Diving in Playa del Carmen area

[scubacanuck39]

I am staying in the Grand Sunset Princess All Suites Resort & Spa 5 in Playa del Carmen. I have never been here before, and was wondering if anyone can recommend a dive shop that I should go with. Also, does anyone recommend some special dives in the area.

 

[flyboy08]

If you want free Nitrox, then ProDive....for more, I'd try the search button above.

 

[northernone]

That area is famous for fresh water centote cavern dives and more controversially being next door to Cozumel ialand which has superb ocean wall dives.

 

[jonhall]

Dressel Divers will provide transportation from your resort to their location at their Iberostar resort. Convenient because they provide transportation, are easy to work with, friendly staff, and well organized. The negative is that the dive times are limited to about 45-50 minutes (staying on a schedule) and the transportation back to your resort leaves pretty much at a set time. If you get back early from a dive you may have to sit around on the beach a bit until the ride arrives. Package deals are available on their website which can include going to Cozumel, a cenote, and a night dive.

The other way to do it (assuming you don't have a car rental) is to take a taxi to another dive op which you can find several doing a search or by waiting for others to respond to this thread. I'm limited on diving along the mainland coast, have only been along Playa del Carmen up to Puerto Morelos, but Puerto Morelos has a protected marine area and I enjoyed the diving a lot there. It's probably a 20-25 minute taxi ride from your resort.

 

[JamesBon92007]

We dived with Scuba Playa (not to be confused with Playa Scuba) and thought they were excellent. They are walking distance from Centro but you might need a taxi if your resort is in Zona Hotel. I have nothing against Playa Scuba, I just don't know them.

The local reef dives were fun and interesting with lots of sea life and it's only about a 3 minute boat ride to some of them. Then, of course, there are the cenotes which northernone mentioned. And, as was also mentioned, Cozumel is just a short ferry ride away.

 

[BertStevens]

Several years ago I dove with Vida Aquática Dive Center. Really enjoyed the personal service and concierge service.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

I can highly recommend Nicolas from CenoteXperience - Cavern, Cave and Ocean Diving in Playa del Carmen Yucatan Mexico - Home I have been diving with Nico and his brother Martin for over 7 years. They are great guys, excellent dive guides and they love what they do. They have a small family dive shop in Playa. I would definitely look into a couple of cenote dives. Tell Nico that Steve From Canada sent you

 

[motorref]

I used Jason at Fantasea Diving (Fantasea Dive: Diving Playa Del Carmen, Dive shop, Cenotes, Technical and full Cave diving ) and had a blast; they arranged everything, including Cenote trips (NOT to be missed!) and I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.
I've heard many good things about Scuba Playa, and may try them next time I'm there.
The only drawback that I remember was that the boats are small and did not have regular ladders - you climb in over the side. Water entry was back rolls - pretty easy.
OW dives were all drift dives, and we encountered a couple of bull sharks, even had one get up close and very personal with me (no problems)!
When I go again (next Feb. to Coz) I am taking my wife and daughters over to do Cenotes - these were absolutely the highlights of my trip!

KevinL