Both the well-developed beachside city of Playa Del Carmen and the sophisticated lifestyle resort of Puerto Aventuras offer a wealth of easy and relaxed dive sites that are well suited to all levels of experience. The majority of the dive sites are just a short 10-15 minute boat ride away and the reefs here typically feature low walls with over hangs, mini caves and swim-throughs. The reef tops are peppered with hard corals, colourful sponges and sea plumes. Schooling snappers, vibrant angelfish, spiny lobsters and electric rays are commonly seen. For guests staying at Playa Del Carmen, boats depart directly from the shore along the beach and from Puerto Aventuras the boat leaves from the marina.
Tortugas Reef
It takes a 10 minute boat ride to reach the Tortugas Reef between Playa Del Carmen and Puerto Aventuras. This is one of the most exciting deep dive sites in the area (max depth is 26m) and a well-known habitat for turtles (tortugas), hence the name. There are usually masses of turtles to be found here, munching their way through the sponges that cover the surface of the flat reef plateau. There’s also plenty of fish life to spot here – from barracuda to jacks of many species, cubera snappers, stingrays, green and spotted morays.
Wreck of the Mama Vina
The Mama Vina is an old shrimp boat that was sunk intentionally in 1995 to create an artificial reef. The boat lies almost intact at around 28m, with its bow facing the predominant south-north current head on. The strong currents can make for a challenging dive here. There is plentiful coral growth and a wealth of interesting inhabitants including barracudas, stingrays, green and spotted morays and large schools of tropical fish hanging in the blue.
Bull Shark Diving
This incredible experience is only available during the Winter months (November – February) and is a special excursion. Dive with these incredible solitary hunters with specially trained Instructors. This is most definitely a dive for advanced and experienced divers only.
Diving the Cenotes
A chance to dive the Cenotes is the reason so many divers head to this part of Mexico and these majestic limestone caverns can be reached in just over an hour’s drive inland from Playa Del Carmen and around 30 minutes from Puerto Aventuras. The Cenotes is a vast network of subterranean rivers, caverns and sinkholes (cenotes) that extend literally for miles inland. Used as a source of fresh water by the ancient Maya, these distinctive geological formations offer some of the most exciting and unique diving to be found anywhere. Read more about Diving the Cenotes here
Diving in Cozumel is also possible as a day trip from Playa Del Carmen. Find out more about the diving in Cozumel here
Pro Dive INTERNATIONAL Mexico – Riviera Maya
Established in 2003, Pro Dive International is an award winning water sports service provider operating several PADI 5 Star Gold Palm Resorts in the Riviera Maya and Cozumel area. All of Pro Dive's centres have been bestowed the prestigious National Geographic Dive Centre and PADI Green Star Awards and in 2012 they attained the much coveted Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence.
The secret of Pro Dive’s success is the quality of their services and the professionalism of their staff. Diver safety is Pro Dive’s main priority, however they have certainly not lost touch with the philosophy that “diving is fun!” Pro Dive Mexico offers a complete range of PADI courses, from Bubblemaker and Discover Scuba experience programs all the way through to Instructor courses at its PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre.
Guests staying at the Allegro Playacar Resort and Royal Hideaway Playacar Resort dive with Pro Dive International - Playa Del Carmen. Guests staying at the Dreams Puerto Aventuras Resort & Spa and the Catalonia Riviera Maya Resort & Spa dive with Pro Dive International - Puerto Aventuras.
At Playa del Carmen, the PADI 5 Star Dive Centre is located directly on the beautiful sandy beach of the Royal Hideaway Playacar Resort and all services are available for guests in the neighbouring hotel Allegro Playacar, just a two minute stroll along the beach. In Puerto Aventuras, the PADI 5 Star Dive Centre is located right on the beach at the Catalonia Riviera Maya Resort and is just a short walk away from the Dreams resort. All reefs are accessible in just 5-15 minutes by fast boat which leaves directly from the beach at Playacar, or the marina in Puerto Aventuras. Diving is operated on a two tank morning and two tank afternoon basis subject to availability. This offers guests greater flexibility and also the potential to make up to four dives a day. All dives and courses are led by fully certified PADI Instructors.
Excursions to the world famous Cozumel National Marine Park and the inland Cenotes can also be organised from both Playa Del Carmen and Puerto Aventuras. Cenote diving is conducted at any one of a number of sacred inland Maya sites. The excursion typically includes two dives with lunch and refreshment provided between the dives. All Cenote dives are led by fully qualified cave divers.
Dive Pack Prices (Guided)
Options available include 6 and 10 dive packages, 'Mini Cenotes' and 'Mini Cozumel' dive packages (4 dives over 2 days), plus 'Yucatan Explorer' which consists of 8 or 12 dives.
Typically, a standard 5 day /10 dive package starts from £450 per person excluding equipment rental. Please discuss your requirements with the Regaldive team, who will prepare a quotation suited to your needs.
Dive Courses
A range of diving courses is available for those looking to learn to dive. Please enquire for details.
Extras in Resort (USD)
Prices listed below are an indication only, and subject to change.
- Nitrox Fills: FREE
- Riviera Maya Marine Park Fee: $6 per day
- 15l Tank: $19 per dive
- Bull Shark Excursion: from $57 (supplement on top of your pre-booked day diving package - price depends on hotel pick-up location)
- Cenotes day Excursion: from $109 (supplement on top of your pre-booked day diving package - price depends on hotel pick-up location)
- Cozumel day Excursions : $139 (supplement on top of your pre-booked day diving package - price depends on hotel pick-up location)
- The Sailfish Run - snorkelling full day safari (Dec - Feb / Mar): $259
- Whale Shark Safari Express via Cancun (Jun-Sept): $249
- Equipment Rental: $8-24 depending on item
With great all year round diving conditions, Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula is an ideal destination for those looking for a mix of different types of diving. If you want to combine diving with relaxing on beautiful beaches and visiting historical and tourist attractions topside, Mexico is hard to beat.
Getting Around
Mexico’s well-established tourist infrastructure and its proximity to the USA means that getting around here is relatively simple. Cozumel is reached by a regular 45 minute passenger ferry that departs from Playa Del Carmen every two hours. Taxis are plentiful and relatively inexpensive in Riviera Maya and Cozumel. There are many well established tour agents that can provide excursions to the areas wealth of historical attractions.
Climate
Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula has a warm tropical climate with an average temperature between 24 and 30 °C throughout the year. There are pronounced wet and dry seasons. Most of the country experiences a rainy season from June to mid-October and significantly less rain during the remainder of the year. Mexico lies squarely within the hurricane belt, and all regions are susceptible to these storms from June through November.
Water Temperature and Underwater Visibility
Water temperature tends to mirror air temperature ranging from 24- 30°C. Visibility is generally excellent all year round and in excess of 40m is the norm. Diving in the fresh water of the Cenotes is considerably cooler after diving in the balmy Caribbean Sea and a 5mm semi-dry wetsuit is advised.
Time
Mexico is 6 hours behind GMT
Currency
The official currency is Mexican Peso ($), however US Dollars are accepted almost everywhere. Please note: the $ sign is used for both Pesos and US Dollars. This can cause a lot of confusion so always ask for clarification if you are unsure or if something seems unusually cheap, or far too expensive.
Language
Spanish is the national language but English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
Telephone and Internet
In Mexico, the predominant cellular service company is called Telcel. Most UK service providers will work on this network but roaming charges can be very expansive. If you have an unlocked GSM compatible phone it is possible to purchase a pay as you go Telcel Mexico SIM card. Wi-Fi internet is widely available; however it is comparatively expensive, so a holiday in Mexico could be the ideal opportunity to completely disconnect!
Activities
Mexico is both vast and fascinating. A rich tapestry of history and a well-established tourist infrastructure, coupled with superb natural resources make it perfect for holidays of all kinds. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site and sacred Maya city of Chichen Itza, dine on fine Mexican cuisine in the historic colonial town of Valladolid, explore the ancient coastal walled city of Tulum, or simply relax on perfect white sand beaches lapped by enticingly warm, turquoise seas.
Flight Information
Cancun (CUN) is the gateway for UK visitors visiting the Caribbean coast of Mexico and is well served with regular direct flights from London and Manchester, and regional departures may be available seasonally.
Flight times: 9.5-11 hours.
Departure tax: Charter flights are subject to a departure tax of approx. MXN $900 (approx. £50) – payable locally in cash only.
Transfers: Playa Del Carmen Hotels - 45-60 minutes, Puerto Aventuras Hotels – 60-80 minutes. Cozumel Hotels - 45 minutes by boat from Playa del Carmen, 12 services daily from 6am until 10pm.
Twin centre: Mexico makes an ideal twin centre destination and you can split your holiday between both Riviera Maya and Cozumel. Please ask one of our sales executives for more information.
Passports & Visas
Passengers travelling to Mexico must have six months valid on their passport from the date of entry into Mexico. British passport holders visiting Mexico as a tourist do not need a visa, but you do need a tourist card, which you can get on arrival by completing an immigration form available on-board flights to Mexico.
Note: If you are travelling to Mexico via the US, even if you are only transiting, you must check the US entry requirements. If you do not have the correct authorisation you will not be allowed to travel to or transit through the US.
Vaccinations
There are no compulsory vaccinations, but we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and rabies. The risk of malaria in Mexico is generally very low and therefore anti-malarials are not required for travel to the Playa del Carmen or Cozumel area. However, there is a moderate risk in some south western parts of the country. If you intend to travel beyond the Yucatan Peninsula we would recommend that you contact a travel clinic for the most up to date advice.
Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure. For the most up to date advice please consult your travel clinic. Further information regarding vaccinations for travel to this country can be found at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk and from your local healthcare provider.
Allegro Playacar Resort
We Had a Great Holiday!
"Really liked the hotel - not too big and easy to get around. Food was great - we especially liked the speciality restaurants. Both transfers were good.
The dive staff were extremely efficient and thorough. We had a bad first dive as the water was very rough and extremely difficult to get off the boat at the shore with all the equipment. After that, most of the local diving was cancelled, due to high winds and rough sea conditions. However, the dive staff sorted us out with transfers over to Cozumel for 2 days which were lovely dives. We also booked some Cenotes dives for 2 days which were all excellent and the highlight of our holiday.
We were happy with services that you provided and are now thinking about where we would like to dive next year!"
Debbie Piantino
- UK
Allegro Playacar Resort
Truly a Brilliant Experience!
"All 22 people on our recent Dive Centre trip really had a great 10 days in Mexico. From the start to the end of our holiday, it was truly a brilliant experience!
Thanks to John and the Regaldive team for all your help with the Mexico trip."
Linda
- UK
Allegro Playacar Resort
Doing the Cenotes was Worth the Trip!!
"Twin Centre Stay at Allegro Playacar & Occidental Cozumel, Mexico
First of all, simply let me tell you how much we enjoyed the trip and how most things exceeded our expectations, so a big thank you to start with!
Everything was as expected, a great overall experience. All transfers were perfectly timed and organised. Transfer van was at the airport when we landed, an agent was waiting for us at Playa del Carmen and walked with us to the ferry terminal (no traffic allowed through the way), handed the ferry tickets to us, a taxi driver was waiting upon our arrival in Cozumel... and so on! All of them where right on time and hassle free.
Hotel in Cozumel was overall good. Big and comfortable room and bathroom, beautiful and green surrounding areas, quite environment, friendly and efficient staff. On the other hand, it has a little problem with moisture or humidity. All rooms have a slight smell of damp which must be related with the fact that all blocks of rooms are surrounded by strong and tall tropical plants and there is even a mangrove! Nevertheless, the concierge facilitated us a dehumidifier to help us drying our clothes (otherwise it would have been impossible! Some days the floor didn't even dry after being cleaned until late hours of the day!). My sister had previously been in Riviera Maya with her partner and she said that it is a common issue with a lot of hotels in the area.
The only downside is that when they mentioned that one pool was going to be closed due to refurbishment and that some minor works were going to take place, they didn't quite explain how it was going to be. Main pool and beach restaurant was closed as expected. The only available one (there was no third pool) was much smaller and had really few sunbeds, so it could get really crouded at some points. Beach restaurant was transferred to a tented area which was actually fantastic! What was slightly disappointing is that there were really major works taking place at the time. Most blocks of rooms were under refurbishment, as well as pathways and different common areas. As a result, loud noise coming from construction sites could be heard the whole day through, and when walking around the site, you would mainly see workers instead of clients.
The hotel in Playa del Carmen was a fantastic experience. I have to say that we were very lucky with the upgrade. Room was great, hotel was simply fantastic, Food, staff, landscape, pools and beach, location, etc. Absolutely fantastic!
The food in Cozumel was fine. Meals were based in a buffet plan, so easy, quick and straight forward! Convenient times and nice variety. Quality was fine.
Restaurants in Playa del Carmen were based on an à la carte system, even breakfast! Quality was higher than expected and service was very good. Nevertherless, dinner time had to be prebooked in most restaurants and sometimes, beacuse meals were cooked on demand, we had to wait for quite long, which was slightly inconvenient specially for breakfast time when we had to depart the hotel quite early. Otherwise, and thinking about just a holiday, the food was great, good quality, sofisticated menu, fresh products... Simply fantastic!
The dive sites were absolutely fantastic. Cozumel came as a surprise! Beautiful sites, wonderful coral reef formations, large variety of itineraries... Fantastic!
We ended up booking some extra dives in Playa del Carmen because we loved the cenotes! So different, so beautiful, so surprising, each of them unique in its way... Doing the Cenotes was worth the trip!!
The Dive Centre Staff had great organisation, were flexible, easily approachable, trying to fulfil divers’ needs and desires... They were professional and dedicated - simply perfect.
Every day we had lots of memorable experiences, but if I had to choose one, probably diving The Pit Cenote, a very beautiful memory.
"
Daniel Fernández
- UK
Allegro Playacar Resort
Whole Holiday was Great & Cenotes Were Excellent
"We had a great time over in Mexico, as with other holidays we have booked with Regaldive, the transfers and ground arrangements worked perfectly. We have never been all-inclusive before, but we were pleasantly surprised - hotel staff and food were lovely.
Pro dive Mexico in both Cozumel and Playacar were very professional. The diving was as good as anywhere we have been before. Cenotes were excellent, a brilliant experience, bull shark dive was also good. Whole holiday was great and we would certainly recommend Regaldive to friends. "
Helena and Robert
- UK
Allegro Playacar Resort
Cenotes Diving and Whale Shark Snorkelling were Highlights
"Thanks for the welcome back and as ever a thank you for your efforts in putting the trip together. It all went really well.
Both hotels were part of the same group which had recently been purchased by another group and the combination of re-branding and end-of-season maintenance meant parts of the hotels were closed which was no major problem and adequate services were available.
The Playacar hotel closed its main restaurant and one of the pools for work, but given the small number of guests, the alternatives worked well with larger numbers it might have been a struggle. The hotel had a service called 'Ultimate Dive Experience' run in conjunction with the dive centre which had a private lounge and pool for its users and accommodation near the dive centre. The food was a good standard and quite varied and we felt no need to go off site, so we were pleased with that.
The Cozumel dive sites were all very good, but would not suit anyone not happy to dive in strong currents. Much more limited at Playacar, but still interesting while the Cenotes inland were exceptional, perhaps the mainland diving could be limited to this as they are so interesting.
All the staff were very friendly, helpful and professional and the setup at each site fairly self explanatory. The dive centre at Playacar is actually at the neighbouring hotel, although there is an information booth at the hotel we stayed at which was manned most of the day.
Favourite memories from the holiday were the Cenotes diving and whale shark snorkelling."
Robert P.
- UK