Diving from Playa del Carmen to Tulum

[mitchy]

Having trouble getting a true picture of how good the ocean diving is along this stretch. We are a group of 12 with 3 non-divers. We do not want to do Cozumel (already done this year). We will do one day of cenotes. Where is the best reef diving in this stretch of coast? For comparison sake, if Cozumel is a 10, how does it relate? Also looking to be close to some non-diving activities. We are looking at staying at an all inclusive resort.

Thanks for any input you may have.

 

[Scubanoobi]

I was there in November, I haven't been to Coz but compared to other places I've been I would say it's about a 6 out 10, my expectations were low but it was nice pleasant diving with lots of shrimp, crabs, morays and fish. Here is a short video of 3 dives at the north end of PDC that was representative of the diving I saw.

https://vimeo.com/111948884

I'm heading to Tulum next month.

There are lots of AI's from Cancun to Tulum so you'll have lots to choose from.

 

[ibj40]

Having trouble getting a true picture of how good the ocean diving is along this stretch. We are a group of 12 with 3 non-divers. We do not want to do Cozumel (already done this year). We will do one day of cenotes. Where is the best reef diving in this stretch of coast? For comparison sake, if Cozumel is a 10, how does it relate? Also looking to be close to some non-diving activities. We are looking at staying at an all inclusive resort.

Thanks for any input you may have.

We just got back from Puerto Aventuras, and it was great! This was our eleventh trip in ten years, and we are always impressed with the health of the reef. The first two trips we stayed at the Catalonia (which is an AI inside the PA compound), and every trip we dive with Dive Aventuras. I began diving in Cozumel in the mid 80's, and dove there repeatedly (sometimes three or four times a year) for almost two decades. I am not sure it is appropriate to compare diving along the Riveria Mayan mainland and Cozumel; but if you want to put them on a composite scale of all factors related to diving (reef health, fish populations, ease and simplicity of diving including access to good dive sites), while Cozumel might have the excitement of drift dives and lots of structure, the mainland makes up for it by being a very entertaining, comfortable diving experience.

And if you want excitement, if you dive there often enough, you will get to experience this.



I apologize for the poor quality, but if you look at the left side of this picture you will see a 6’ - 8’ Bull Shark.

We saw her (Divemaster thought it was a pregnant female) on our second dive. These sightings are rare in the area (as compared to the Bull Shark dive in Playa del Carmen where they are fed), and the Divemaster (who dives an average of six days a week, at least two if not three dives a day) says that in the past decade of diving where we were, he has only seen five.

The last time he saw one was two years ago, also on a dive with my wife and I.

And PA is conveniently located to both Playa del Carmen (if you are looking for night life) and that whole stretch of HIghway 307 running from Cancun to Tulum.

If you need more specifics, please feel free to PM me.