Scuba in PDC

Hey All,

I am looking for information on scuba diving in Playa. I have recently certified and am going to playa in April (3rd time). Wondering about the best dive shops. Best reefs to dive on. Diving on the cenote's. Renting equipment there vs bringing my own. I will be staying at the Rui Playacar and Scuba Caribe has a shop there. Has anyone had experiance with them? They have a 6 dive package that I am thinking about and am wondering if they go to a different place every time? I also would like to do at least one night dive and was wondering the particulars on that.

[james]

Definitely check out the Reef Diving article on this site, and also the search engine for this popular topic.

Thanks James,


Great article. I am really getting stoked to go. I certified in the Blue hole in New Mexico (kind of like a cenote) but am ready to see what ocean diving is all about. I have been to Mexico about 7 times, 2 in Playa Del Carmen. PDC is definitely my favorite. Love the forum. What do you do in Playa? I seen a post that indicated that you do tours in Playa.

James,


I stumbled across your link to your tours. Very nice! I may have to take one while there. You have a great job.

[Joana]

Well- as a former employee of Scuba Caribe I guess I HAVE to take part in this one...

During the time I worked with them and also the times I went there after (although the last time was in 2001 I have to admit....) it has always been a decent company with good staff and equipment.
Usually on the packages you get to decide which dives you do- so you won't be hasseled into doing a dive twice or such.
As for reefs- and as you're not that experienced as it sounds- I'd start out with a shallow one like Mok Che or Chenzubul to get into the flow of things.
Then Barracuda and Tarpoon are surely recomendable- to my mind Tarpoon is even worth doing twice as there are always turtles there, sometimes sharks and the tarpoons- which are an awesome sight.
The wreck......well, I wouldn't say it's a must.....

Scuba Caribe used to do night dives at Barracuda when I worked for them.
Usually one a week. And it is well worth it.

DO check out the cenotes AND Cozumel!!!! You'll definately be missing something if you don't.
And if they offer a dive to Cabezos- do that as well- nice corals there.

I am quite sure that you'll feel happy with the company........in fact my Ex-boss is (was??) the manager in the RIU Palace nowadays- which kind of goes to show that the folks who work(ed) for the company can't be all that bad if they end up with that job, right????

By all means use the search function as James suggested....there have been many posts on this subject.....

Have fun down there and say hi to the turtles for me!!!

Hi Joanna,


Thanks for the information. That's very helpfull. Being as how I live in Colorado there are not that many opportunities for diving so I want to make the most of my visit to Playa. Were you (are you still) a dive master/instructor while at Scuba Caribe? Do you still live in Playa? That would be the life!

[james]

FYI: Sabalos are tarpons not tarpoons

I thought that was a funny to spell it!

Originally Posted by Cerveza_dude

Hey All,

I am looking for information on scuba diving in Playa. I have recently certified and am going to playa in April (3rd time). Wondering about the best dive shops. Best reefs to dive on. Diving on the cenote's. Renting equipment there vs bringing my own. I will be staying at the Rui Playacar and Scuba Caribe has a shop there. Has anyone had experiance with them? They have a 6 dive package that I am thinking about and am wondering if they go to a different place every time? I also would like to do at least one night dive and was wondering the particulars on that.

Equipment: If you got it, bring it I say (sans weights, trust me on this one)! You didn't spend all that money to let it sit in your garage/basement/closet. I took mine for only 1 day diving last time and didn't regret it.

I snorkeled the cenotes last time and am spending a day diving them this time. The visibility is stunning. I'd do it in the middle of your trip, it's nice to feel a refreshing coolness once in a while IMO.

Reefs: make sure you do the "turtle dive" (I always forget the name of the reef) all the shops know it. It's a 60-70' drift dive that always has a bunch of turtles hanging out on it, bring a camera.

Enjoy!

Aaron

[jeffandbecky]

I really second the camera idea. If you dont have a rig, try to rent a digital from your dive shop or down in PDC. Our last trip we rented a decent Sea Life from my local dive shop for about $50 for our four day stay. Well worth the expense and trouble.

In addition, underwatereditions.com publishes a book on the reefs close to PDC (basically from Tres Rios south to Calica). Kind of thin for the money but good maps of the reefs and what to expect from the dive. Their site is under construction but you can get an idea of the product from the Cozumel book.

[Joana]

James- tehehehe.....:p Thanks for the info.....must have always thought of a harpoon when I thought about a tarpon.

Cervezadude-
I used to work for them as a SSI- dive control specialist (<----doesn't that sound great??? It's sort of a mix between guide and assistant instructor so to speak......) in '97-'98. Only dove with them for vacation purposes after that......and am living back in my homecountry now (*cries*) studying medicine. But once I am done with that....Playa here I come!!!!
Re: the equipment- the shop has good equipment but if you have your own you should bring it.....that's what you bought it for, right??
Also you are used to your own equipment- so it spares you the hassle of getting used to different equipment. Don't bring weights and don't bring a bottle- that would be useless. But anything else.......
Like said- definately take one of the trips to the Cenotes after you have done some open water dives and have gotten used to the swing of diving again.
It is an experience you will never forget.
Scuba Caribe also offers daytrips to Cozumel and you have to do one otherwise I (and the other divers who have been to Coz) will have to virtually slap you- it's simply a MUST and SUCH an experience.

Antares- the turtle reef you are referring to is surely Tarpon (<----:p ) which I spoke about above. Isn't that one just such a nice dive??? *swoon*

jeffandbecky- wow- that book is AWESOME!!

[oklahomajack]

Originally Posted by jeffandbecky

I really second the camera idea. If you dont have a rig, try to rent a digital from your dive shop or down in PDC. Our last trip we rented a decent Sea Life from my local dive shop for about $50 for our four day stay. Well worth the expense and trouble.

In addition, www.underwatereditions.com publishes a book on the reefs close to PDC (basically from Tres Rios south to Calica). Kind of thin for the money but good maps of the reefs and what to expect from the dive. Their site is under construction but you can get an idea of the product from the Cozumel book.

We spend at least 3 weeks a year in PDC and I dive in Playa and Cozumel most everyday we are there and this is the best map I have seen. Thanks and it will definately come in handy. Do you know if there is anything like it on Playa as I seem to pretty much dive the same places everytime I am there and would like to know of other sites that I might be missing.

Cozumel is definitely a must. I also plan on diving a cenote at least once. Hope that I can find a cenote dive where my wife can come along and snorkel while I dive. I almost got a hotel in Cozumel but after staying at Playa I just couldn’t bring myself to stay any where else.

[oklahomajack]

Originally Posted by Cerveza_dude

Cozumel is definitely a must. I also plan on diving a cenote at least once. Hope that I can find a cenote dive where my wife can come along and snorkel while I dive. I almost got a hotel in Cozumel but after staying at Playa I just couldn’t bring myself to stay any where else.

I did the same thing but my wife likes to sit on the beach while I am diving and if you stay in San Miguel at Coz it is a $10 to $15 dollar taxi ride to a beach and in PDC it is a 3 minute walk to the beach. So I will keep going to PDC and doing day trips to Coz. Besides the rest.,hotel, shopping and nightlife is better in pdc.

Yes, my wife is a beach goddess as well. She would not let me go without her. Lucily we have another couple going with us and my buddies girlfriend does not dive either so my wife will have someone to hang out with while I am diving.