Mexico trip advice / expectations

[Cdncoldwater]

We used to dive out of Puerto Aventuras with a dive op than the onsite, Pro Dive. We made over a dozen trips to PA beginning in 2004, the last one being in 2019. The dive op we used has changed hands since our last trip, so I cannot offer a recommendation.

That said, we really enjoyed the reef diving around PA. We always found the reefs to be very healthy, and the structure very inviting.

Not sure if Pro Dive offers cenotes, however if they do, I highly recommend you give them a try as well.

As you know, PA is, more or less, centrally located along the Riviera Maya, so you have access to a number of non-diving features. We often enjoyed going to Xcaret, as it offers an immersion into the Maya culture, as well as a wild-life experience.

Enjoy!

Awesome, thank you!

 

[Cdncoldwater]

I’ve been going to puerto aventuras a few times/year for many years to cave dive in the area. If you’re asking about the area in general, P.A. Is a big gated community with hotels, hundreds of condos, a big marina, golf course, lots of restaurants, things like that. It’s pretty self sufficient and it’s convenient if you’re there to dive. It’s not like ‘real’ Mexico by any stretch of the imagination, if that matters to you. One thing that’s pretty nice is that you can walk everywhere in there and it’s very safe and pleasant. There is a public beach, it’s not the greatest by local standards, but it’s right thee. Probably your resort has its own beach.

If you’re asking about the diving, I have never once gone diving in the ocean around there so I can’t comment. I’ve been to Cozumel more times than I can count and that is wonderful diving. For you staying in P.A., it would mean a taxi to playa del carmen (about 1/2hour) then the ferry to Coz. So doable but time consuming.

I have been in most of the cenotes that they offer tours in, and those are spectacular. Very different from true open water diving, but your son might not be ready for something like that with only 23 dives. You are in an overhead environment, and although there is visible light throughout, it’s very dim and you wouldn’t know it unless you covered up your light. They are proven to be safe in that every day hundreds of OW divers, some very inexperienced, dive in them and do fine. The few incidents I’ve heard of have resulted from OW divers straying out of the ‘cavern’ zone, which does have some light, and heading into the ‘cave’ zone, which does not and requires specialized training and gear. The reputable guides never take their clients into the cave zone. The cenotes do require good buoyancy and trim control and comfort with knowing that you cannot simply surface from where you are.

In terms of your gear, most people find that a 3 mil wetsuit is certainly sufficient for ocean diving (some people are fine in a rash guard only) and for the cenotes, 3 or 5 mil suit is typical. Those dives are not deep and they’re not long either, because you must reserve more air for the exit than on a typical open water dive.

Thank you, I considered a cenotes but I think it might be a bit complex for this trip. My son hasn’t dove in a few years so he’s doing a ReActivate and I don’t want to push the comfort levels at this point.

 

[Cdncoldwater]

I just got back from a trip to the same area but went diving with a different company. It was a great trip, but I have to say do as much Cenote diving as you can. The ocean diving in my experience was a little repetitive as it was all on similar reefs. I end up doing 6 Cenote dives and plan to go back in the future and only do Cenotes.

If you son wanted to get his advanced before the trip it could be helpful. Some of the best cenotes in my opinion (el pit and Angelita) require advanced certification.

Thank you, unfortunately he can’t get his advanced in time so that will have to be a future trip.

 

[Cdncoldwater]

Enjoy the warm water and calm diving, will be a nice change for you. You won't get as much action as Roatan , but you'll have fun. The world class diving in that area are the cenotes, worth at least one morning. Truly something different.

Thank you!

 

[Cdncoldwater]

I also don’t know much about PA diving. I’ve gone diving in Akumal just up the road and the highlights are the turtles. It looks like your dive shop offers a way to dive over on Cozumel and Cenote dives in addition to the PA ocean dives. You should definitely try both of those out to get a full flavor of the area’s diving. Cenotes will be a tour of the cavern zone (up to, but not going past the cave signs with the grim reaper). Cenotes do require decent buoyancy so maybe ask the shop to give you some guidance after the first day of local diving if you are unsure. Cozumel will have more abundant life on the reef but can have more current, so same thing maybe ask for feedback if you are unsure.

Perfect, thank you!