Recommendations For Riviera Maya Diving

[baricat]

We are going to the Valentin Imperial Maya for a week and the Aventura Spa Palace for a week. Can anyone tell me what we can expect for diving on the Riviera Maya? We love Cozumel, and realize that it's not going to be up to that standard, but would like to know if it's even worth it to bring our gear, rather than just renting it (if the diving isn't much good. We'll have to check it out, of course, but won't do a lot of dives if it's not all that good.)

Does anyone have recommendations for (obviously good) operators that can pick us up and bring us back for either hotel? Or are we going to have to rent a car/take taxis? Thank you!

 

[jpassov]

We are going to the Valentin Imperial Maya for a week and the Aventura Spa Palace for a week. Can anyone tell me what we can expect for diving on the Riviera Maya? We love Cozumel, and realize that it's not going to be up to that standard, but would like to know if it's even worth it to bring our gear, rather than just renting it (if the diving isn't much good. We'll have to check it out, of course, but won't do a lot of dives if it's not all that good.)

Does anyone have recommendations for (obviously good) operators that can pick us up and bring us back for either hotel? Or are we going to have to rent a car/take taxis? Thank you!

I have been on two trips to the Playa Del Carmen area. The diving was great. Different than Coz, but still very enjoyable. We always bring our own gear, just because we are comfortable with our own stuff.

I would recommend Jason at Fantasea Dive! + 52 (1) 984 114 2062
or info@fantaseadive.com

Playa Del Carmen diving - small uncrowded groups

 

[browntrout]

The reef diving may be a little below par, but still very enjoyable. The cenotes area a great not to be missed experience. Many of the operators doing cenotes include transportation.

 

[TSandM]

I think the reefs can be variable, but they won't match Coz.

But the cenotes are amazing and a unique opportunity to see something most divers will never see. For that reason alone, I would bring my gear, because to make the most of those dives, you should be as comfortable as possible.

If you are going in the next few months, I would recommend Natalie Gibb as a guide. She is a delightful person, a skilled diver, and safety conscious. It is VERY important to have a cenote tour guide who follows the voluntary safety guidelines for cavern tour operators. Ask before you book. You should have a light, and there should always be a guideline.

 

[Noob@40]

We just got back from that area. It was not a dive vacation but I brought my gear and managed to get in a couple of dives at Dos Ojos. As has been said before, the cenotes are not to be missed. These 2 dives have been my best to date. Bring your gear and do the dives. You won't be sorry. As a side note, snorkeling with the sea turtles was also great. We were lucky enough to have some just off of our resort (Gran Bahia Akumal)

 

[baricat]

Thank you for all the great suggestions. We've got the gear packed and will definitely do a cenote dive. Been diving 21 years, and have done FL sinkholes/caves, but never a cenote. Packing my 5 mil full and 3 mil hooded vest for that.

Again, many thanks for the help.

 

[driftwood]

The cenotes are the exact same thing as Florida sink holes and caves. Both of them are karst limestone aquifers. Best cave/sinkhole (cenotes) in the world. The 5mm is a great call!

 

[AlaskaDiver]

I'm fairly new to cave diving (fewer than 30 dives after full Cave cert) and had the majority of my cave dives in Ginnie Springs & other local FL springs. Last November we went to Cancun and dove several Cenotes in the area around Playa del Carmen to Tulum. I literally felt overwhelmed by the beauty of the caves. We had friends with us who were avid Coz divers who tried out the cenotes portion with a guide while we dove into the cave - and they loved it. Cenotes are similar as Driftwood says due to their karst limestone geology, but the structures are different (more dramatic stalactites and stalagmites) and the depths are usually more shallow. The rays of light shining through make the experience somewhat surreal. The creatures in the cenotes (aside from the light folowing Mexican Tetras) are very interesting. Keep your eyes open for pale pink blindfish and fresh water shrimp & lobster - both are different from their salty cousins. Look forward to hearing how you liked the dives.

 

[baricat]

Many thanks, Alaska. This is exactly what I was hoping for, someone who had done FL and could give me a direct comparison. I'm now looking forward with great gusto to checking out the cenotes. Will post when we return.

 

[ibj40]

Many thanks, Alaska. This is exactly what I was hoping for, someone who had done FL and could give me a direct comparison. I'm now looking forward with great gusto to checking out the cenotes. Will post when we return.

If you haven't already picked a dive op, while you are in Puerto Aventuras, may I recommend Dive Aventuras?

They will pick you up at your resort, and have a great combination of ocean and cenote dives available. We've been diving with them for six or seven years now, sometimes two or three times a year, and they are very professional. Our first cenote dives were with DA.