turtles, which live here. The reef is covered
by corals and sponges, where it is common to find king crabs, nurse sharks,
angelfish, groupers and tarpons among other type of marine life. As a
recreational dive, we make a line of diving between 18m/54ft and 23m/69ft,
letting the current carry us from south to north (which is the normal
current flow in this reef.) |
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Barracuda
Reef
Barracuda
is the typical second dive after Mama Viña Wreck, the reef has the shape
of a hand and we can find a huge amount of marine life in its hundreds of
little holes. The current is normally medium so we recommend staying over
the sand at the reef's edge. At the end of the reef there's a little cave,
which take to an exit on the top of the reef. The maximum depth of this
reef is 13m/39ft. |
By RICHARD
REBELLEDO |
Mama
Viña Wreck
This
shrimp boat was sunk in 1995 for scuba dive activities, at the present,
it is covered by the reef presenting abundant marine life, which has adopted
it as their home. Barracudas, stingrays, spotted and green moray eels and
schools of tropical fish are common in this wreck. Our diving line has a
maximum depth of 27m/81ft and we can penetrate the main deck to observe
the remains of this beautiful ship. |
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Punta
Venado
This is the most southern reef you can dive in Playa del Carmen. It will
take about 15 minutes to get there by boat. In this area, like the northern
area of playa, it is possible to see whale sharks and mantas, but remember,
this kind of marine life is not typical and you need to be very lucky to
see them. On the other hand, you'll find the large variety of marine life
typical of this ocean, nurse sharks, bull sharks, sting rays, turtles, schools
of tarpons and many other species. The maximum depth is 33m/99ft and it
is a multilevel dive, which can be done only by advanced divers. We take
only experienced divers to this dive site. |
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