Playa Del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is located in the heart of the Riviera Maya, about 40 miles / 65 km south of Cancun, and directly across from Cozumel island.  Having quickly grown from a small fishing village to a bustling cosmopolitan town, Playa is able to offer guests the widest range of activities, accommodations, and dining in the Caribbean. Whether you are a back-packing student or an international jetsetter, Playa has something to offer! 

When it comes to diving, Playa's central location allows divers to get the most from their diving holiday! With the rich fish life of the local reefs, the unparalleled beauty of the Cenote cavern diving, and the world renowned wall diving of Cozumel, Playa is surrounded by some of the world's best and most varied diving.  Let us help make your vacation unforgettable. 

About us

Accommodation

More information coming soon.

Diving

The only dive shop that takes a MAXIMUM of 4 divers per instructors !!!!
Our instructors are highly experienced (with more than 3000 dives each) which represents a must in quality and security and of course all of them are PADI Instructors.
A full time PADI Course Director guarantees the full compliance of diving standards and the quality of our services.
We speak English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.

DIVE TRIPS

EQUIPMENT RENTAL (10 USD / DAY)
Full set of equipment.

1 TANK DIVE (49 USD)
Those dive are usually between 40 ft (12 mts) and 50 ft ( 15mts) on a nice reef with a lot of colorful sea life.

2 TANK DIVE (79 USD)
During this trip you will dive twice on two different fantastic reefs. Those dives have a strong reputation for the big sea life (giant sea turtles, giant barracudas, the incredible tarpoons, the marlin...)

NIGHT DIVE (59 USD)
1 night dive on a coral reef

CENOTES (99 USD)
2 dives in 2 different cenotes with a certified guide, transportation, entrance fees, lunch and drinks, equipment included...large cavern filled with fresh water......you will discover the unique and beautiful world of the Mayan Cenotes. Unlimited visibility, incredible sensations of flying between stalactites and stalagmites. You will never forget it... "the dive of a life time"... very easy to dive for all divers.

COZUMEL (89 USD)
2 dives in 2 different reefs. Very famous dive area with a fantastic wall dive (drop off) descending to 2000 feet..... the colors and sponges will just amaze you... one of the top 10 dive in the world......

Cenote diving

The Yucatan peninsula's natural history is unique in the world.  Having spanned millions of years underwater as a coral reef, the Yucatan was later dried up as the ocean levels dropped.  Throughout this dry time, the limestone was carved out and dissolved into an elaborate system of underground caves and tunnels, covered in majestic stalactite and stalagmite rock formations.  Once past the ice age, the Cenotes naturally filled  with fresh water and developed into the "sacred wells" of the Maya civilization, providing the main source of drinking water and considered to have spiritual and healing properties. 

Diving these magical underwater caverns is unique and breathtaking.  With the thick green jungle surrounding you, let us guide you through the crystalline waters of the Cenotes.  No special certification is required, only a good understanding of buoyancy control and a few special rules, and a big smile!

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        
Difficulty  Moderate        
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  14m / 45 ft        
Bottom Time  45 - 60 min        
Current  Moderate - Strong        
Difficulty  Easy/Moderate        
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  14m / 45 ft        
Bottom Time  45 - 60 min        
Current  Moderate - Strong        
Difficulty  Moderate        
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 Ship Wreck           
Travel Time  15 min        
Max Depth  28 m / 92 ft        
Bottom Time  25 - 40 min        
Current  Moderate - Strong        
Difficulty  Moderate/Hard        
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        
Difficulty  Moderate        
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        
Difficulty  Easy        
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.        
 

Shangri-la           
Travel Time  4 min        
Max Depth  10 m / 33 ft        
Bottom Time  45 - 60 min        
Current  Weak        
Difficulty  Easy        
Description  Next to Jardines, this dive shares similar sea life with less depth and generally milder currents.  The large cavern in the middle of the dive has even, on occasion, held a napping nurse shark.  Take it slow and enjoy the small stuff!        
 

Chunzumbul           
Travel Time  5 min        
Max Depth  10 m / 33 ft        
Bottom Time  45 - 60 min        
Current  Weak        
Difficulty  Easy        
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        
Difficulty  Easy        
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        
Difficulty  Easy/Moderate        
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        
Difficulty  Moderate/Hard        
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        
Difficulty  Moderate/Hard        
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  15min        
Max Depth  30 m / 100 ft        
Bottom Time  30 - 40 min        
Current  Moderate - Strong        
Difficulty  Hard        
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        
Difficulty  Easy        
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.

Attractions

RUINS  
Tulum  
Distance 40 miles / 65 km South
Opening Hours 7 am - 6 pm (Winter); 8 am - 7 pm (Summer)
Prices $50 MN +
Description Tulum, meaning wall or fence in Maya, is the most picturesque of the local archeological sites as it is located on a ragged cliff overlooking the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.  This Pre-Columbian Maya walled city was a major port town most active in 1200 - 1500 AD.  While it is one of the smallest sites, it is also one of the prettiest and can easily be enjoyed together with a stroll on the adjacent long white-sand beach.

Cobá  
Distance 76 miles / 120 km Southwest
Opening Hours 7 am - 6 pm (Winter); 8 am - 7 pm (Summer)
Prices $50 MN +
Description Cobá, meaning ruffled waters in Maya, has one of the most impressive histories of the region with the largest area and tallest structures.  Once thought to have held up to 100,000 inhabitants and covering an area of over 80 km2/30 mi2, Cobá was an thriving city spanning centuries from its height in 500 - 900 AD to its final collapse in the 12th century.  While few of its estimated 6500 structures have been cleared and restored, the site is majestic and peaceful.  Rent a bicycle and stroll through the jungle paths.  Special note: the Great Pyramid and its 120 steps is one of the last climbable ruins in the area and well worth the breathtaking view from atop.
 

Chichén Itzá  
Distance 168 miles / 270 km West
Opening Hours 9 am - 5 pm; Lightshow 7 pm (Fall/Winter), 8 pm (Spring/Summer)
Prices $100 MN +
Description Chichen Itza, meaning at the mouth of the well of Itza, a powerful ethnic lineage of the region, is the second most visited archeological site in Mexico.  It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and recently voted one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.  Its uniqueness lies in that in its heyday from around 550 AD - 800 AD, it acted mainly as a ceremonial center for the Maya civilization, however was subsequently taken over by the Toltec people in 1000 AD. Having been largely cleared and restored over the last century, Chichen Itza is a full-day tour rich with sights and historical information.  Of particular interest are the Spring and Fall Equinox celebrations when thousands gather to witness the natural light and shadow effects along the pyramid of Kukulcan.  Special Note: visitors are no longer permitted to enter nor climb the pyramids as stricter rules are in place to help preserve the site.
 

ACTIVITIES  
Xcaret  
Distance 4 miles / 6 km South
Opening Hours 8:30 am - 9 pm (Winter): 8:30 am - 10 pm (Summer)
Prices $69 USD +
Website www.xcaret.com
Description Xcaret is an ecological theme park mixing culture, ecology and Mexican wildlife.  Amongst its attractions you can find Underground Rivers, a Butterfly Pavilion, a Beach, Inlets and Xcaret’s one of a kind night show “Xcaret Mexico Spectacular”.  It is a fun-filled day with great water and land activities.  Particularly nice for families and groups!

XelHa  
Distance 30 miles / 48 km South
Opening Hours 8:30 am - 6 pm 
Prices $75 USD +
Website www.xelha.com
Description XelHa is a water theme park featuring a wide variety of water activities such as snorkeling, an aquarium, an underground river, and a dolphin show.  While it offer fewer activities and is more economical than Xcaret, it is said to have a simpler more natural beauty. Again, a great day for groups or families!

Xplor  
Distance 4 miles / 6 km South
Opening Hours 9 am - 6 pm
Prices $99 USD +
Website www.xplor.travel
Description Xplor is the latest theme park to open in the area.  Catering to the adventure-seekers, it offers exhilarating tours on underground rafts, swimming through underground rivers, thrilling zip lines, and amphibious vehicles.  A fun and action-packed day, Xplor is a unique way to visit jungle and cenotes.

Sharks

From snorkelling with the biggest and gentle fish in the world to an adrenaline dive with bullsharks, all is possible in the riviera maya.

Whalesharks

The whaleshark is the biggest fish in the world, it can grow up to 12.2 m. (40 ft.) in length and can weigh up to 13.6 tonnes.
Despite its enormous size, it does not pose any danger to humans since it feeds on phytoplankton, macro-algae, plankton, krill and small nektonic life, such as small squid or vertebrates.
You can snorkel with this gentle giant on our daily trip to Holbox Island.

Bullsharks

You can dive with bullsharks right here in Playa in a specific dive site.
We don't feed the sharks since we want to give our costumers the safest experience possible.

Gallery

Copyright Fisheye Photo & Armando Elizalde

Dive Shop

Safety - Quality - Fun: this is our target.
We use High quality equipment : Scubapro regulators and wet suits, BCD with 2 purges, DAN oxygen kit, comfortable and shaded new boats, classroom for the courses, private pool for the confined water part of the courses, small groups with each instructor.

We sell the best selection of Scubapro equipment available in the area.

2 Air Conditioned classrooms for watching videos or studying.

Hot water showers and safety boxes

High quality Scubapro equipment

  
3 Speedboats with yamaha motors and sun protection.
Eva: 36ft 2x 200 HP
Bata: 33ft 2x 150 HP
Poseidon: 29ft 2x 85 HP