Diving in Mexico Suggestions & Tips

[MalteseDiver]

Hi everyone.

I'm an AOW certified diver going to Mexico next year (March time) for a wedding. I was looking at perhaps going diving in Mexico but I'm not really finding any PADI centres there on Google that seem to be trust worthy and provide good qualified DMs.

Would you guys have any tips and suggestions for places that offer the best diving experience and are reliable?

Thanks!

 

[Norwegian Cave Diver]

Where in Mexico? Riviera side?

 

[Steelyeyes]

Loreto in Baja Sur has a couple of good dive shops that are very safety minded.
Cozumel has a lot of them.
I went diving in Puerto Vallarta with a company that's no longer operating. I wasn't impressed with them but there are others.

 

[MalteseDiver]

Where in Mexico? Riviera side?

We're going to start off in Mexico City and I believe we're going to road trip towards the Gulf Side of things..

Sorry I'm not from the US so might not know the locations that well I was thinking Cancun

 

[Norwegian Cave Diver]

Ok Cancun side. Clearest water on the gulf side. Good choice. Playa del Carmen area is very popular place to stay and all the way to Tulum. Lots of shops to choose from. If your staying at a resort then see if they have a dive shop on site. You most likely won't get the best diving that way but it will be very convenient. Since your an AOW diver maybe you want to consider adding to your choice a Cenote? Most popular is Dos Ohos.

 

[jonhall]

Since your trip is a ways off, you have some time to research and gather some info. When some people talk about Cancun they may be talking about the stretch of shoreline all the way down to Playa del Carmen, which is about an hour away. Once you know for sure where exactly you're staying, that will help people here on SB narrow down places for you. Puerto Morelos is about 30-35 minutes south of Cancun and has some nice resorts and pretty good diving (protected national park). The dive op, Dive in Puerto Morelos, is a block from the water and was PADI affiliated when I dove with them several years ago. Welcome to Dive in Puerto Morelos Small boat but small groups of divers.

 

[Louisville Diver]

Since your trip is a ways off, you have some time to research and gather some info. When some people talk about Cancun they may be talking about the stretch of shoreline all the way down to Playa del Carmen, which is about an hour away. Once you know for sure where exactly you're staying, that will help people here on SB narrow down places for you. Puerto Morelos is about 30-35 minutes south of Cancun and has some nice resorts and pretty good diving (protected national park). The dive op, Dive in Puerto Morelos, is a block from the water and was PADI affiliated when I dove with them several years ago. Welcome to Dive in Puerto Morelos Small boat but small groups of divers.

I'll chime in another vote for Puerto Morelos - great food and gorgeous beaches; there are some nice little posadas in addition to the resorts, and several dive shops along with protected reef. There's also a fun, easy wreck.

You're also within about 40 minutes of a dozen diveable cenotes (caverns) which are ideal if wind conditions limit reef trips, and its a great jump off point to go do land trips to Chichen Itza and Tulum.

 

[scrane]

Personally, I would not consider such a long road trip in a potentially turbulent country such as Mexico. Neither would I choose mainland Quintana Roo as a dive destination. Why not fly to Cancun or directly to Cozumel and dive in Cozumel?

 

[driftwood]

Cancun is a long way from Mexico City (DF) at the eastern tip of the Yucatan. A lot of shops in DF do their open water classes in Acapulco. Heading east to the Gulf, haven't heard of much diving in the area. Both are "road trip" distances.

I agree with scrane, better to fly into either CUN or CZM and dive there. CUN will give you more flight options back to Europe, but the diving is better on Cozumel.

 

[MalteseDiver]

Thanks for all of your suggestion everyone! I'll keep them in mind. Once I have more information, I'll report back.