Why Playa Del Carmen Is One Of The Best Places To Scuba Dive For Beginners

2024-04-24 19:57:37

Playa Del Carmen is one of the best places to scuba dive for beginners

Playa del Carmen, part of the Riviera Maya, located in the Caribbean Sea on the east coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, is a great destination for novice scuba divers because it offers a variety of diving experiences that are suitable for those new to the sport.

What make it is one of the best places to scuba dive for beginners along the coast, as the waters there offer the perfect mix of warmth, visibility, and variety of marine life to excite new divers, and experts alike!

In this blog, we’ll explain to you the top reasons that make Playa del Carmen a great place for beginner scuba divers, so you can plan your next dive trip to the Riviera Maya!

7 Reasons why Playa del Carmen is Great for Beginner Scuba Divers


1. Great Dive Sites
The Riviera Maya offers a variety of diving sites that are suitable for beginner diver. The ocean offers a range of shallow coral reefs that are close to the shore (no horrible long boat rides!)

There are also the options to dive in cenotes and caverns, too. Some cenotes are open, allowing space to practice without the overhead environment people often think of when they think of cenote diving.

All of these diving spots offer a controlled environment for new divers to practice and develop their skills, in a place far more exciting than a pool!


2. Shallow Water
The water in Playa Del Carmen is generally calm and clear, which provides ideal conditions for beginner divers to practice their skills and gain confidence in the water. The shallow dive sites in Playa Del Carmen allow novice divers to explore the underwater world without feeling overwhelmed.

Most of the shallower dive sites lie between 10-12 meters deep. This allows you to be comfortable under the water, yet, you aren’t too far from the surface in case of an emergency.


3. Mild Current
In the oceans of Playa del Carmen, there is only usually ever a mild current. (Except for the faster flowing dive site further south at Tortugas and Sabalos)

The current softly helps you to move along the reef, but isn’t strong enough to push you further, so you can begin to learn to hover to start spotting more macro creatures on your dive.

Also, as the dives in Playa are all boat dives, you swim with the current and the boat pick you up at the end, without the worry of swimming back against it.


4. Amazing Visibility
The Caribbean Sea is known for its crystal-clear turquoise water, which allows for good visibility beneath the waves too. This clarity makes it easier for new divers to navigate and see marine life.


5. Warm Temperatures
Year round, the sea has warm temperatures, which can reach up to 30°C (86°F) in the summer, and lows of around 28°C (82°F) in the winter months.

This makes diving in the Riviera Maya comfortable for new divers, as you don't have to worry about getting cold or dealing with heavy wetsuits. Many divers simply opt to wear a rash guard with their swimsuits.


6. Great Array of Marine Life
The Riviera Maya is home to a wide variety of marine life, including bright schools of fish, turtles, and colorful coral reefs.
The reefs of Playa del Carmen are teeming with life! This makes it an exciting destination for beginner divers to explore.


7. Experienced and Friendly Instructors
At DEEP Mexico, we are proud to employ only well-trained and experienced dive instructors, who provide personalized service and guidance to beginner divers.
We can help beginners to master basic diving skills, such as buoyancy control and breathing techniques, and offer support and encouragement to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

We offer a variety of diving courses and experiences, click here for further information about what we can offer you.

What About Experienced Divers?
Experienced divers can still enjoy Playa del Carmen too! This coastal town has it all, with options of deeper sites and wreck dives for those wanting more of a challenge. In the winter month there is also bull shark diving in the area too.

Plus you are also closer to the cenotes for a different type of diving experience.



Cozumel vs Playa del Carmen for Beginner Scuba Divers
Some people compare Playa del Carmen with Cozumel due to their geographical closeness – as they are only a short ferry ride from each other. In those comparisons many people claim Cozumel to be one of the ‘holy grails’ of diving (we can’t lie – it is gorgeous!) but in the case of beginners, is it REALLY better?

Cozumel has a generally stronger current, meaning more of the dives are drifts. Also, a lot of the dive sites are deeper or close to drop offs, which present some of their own additional risks. While incredible to see, for newbie divers, the safer and calmer waters of Playa del Carmen are a great place to still see the beauty of the underwater world, without being in the more challenging environment.

Let’s face it, as a newbie, while you’re also concentrating on managing your trim, observing your air consumption, navigating, seeing the fish, and just breathing – the location doesn’t always need to be the prettiest. In fact, some would say it’s better to wait and ‘save’ the beauty of Cozumel for when you are more experienced and can enjoy it more.



Book Your Scuba Diving In Playa Del Carmen With DEEP Mexico

All these factors combined make the Riviera Maya a great destination for beginner divers to explore the underwater world and gain confidence in their diving skills.

Whether you have only recently passed your open water course, or if you have thousands of dives under your belt, DEEP Mexico can help you to prepare for your next diving trip to Playa del Carmen.

Send us a message to book your ideal trip today!

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