Playa del Carmen - 3 days only - need dive advice

[divebrasil]

Hi Guys,
My GF is taking me to playa del carmen as my 30 bday gift. We will only have 3 days, actually less than 3 days. Arriving saturday morning and taking off monday night.

I thought I could try to throw a couple of dives on Sat afternoon or night, and then a couple more on sunday. My flight is monday night, I suppose it would be ok.

I am an advanced open water diver with wreck specialty and 100 logged dives.

Taking in consideration the limited ammout of time I will have in the area, what would you suggest? Where to go diving? What scuba shop to use?

I heard great things about the cavern dives. I wonder if I will have time for them.

Thanks a lot,

Yan

 

[divebrasil]

Any suggestions here?
Thanks

 

[DET]

You are limited on time. Basically, one day of diving unless you get there in time for a Saturday afternoon dive. Most are leaving by 1:00 or 1:30.

Depending on where you are staying, Cenotes are about 6 to 7 hours round trip with 2 dives if leaving from downtown PDC.

There are several dive shops in downtown PDC. I have only used two. DiveMike was the better, but, from others on the board it sounds like most shops are well liked. Try a google search for others.

IMO, if you are staying near downtown, max out the boat dives. A night dive may not be available, they are limited to maybe one a week from what I have noticed. Keep it simple and enjoy some surface time, as well. Save the cenotes for another day.

 

[divebrasil]

Cenotes is a 6 hour roundtrip boat ride? or a do you mean 6 to 7 hours including the dives? It's not so bad if we leave like 7am and return 3pm.

Thanks

 

[Firefyter]

Cenotes is a 6 hour roundtrip boat ride? or a do you mean 6 to 7 hours including the dives? It's not so bad if we leave like 7am and return 3pm.

Thanks

When I dove the cenotes last year, it was a 6 to 7 hour trip including the dives, but it's not a boat trip. You'll be bouncing around through the jungle once you leave the main hwy to get to the cenotes. They are awesome dives, but so is Tortuga Reef if you like turtles, and it's right offshore from PDC, a short boat ride and you're there. Go with either one that interests you, I don't think you can go wrong no matter which one you choose.

I used Sealife Divers on Mamitas beach as my dive op, and was very pleased with them. They do both cenotes and reef dives, and are quite knowledgeable and friendly. Click the link below to check out their website.

Sealife Divers

Hope this helps,

 

[Jasonmh]

I just got back from there a week ago.
If you are interested in the Cenotes, contact Manta Divers:
http://www.mantadivers.com/cenotediving.htm

Ask for Lief as a guide, he is fantastic. If it is something you are interested in, you can't go to that area and not try it, it is one of the best places in the world. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen while diving. We did 1 tour with them (2 dives and includes lunch), and I was bummed that I hadn't booked more. As soon as we left I was already dreaming about going back. They will pick you up in front of Senior Frogs in front of the ferry dock, and the price includes tranportation. They go to a place called "La Taverna" to eat after the dives (also included in the price), where we had some great food. I highly recommend the Special Chicken Tacos.
As far as time goes, you should definitely have time. The drive to Dos Ojos only took about 30-40 mins in their van, and they use that time to talk about the Cenotes, rules, etc, so the time goes fast. They picked us up at about 10 and we were back in PDC having lunch at about 2:30. Also, they bring an extra person to stay at the van to watch your belongings, which was very nice. I just can't say enough good things about them.

Also, when we were there we did some dives at a site off of PDC called Tortugas.. saw 70 turtles on 2 dives, it was awesome.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions...

Hi Guys,
My GF is taking me to playa del carmen as my 30 bday gift. We will only have 3 days, actually less than 3 days. Arriving saturday morning and taking off monday night.

I thought I could try to throw a couple of dives on Sat afternoon or night, and then a couple more on sunday. My flight is monday night, I suppose it would be ok.

I am an advanced open water diver with wreck specialty and 100 logged dives.

Taking in consideration the limited ammout of time I will have in the area, what would you suggest? Where to go diving? What scuba shop to use?

I heard great things about the cavern dives. I wonder if I will have time for them.

Thanks a lot,

Yan

 

[divebrasil]

Are there any shark dives in PDC area?
Thanks

 

[Geko]

they brough a person to stay in the van? ... impossible! ... jejeje that must have been the driver, in which leave the door opens and disapears for a while .. still things are safe generally, I haven`t heard of things gone missing, but defetenally they don`t take anyone to look out for the stuff ... who was your guide? When I go to cenote diving in cancun I much prefer to dive with Alex as independent, cheaper and more freindly ...

http://spaces.msn.com/divEmotions/PersonalSpace.aspx?owner=1&vv=400

 

[divebrasil]

Are there any shark dives in the PDC area?

Thanks

 

[joeabroad]

Are there any shark dives in the PDC area?

Thanks

I dove several times last week with Abyss Dive Shop and recommend them highly--small, friendly, extremely professional. Something you might consider if you're not too fussy about the afternoon dives: depending on who needs what, they sometimes do 2 certification dives in the afternoon and I'm sure you could go along for the dives (otherwise they usually do a one-tank pm dive). It wouldn't be the most exciting diving, but would have you in the water when you want to be there.

I didn't do a cenote dive, but the people who did left Playa around 9 am and returned around 3 pm. The ocean is fine for me.

I did not see sharks, but saw a lot of turtles, morays, and really a great variety of fish. I don't know of any operator who features a shark dive.