|
Diving MexicoHere we cover diving outside the Baja California penisula. Baja California is in its own section. Diving • Dive Operators • Accommodation • Books to Take • Your Comments
The Diving
"Dos Ojos underwater cavern in Playa del Carmen Mexico. They call it The Cenotes. In the last ice age the Yucatan Jungle flooded due to mass rain fall. The sulphuric minerals in the earth together with the rain created underwater caves and caverns that span 200km. You can now explore them with cave guides and an open water certificate. The caves create a wonderful show of natural light beams bouncing off the endless realms of forever. Good Diving " "Fresh water caves. Clear, clear water. Little life but the light is enough to take your breath away." "Bull sharks about 800metres from the shoreline - but don't tell the tourists - lol"
"Beautiful reef dive with a multitude of fish and eels, drift dive depth around 17 metres"
"One of the most interesting cenotes with a spectacular dive, Points of light room, a halocline, Bat cave, stalactites etc."
"Amazing fresh water in land cavern / cave in Yucatan Peninsula."
"nothing more than go straight down 60m. decending through clear fresh water you will sink right into hydrogen sulfate layer (30m), branches reaching through it, underneath the cloud the salt water begins.
"To enter this special cenote dive you need to jump through a hole in the ground, through the surface water which goes 3.5m down , salt water and fresh water make a amazing efect called halocline, the interface between 2 different densities.
"42m cenote dive - not many people dive this one, perhaps 200 a year, your bouyancy and skills have to be very good or the instructor won't let you go. Has everything fresh, brackish and salt water + Mayan remains."
"It is quite suprising to see what the lower Mexican Pacific coast has to offer. This remote area of Mexico abounds with quiet and remote private beaches, large marine life, and bigger fishes, easy going people and cheaper rates from Hurricane Divers."
"Deep water entrance at 100+ feet, 100+ visibility descends through darkened cavern to 130+ exit on the Eastern part of the reef. Near Southern point"
Cozumel is famous for its drift diving. Currents are usually gentle (1-2 knots). Temperatures are high throughout the year, between 25 and 32 oC. Summer water temperatures are around 29 oC and winter water temperatures around 25 oC. Hurricanes may arrive in September and October. From November to February winds lasting 2-3 days may blow in causing large waves on the West of the island. The National Marine Park Cozumel Reefs was created in July 1996. Divers are asked to pay a voluntary fee per day's diving. There are two decompression chambers on Cozumel. " Cozumel has probably one of most spectacular reef systems I have ever seen. Because of the limestone in the area there are ceonotes (under water caverns) which are unique to any dive experience most people will have. The water is so crystal clear it is almost as though you are not in water. the cave formations are pretty incredible. You don't need cave diving experience or certification (though certification is offered). There is one ceonote on Cozumel and many on the mainland just a ferry ride away." " Very good reefs with lots of life. Better be comfortable with drift diving or interested in getting to know more about it. Lots of comfortable places to stay. Easy to get to from North America. Fun relaxed Mexican environment." " I was in Cozumel at the end of May 2006, having been there at the same time last year and on three other occasions, and thought that the diving conditions hadn't changed too much after Wilma. Some of the shallow reefs have had sand blown over them but in the two weeks that I was there the reefs had already improved.
The reef is divided into two sections, linked by a sand bar. The North section is the deepest and has the better coral. "This Wall goes 90° straight down. Most exciting "advanced diving" with no bottom!" "Just Amazing!"
Got its name from the bricks that were dropped here by a capsized barge in the 1950s. Coral pinnacles rising from a slope between a sandy area and a drop-off. Swim-throughs and tunnels. Generally good visibility and gentle currents. One of four Palancar dive sites. "Drift dive amongst coral banks between 10 and 30 m. Nurse sharks, turtles, eagle rays, stingrays, lobsters and crabs can all be seen." " Panlancar bricks is a paradise and a sight seeing dive you can enojoy, a lot of coral formations and see amazing colourful fish." " Wall and drift dive, slow to medium current, with nice caves, 100 ft visibility and beautiful reef." "Ideal first wall dive for beginners. Also excellent for advanced divers with swim-throughs. 2nd dive. Dive starts on a sandy patch inside the drop off at 20ft. Make way through one of the canyons. Get to platform between 50-70ft. Cuts and channels to navigate through. small wonderland. Excellent, photographers paradise, relaxing dive."
"Touted as one of the "best dive locations in the world" I can believe it. A National Park, very protected, it is teaming with sea life, with beautiful corals and formations. Many locations for each the beginner and the experienced alike."
Wall dive. Starts at 18 m on sand. Descend along slope to the edge of the wall. Watch sand descend in rivers into the deep. At 25-30 m go North with the current along wall and swim-throughs. At end of dive look out for Southern Stingrays in the sand. "80 foot drift dive. Fantastic sealife, turtles and many coral swimthroughs."
The most southernly reef: expect large swells on entry and exit. 30 m free descent to the edge of a wall. Drift along the wall with the current to a coral arch, the base of which is at 36 m. Return to the top of the reef at 25 m then ascend through ridges covered in soft coral.
"Drift dive strong current, but very nice dive, a lot of fish also a nurse shark great!"
"The most popular site shallow area 3 sections a lot of sealife, very nice night dive!"
Shallow dive (60 to 70 ft, top of the reef 35 ft) medium to strong current. " Some days you can do fly diving! sharks, tourttle lobsters walking on the reef green morays, and more to see.
" Akumal had very good diving. Motorcycle reef was at about 50ft and visibility was about 80ft. I saw turtles and a healthy reef. Not as good as Cozumel.
" This is a classic Cozumel wall, popular first tank dive. Columns of Coral and vertical drop-off. Drop on sandy plateau at 60ft. smaller corals to your left at edge of wall. Cruising at 80ft you discover the crevices, overhangs and tunnels. This makes the dive spectacular. Going North, coral grows taller, drop offs get steep, like flying over the abyss. Northern part a series of swim through tunnels. " Dive OperatorsRecommend a dive operator or list your diving company on this page.
Reef Quest Divers "Having been out of the water for 12 months I could not have asked for a better service with Reef Quest the owner/instructor put me at immediate ease calming my nerves and making the whole experience one to remember.
Quintas del Carmen Ocean and cavern diving for recreational divers, and cave and technical diving for higher trained divers.
Rating:
"Scuba Betsy, an independent dive operator, was recommended to us by a dive shop in the US. Being not very confident divers, (a little worried about the currents) we wanted to find someone that would give us a little more than the "cattle barge" approach of many of the resort dive operators. Stationed in San Migel, Cozumel, she and her very apt crew will pick you up at your resort/motel dock if possible and take you to any of the great dive locations on the island. A two tank boat dive includes water or soft drinks, a deli lunch (don't expect to struggle with your gear, you are basically waited on hand and foot). A very competent and saftey conscientious dive instructor, Betsy helped us greatly on our breathing, enabling us to "stay down" for a full hour +! Betsy has been in Cozumel for over 15 years, not only does she know where to find those hidden creatures underwater, she also can steer you to the best above-water hidden spots. I cannot recommend Betsy enough, from beginners to experienced, she will make your diving experience unforgettable."
Playa Santa Cruz "Just want to touch base to report a very pleasant and enjoyable experience with the folks of Hurricane Divers in Huatulco, Mexico. Great service and accommodation from the Hurricane Divers team (in three languages, English, French and Spanish). Ask for Roberto."
Calle 19 Sur X 25 Ave # 480 y 25 Bis
3rd. av. between Rafael E Melgar and 5th. ave. " Dimi is a little operation very friendly and professional who provide a personalized service to all diving needs, expert in private charters they please divers and make your vacations unforgetable.
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta
" Excellent and confident dive operation, safe trip, small groups, fast boats, friendly people, of course I will be back every year.
" Scuba Club Cozumel is a family run hotel and dive operation with incredibly abundant and tasty food and experienced dive operations and staff -- all included in a very affordable package. For North American divers, this is the best value and it's not too far to travel for fabulous diving.
Cozumel "We spent two weeks during April/May in Cozumel. I got certified through Dive with Martin. I recommend this dive company to everyone. They are very friendly and knowledgeable. They ask you what reef you'd like to dive or what you'd like to see and they take you to the best locations. They have really good deals and if you have to rent anything through them, their equipment is awesome. The visibility, marine life and reefs were excellent all 11 days we were there.
Akumal Dive Shop " Some of the best dives in the world, I have dived in Cuba, Maldives, Egypt red sea, Turkey, Mexico and the UK, if it was closer I would go every 6 months to go diving with Jesus.
Pro Dive Mexico, S.A. de C.V. "Many operations on the mainland and Cozumel. Package can be used at all 6 centers in Mexico.
Cost per tank on Cozumel about 27us$ (for a bigger package) Number1 on tripadvisor.
I used them for many years and saw them grow very rapidly due to their outstanding services and professional staff. Great promotions all year
long with Stay Dive packages!!September/October dive group specials. Now September 2010 they have an IDC training for below us$800!!!!
Would definitely choose them among all others.They are in several resorts. But cheap and comfortable is Allegro Cozumel. The BEST dive resort on the island. Minutes away from the best reefs. For a little extra money you may choose the resort next door Occidental Grand, also operated by Pro Dive Mexico. Email them and
get online discount :-)
yes, I stay there every moment I can. Perfect big boats with shelter and tanks for camera and gear. Great value for money.
Better than Egypte which is TOOOOO Crowdy!! I did 3 years ago go over there after many many years being there and every year there
were more and more boats and divers overthere. They also have the "early bird" but also that is over dived Now, as when i get there around
07:00am there were already 15 boats!!! See also: Our Baja California section
Accommodation
Books to Take
Your CommentsPlease send us your comments on Mexico. Do you want to recommend a diving centre or dive site? Let us know. Have a question - try our Diving Board.
|
|
|
|
Share | |  |
