Playa del Carmen Dive Sites

Use your mouse to roll over the names of the different sites on the left to learn more about all the great places to dive in and around Playa del Carmen.

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	Cerebros (Brains)

	LOCATION: To the North, opposite Laguna Chuchuben.

	MINIMUM DEPTH: 10m / 32ft

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 15m / 48ft

	CONDITIONS: Aptly named, this site hosts large brain corals and coral mounts that nearly reach the surface, plus swim throughs and caves. Often lobster and stone fish are found. Normally with minimal current. A great follow-up dive to a deep morning drift!


	Los Arcos (The Arches)

	LOCATION: 15 minutes North. Extention of Xcalacoco

	MINIMUM DEPTH: 23m / 75ft

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 30m / 100ft

	CONDITIONS: Outer spur and groove reef. Excellent coral growth, varied and plentiful fish, turtles, eels, with luck sharks to the deep side. Large namesake swim-throughs. Occasionally strong currents.


	Xcalacoco (also The Green Wall)

	LOCATION: 12 minutes North. Just south of Los Arcos

	MINIMUM DEPTH: 23m / 75ft

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 30m / 100ft

	CONDITIONS: Outer spur and groove reef. Excellent coral growth, varied and plentiful fish, turtles, eels, with luck sharks to the deep side. More consistent in form than Los Arcos. Chimney swim through. Turtles and larger grouper are common.


	Moc Che

	LOCATION: Between Punta Xcalacoco and Punta Chenzumbul.

	MINIMUM DEPTH: 10m / 33ft

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 15m / 48ft

	CONDITIONS: Shallow side patch of spur and groove generally predictable currents, ample life with lots of seafans and nematocystic corals. Nice arch swim-through. Expect to find moray eels.


	Tank Ha

	LOCATION: North of Tulum.

	MINIMUM DEPTH:

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 12m / 40ft

	CONDITIONS: Soft and hard coral in formations of bridges and caverns. Schools of fish, turtles and rays live in the caverns and are spotted in the sands. This dive site is a maze of coral which is fully alive and bursting with colour.


	Chenzumbul

	LOCATION: Opposite Punta Chenzumbul.

	MINIMUM DEPTH: 8m / 25ft

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 12m / 38ft

	CONDITIONS: Just a few minutes beyond El Jardin, Chenzumbul is difficult to pronounce, but easy to dive. Lots of fish populate this shallow patch reef filled with hiding spots for eels and a bounty of reef creatures. Schooling grunts and snappers are present year-round. A mild current prevails to the North.


	Jardines (Gardens, The Garden)

	LOCATION: Several hundred meters off-shore the first point north of our shop.

	MINIMUM DEPTH: 8m / 25ft

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 12m / 38ft

	CONDITIONS: Just minutes from our beach front location, this shallow patch reefs grows into a densely populated overhang before turning back towards the shore, only to begin again with another overhang wall. Normally a gentle northerly current. Keep an eye out to the right for passing dolphin and turtles.


	Sabalos (Tarpon)

	LOCATION: Continuation of Barracuda reef towards Playacar.

	MINIMUM DEPTH: 8m / 26ft

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 15m / 48ft

	CONDITIONS: Basically the 'second tank' worth of the reef that begins at Barracuda, Sabalos has many caves with some of the longest swim-throughs on the coast. Often with crossing currents, the site offers a chance to see reef fish as well as commuting deeper water fish.


	Tortuga (Turtles)

	LOCATION: Starts at first Mayan ruin north of Xcaret.

	MINIMUM DEPTH: 14m / 45ft

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 25m / 80ft

	CONDITIONS: Wide, garden like flats around 18m/60' with plenty of large barrel sponges host large resident population of turtles and lots of fish and varied life.


	Barracuda

	LOCATION: Begins near first Mayan ruin north of Xcaret, runs to the North.

	MINIMUM DEPTH: 8m / 25ft

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 14m / 48ft

	CONDITIONS: Overhangs and mini-walls dot the varied curves of this spur and groove favorite. Expect to see eels, schooling grunts and snapper, the namesake barracuda, and LOTS of varied sponges, corals and plenty of color. An excellent dive with plenty of twists and turns. Eye on the guide!


	Mama Viña Wreck

	LOCATION: Just south of Xcaret.

	MINIMUM DEPTH: 13m / 45ft (masting)

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 29m / 94ft

	CONDITIONS: This steel hulled ferry style ship was intentionally sunk in the mid-nineties. It is now well covered in colorful growth and provides shelter to large groups of fish, schooling barracuda and jacks.


	Islote

	LOCATION: Between Barracuda Reef and Punta Venados.

	MINIMUM DEPTH: 21m / 69ft

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 30m / 100ft

	CONDITIONS: A garden-like dive with plenty of corals and sponges. Typical Caribbean marine life with fish, lobster, moray eels and turtles.


	Punta Venado (Deer Point)

	LOCATION: South beyond the bay of Inah.

	MINIMUM DEPTH: 21m / 69ft

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 30m / 100ft

	CONDITIONS: A garden-like dive with plenty of corals and sponges. Typical Caribbean marine life with fish, lobster, moray eels and turtles.


	Reefs of Paamul

	LOCATION: South of Xcaret.

	MINIMUM DEPTH: 10m / 28ft

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 30m / 100ft

	CONDITIONS: Fish, corals and turtles. There are about 10 different possibilities of dives in this area.


	Oscar and Lalo

	LOCATION: Between Akumal and Tulum.

	MINIMUM DEPTH:

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 30m / 95ft

	CONDITIONS: One of the deepest dive sites off the coast, this is a nice easy dive with great coral variety and sealife.


	Big Rock

	LOCATION: North of Tulum.

	MINIMUM DEPTH:

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 12m / 40ft

	CONDITIONS: A large coral pinnacle is the focus of this dive site with parrot fish and small juvenile varieties. Elkhorn and brain coral dominate this extraordinary site.


	Jardines II

	LOCATION: Tulum.

	MINIMUM DEPTH:

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 12m / 40ft

	CONDITIONS: This is the shallow extension of Tortuga offering pinnacles of coral, vast selections of coral varieties and juvenile fish which live in the coral varieties.


	Tortuga II

	LOCATION: Tulum.

	MINIMUM DEPTH:

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 24m / 75ft

	CONDITIONS: This dive site is named after the coral formations that are similar to the shape of a turtle. A relaxed and coral filled dive that brings a feast to the eyes and wonderment of the ocean.


	Balleña

	LOCATION: South of Tulum.

	MINIMUM DEPTH:

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 12m / 40ft

	CONDITIONS: This dive site is a massive coral garden full of coral and sealife. Schools of tangs, rays, crab and lobster make this one the most interesting sites here in Tulum.


	Chac Mool (Jaguar)

	LOCATION: 20 minutes south of Playa near Puerto Aventuras

	HALOCLINE DEPTH: 10m /32ft

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 13m / 42ft

	CONDITIONS: As beautiful topside as underwater, this cenote has a beautiful jungle setting, large and easy access, tons of light, great decoration, and lots of room. You could spend days just poking around and not get bored here.


	Cenote Ponderosa

	LOCATION: 22 minutes south of Playa near Puerto Aventuras

	HALOCLINE DEPTH: 10m /32ft

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 16m / 53ft

	CONDITIONS: We dive cenote El Eden which is part of the Ponderosa cave system. There are several cavern zones, with a long traverse to cenote Corral. There are Mayan ceramic fragments, a strong halocline, fossils, and remnants of a pre-historic man-made rock wall.


	TajmaHa (Leveled water)

	LOCATION: 25 minutes south of Playa, 5.5k south of Puerto Aventuras

	HALOCLINE DEPTH: 10m /33ft

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 15m / 48ft

	CONDITIONS: A truly diverse cavern tour, delicate decorations, vivid halocline, air-filled room of light shafts, pot fragments, this cenote has it all. Careful buoyancy control and delicate techniques a must.


	Dos Ojos (Two Eyes)

	LOCATION: 40 minutes south of Playa near Tulum

	HALOCLINE DEPTH: not encountered

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 10m / 32ft

	CONDITIONS: Part of the world's second largest underwater cave system. Massive columns, intricate and plentiful decorations, crystal clear water and a huge cavern zone with plenty of diversity for two long and shallow cavern dives.


	Punta Venado (Deer Point)

	LOCATION: South beyond the bay of Inna.

	MINIMUM DEPTH: 8m / 26ft

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 15m / 48ft

	CONDITIONS: Basically the 'second tank' worth of the reef that begins at Baracuda, Sabalos has many caves with some of the longest swim-throughs on the coast. Often with crossing currents, the site offers a chance to see reef fish as well as commuting deeper water fish.


	Grand Cenote (Sac Aktun system)

	LOCATION: 4km towards Coba from highway 307.

	HALOCLINE DEPTH: none encountered

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 10m / 32ft

	CONDITIONS: Aptly named, Sac Aktun means white cave in Mayan. This highly decorated cavern is crystal clear and breathtaking. The stunning speleothems and beautiful lighting make for a very memorable cavern experience.


	Carwash (Aktun Ha, Cave water)

	LOCATION: Beyond Grand Cenote on same road, left side.

	MINIMUM DEPTH: not encountered

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 16m / 52ft

	CONDITIONS: No longer used for washing taxis, the cenote has both up and downstream cavern areas. Large chestnut colored columns surround the very large cavern area upstream, the most popular section for cavern diving. Great light show.


	Angelita

	LOCATION: 4 km south of Tulum off the main highway.

	MINIMUM DEPTH:

	MAXIMUM DEPTH:

	CONDITIONS: Advanced dive for cenote enthusiasts. Check dive required prior to entering this system. Contains a natural sulpher layer that resembles a cloud.


	Temple of Doom (Esqueleto)

	LOCATION: 2km towards Coba from highway 307.

	HALOCLINE DEPTH: 13m / 40ft

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 16m / 55ft

	CONDITIONS: An interesting hole in the ground that is decorated with finatie formations, fossils and great light diversity. There is a definite halocline at 15m.


	Casa Cenote

	LOCATION: 10 minutes north of tulum

	HALOCLINE DEPTH:

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 10m

	CONDITIONS: The only cenote located at the oceans edge that is a home to fresh and salt water fish. Perfect for divers and snorkelers. A mix of fresh and salt water.


	Chickin Ha

	LOCATION: 20 minutes south of tulum

	HALOCLINE DEPTH:

	MAXIMUM DEPTH: 10m

	CONDITIONS: A new addition to the cenote tour schedule. Formations, snorkeling optional and clear blue waters.