LOCATION:To the North of Playa del Carmen, 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 of Playa del Carmen. 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.
Chunzumbul
LOCATION:Opposite Punta Chunzumbul.
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 Playa del Carmen 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
Venados (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 del Carmen 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.
Taj
Mahal(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
Venados(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.
Chicken 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.
