Diviing Playa

[industrious95]

Hi Chillidog,

I'm headed to Playa in a week and a half and I'm going to use "Beyond Diving," he's got quite a few nice comments about him here. I'll try to write up a little report about the diving and the dive operation when I return.

Not doing the cenotes, I'm an ocean guy. I'm hoping to get in a "Bull Shark Dive" but he said they may be gone by the first week in February. Time will tell. From the posts I read, it appears he takes divers out on a boat owned by Diversity Divers, and if you google photos of it, it's a lot nicer than the big rowboats with outboards I remember from my last trip to Cozumel. It looks like a flat-bottom boat, so a little sea sickness prevention may be a good idea. I'll probably put a scope patch on, unless it's really calm and forecast to stay that way. Why ruin a dive day?

 

[nodakdive]

This is kind of weird, one off thing, but just south of Playa is an RV park/town called Paamul. There's a hotel, a restaurant, RVs with palapas built around them and a dive shop, scubamex.com.
They do one tank in the morning, and one in the afternoon if there are enough divers. The boat rides are extremely short from the shop, like 5 minutes or maybe even less, and that's at low throttle. The restaurant has really good food and is said to be owned by a famous Mexican soccer star and a famous Mexican chef. Who knows, but the food is really good if a little more expensive. The shop is owned by Texas ex-pats who've been diving there since the late 60's. (Actually, one of the owners, Lester, passed away a few years ago, but John Everett is still around as far as I know.) If you wanted a really relaxed day at the beach with a tank or two of diving, this is a cool place. There's a reef about 100 yards out front for snorkeling too. During the weekdays, the beach has almost no people on it. On the weekends, it's mostly local people. Apparently it's one of the few beaches along the coast where locals can go without paying to be on a resort beach.

It's a whole different thing than diving with a shop out of Playa, which will be much like diving in Cancun or Cozumel, but if it sounds interesting to you, check out Scuba-Mex Dive Center - Home

I stayed there for a week a few years ago, and did my second resort dive there years before that. It's an odd little slice...

 

[Tool Belt]

Looking the SCUBA-Max web site gallery they are a little too "hands on" for my taste.

 

[ibj40]

Hello All,

We are thinking of going to Playa this June instead of Cozumel due to the lack of direct flights to the island (I don't fly well). Can anyone recommend a Dive Op over there? We use DWM when on Coz so something comparable would be great. We don't need to rent gear but like the small boats.

How is the diving from over there? Does Playa have it's own reefs or do they come towards Coz?

Thanks
Chilidog

Are you committed to PDC, or simply want to stay on the mainland somewhere and dive? If you aren't, I'd suggest Puerto Aventuras, which is about 50 miles south of PDC, and offers excellent diving opportunities, both in the ocean, as well as the cenotes. PM me for suggestions if PA sounds of interest.

Also, if you post this same question on the general Mexico Board, and not just the Cozumel one, you might get a few more objective responses.

 

[cvchief]

I just got invited to a wedding in Playa Del Carmen next December. I may be able to dive two days. Never been to Cozumel... So basically the verdict is to take the ferry and not even dive in Playa?

Are you committed to PDC, or simply want to stay on the mainland somewhere and dive? If you aren't, I'd suggest Puerto Aventuras, which is about 50 miles south of PDC, and offers excellent diving opportunities, both in the ocean, as well as the cenotes. PM me for suggestions if PA sounds of interest.

Also, if you post this same question on the general Mexico Board, and not just the Cozumel one, you might get a few more objective responses.

Apparently he is committed to PDC for a wedding from what was said. And you sure would get more objective opinions on the general board than on the Cozumel board where all we Coz-a-holics hang out. Probably not different opinions, but more objective.

 

[cvchief]

Looking the SCUBA-Max web site gallery they are a little too "hands on" for my taste.

Holy great day in the morning, they like hug everything.

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

"They have some really great diving in Playa" said no one ever....

What about Cenotes and the Bull shark dives? Is there anything in Coz that can match that?

 

[mediumone]

Looking the SCUBA-Max web site gallery they are a little too "hands on" for my taste.

John is a helluva long way from the warm fuzzy type. Don't think the hands on would be an issue.

Are you committed to PDC, or simply want to stay on the mainland somewhere and dive? If you aren't, I'd suggest Puerto Aventuras, which is about 50 miles south of PDC, and offers excellent diving opportunities, both in the ocean, as well as the cenotes. PM me for suggestions if PA sounds of interest.

Also, if you post this same question on the general Mexico Board, and not just the Cozumel one, you might get a few more objective responses.

Seriously? Have you ever been on the mainland? It's 24.7 km south, or 15.35 miles.

This is kind of weird, one off thing, but just south of Playa is an RV park/town called Paamul. There's a hotel, a restaurant, RVs with palapas built around them and a dive shop, scubamex.com.
They do one tank in the morning, and one in the afternoon if there are enough divers. The boat rides are extremely short from the shop, like 5 minutes or maybe even less, and that's at low throttle. The restaurant has really good food and is said to be owned by a famous Mexican soccer star and a famous Mexican chef. Who knows, but the food is really good if a little more expensive. The shop is owned by Texas ex-pats who've been diving there since the late 60's. (Actually, one of the owners, Lester, passed away a few years ago, but John Everett is still around as far as I know.) If you wanted a really relaxed day at the beach with a tank or two of diving, this is a cool place. There's a reef about 100 yards out front for snorkeling too. During the weekdays, the beach has almost no people on it. On the weekends, it's mostly local people. Apparently it's one of the few beaches along the coast where locals can go without paying to be on a resort beach.

It's a whole different thing than diving with a shop out of Playa, which will be much like diving in Cancun or Cozumel, but if it sounds interesting to you, check out Scuba-Mex Dive Center - Home

I stayed there for a week a few years ago, and did my second resort dive there years before that. It's an odd little slice...

Two is enough for the boat to go out -- as you said, the reefs are so close, that fuel costs are much less of a factor than Cozumel.

General consensus is that the food is mediocre when the kitchen is on, and always overpriced.

 

[ibj40]

Seriously? Have you ever been on the mainland? It's 24.7 km south, or 15.35 miles.

My mistake, it is about 50 miles south of the Cancun airport, and yes I have been on the mainland, it was a typograpical error for which I take full and irrevocable responsibility.

 

[Chilidog11]

We love Puerto Aventuras. We have stayed at Dreams several times. Unfortunately, since they put the Dolphins in, their prices have gotten to high for us. I know the Cat is reasonable but don't really like what I read about it.