Playa del Carmen + Cozumel?

[Bookworm11]

Cozumel is worlds above anything you will see along the Riviera Maya. My advice: go stay on Cozumel and dive at least 2 days there, preferably three. It's easy to take the ferry, and then stay at a cheap hotel in town. No, you don't need an AOW cert, BUT buoyancy is critical, especially in some of them. If you are planning to do more than 2, I would get it.

 

[Cebolla]

Most places to stay in Coz don't have great beaches. I have stayed at least 3 times at the Casa Mexicana downtown, it was great and downtown is awesome. Plus, you can access diving boats via a dock a few meters away.