Discover Scuba Diving - Cozumel, Playa del Carmen or Cancun?

[Dorota]

Hello everybody! I'd like to know your advice which of the sites would be the best for DSD. I've done it once in Coron and it was amazing. I'm now travelling in Mexico and it seems a good place for my second experience since after Coron I have high standards I'm afraid
I'm particularly interested in marine life and reef. I was told that without certicitation I'm not allowed to dive in Cozumel in the spots which make it better than Playa del Carmen. If it's true it doesn't make sence for me to go there since I will be coming only for that and Cozumel itself doesn't seem a place for me at all. I didn't like Playa del Carmen neither so if there is not a big difference between PdC, Cozumel and Cancun, Cancun would be the most logigal choice for me since I'm flying out from there and I'll be there anyway.
The second thing is I'll be there around 25-26.12 and I'm allergic to crowds so I'd like to choose the least painful option.
I tried to google it but it was pretty overhelming so I try to ask good souls fot their subjective advice

Thank you in advance!

 

[Scuba Legends]

Hellow Dorota.

Well first of all, i am afraid that the dates you choose for your trip aren't the best for crowd sickness .

Anyway if you are really interested in marine life definetelly Cozumel is your better option.

In Cozumel the best dives are about swim troughts and amazing corak formations, yes marine life aswell. But the really explosion of life happens shallow enought for any level of diving.

I did plenty of DSDs in Cozumel and it was amazing for me as much as for my students.

This doesn't mean that you will not enjoy your DSD in Playa or Cancun. If you have to choose, i would say then stay in cancun or go to Isla Mujeres.

But Cozumel is worth of a trip. Is a world top diving destination and you wilm be so cloose by...

Check out this article, it wi be helpfull for you:

Top Diving Destinations: Riviera Maya

I wish you a very nice trip. Let us know how was your DSD.

Happy Bubbles

Gery #scubalegends

http://www.facebook.com/scubalegends

http://www.scubalegends.wordpress.com

 

[Dorota]

Thank you very much!

I know it's going to be crowded... I didn't really choose those dates, it's just that I'm taking a plane from Cancun on the 27th and I decided I'd like to dive before I fly out, diving was not the main thing in my trip.

I watched some videos and what people put on youtube from DSD in Cozumel doesn't beat what I find for DSD Cancun and Playa (although it may be mistaking of course, but also the lists of the best diving sites in Cozmel in fact show mostly too deep ones for me). So I think I'm choosing between Playa and Cancun now (I'd also like to relax at least a little bit before going home and getting to Cozumel it's a bit a hassle with the time limits I have and makes it less likely...).

Do I understand well that you find Cancun diving better than Playa del Carmen (I guess by going to Isla Mujeres you mean Manchones Reef)? I read some reviews saying that it's different but I'm not sure what that "different" means. Is it about MUSA which I guess is something new comparing to reefs ecc?

Another thing is that the bull shark season starts in Playa, I'm not sure it's possible to spot them during DSD.

 

[northernone]

With personal interests different and every day different diving it is really a good decision any of the locations you are considering.... I've has great and (somewhat) poor dives in these places.

I'd recommend cozumel for somewhat healthier life but that's debatable.

Enjoy your experience.
Cameron

 

[Scuba Legends]

Hy Dorota,

I would say any of the choices are more than ok for a DSD.

About the Bull Sharks. Normally to spot them they take you quite deep and they generally ask for some experience. So it is far from a DSD border.

That doesn't mean that for a Lucky Strike one of then comes to visit you on your dive. But this is something tha happens very rarely.

One of the seasons that i was working there was crazy, the bull sharks spread all around the coast and was pretty easy to spot them in many dive sites were normally you wouldn't

But i would not go to playa just because of that, because honestly the chances that you see a bullshark while doing a DSD are very little.

I hope to hear about your DSD once you've done it. Where you went? How was it? Anything Special?

Happy Bubbles

Gery #scubalegends

http://www.scubalegends.wordpress.com

http://www.facebook.com/scubalegends

 

[halocline]

Bull sharks and discover scuba, what a combination!

I'm not that familiar with the sites used for discover scuba on Cozumel, my niece did one once and it was from shore, not really in the marine park. Maybe there are some DSD classes offered around a place called the money bar which I believe is a part of paradise reef. That's very nice, probably better than anything in Cancun. You might ask about it on the Cozumel forum, you'll get lots of helpful replies.

Another option is to go south from Playa to Akumal or Puerto Aventuras. These places are less crowded than Playa or Cancun and there is some nice diving down there.

Have fun!