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Article: Playa del Carmen - The Shining Star of the Riviera Maya
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By John Flanders, Master Instructor / Instructor Trainer
Maxden Regalado, GeoFish Dive Center, Playa del Carmen
January 13, 2009 - Posted to AcademyOfScuba.com
jflanders@academyofscuba.com
Maxden Regalado, GeoFish Dive Center, Playa del Carmen
January 13, 2009 - Posted to AcademyOfScuba.com
jflanders@academyofscuba.com
Deep in the heart of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, you can hear the heartbeats of novice
explorers living their Mayan dream. Retracing the steps of a society lost to the modern
civilization. Listening to the drums telling the story of the past. And, finding the adventure
that they have been waiting for all of their lives.
While the Riviera Maya is well reputed for its roots in the Mayan empire, in the dive
world, it lives in the shadow of its neighbor Cozumel. Cozumel is, arguably, the Mecca
of Scuba diving. It calls like a Siren, worldwide, to divers for its famed drift diving,
beautiful reefs and larger than life marine ecosystems. For many, Cozumel is a
perennial visit. Divers flock to the dozens of dive resorts and hotels and to the
hundreds of dive operators that scurry divers to the busy reefs every morning. Seeing
so many faithful divers, in one spot, is a truly extraordinary sight. At night, as the diver
intensity drifts off to casual Caribbean ambience, resting divers can see the lights of
Playa del Carmen across the channel. The lights of Fifth Avenue shine bright; calling to
the vacationers only 14 miles away. This calling does not ring silent. The
opportunities, for divers, are rich with excitement. Divers are learning this is not a
shadow that veils over the Riviera Maya … It’s a well maintained secret.
As you back roll into the clear, bath-water-warm, Caribbean waters, the bubbles clear
and you look down 30, 40 … maybe 50 feet. The water is crystal clear. The reef is a
vibrant rainbow of colors and the marine life is cordially meeting you
explorers living their Mayan dream. Retracing the steps of a society lost to the modern
civilization. Listening to the drums telling the story of the past. And, finding the adventure
that they have been waiting for all of their lives.
While the Riviera Maya is well reputed for its roots in the Mayan empire, in the dive
world, it lives in the shadow of its neighbor Cozumel. Cozumel is, arguably, the Mecca
of Scuba diving. It calls like a Siren, worldwide, to divers for its famed drift diving,
beautiful reefs and larger than life marine ecosystems. For many, Cozumel is a
perennial visit. Divers flock to the dozens of dive resorts and hotels and to the
hundreds of dive operators that scurry divers to the busy reefs every morning. Seeing
so many faithful divers, in one spot, is a truly extraordinary sight. At night, as the diver
intensity drifts off to casual Caribbean ambience, resting divers can see the lights of
Playa del Carmen across the channel. The lights of Fifth Avenue shine bright; calling to
the vacationers only 14 miles away. This calling does not ring silent. The
opportunities, for divers, are rich with excitement. Divers are learning this is not a
shadow that veils over the Riviera Maya … It’s a well maintained secret.
As you back roll into the clear, bath-water-warm, Caribbean waters, the bubbles clear
and you look down 30, 40 … maybe 50 feet. The water is crystal clear. The reef is a
vibrant rainbow of colors and the marine life is cordially meeting you
| Dive Site: Tortugas Reef Tortuga, for those who are not familiar with the Spanish language, means turtle. Named after the abundant sea turtle population, Tortuga Reef is a favorite amongst Playa del Carmen divers. Tortuga reef is located just east of the Excaret eco-park. Excaret has a turtle conservation program where they hatch the turtles in a safe environment and release them into the wild. The main species of turtles that you will see are the Hawksbill turtle and the Green Sea turtle. All the sea turtles that make Playa del Carmen their home are members of the endangered species list. Your good fortune, when in Playa, you can simply hop on a 10 minute boat ride and see these wonderful creatures. This reef is great for both beginners and experienced divers. It is a sloping reef that allows you to dive at whatever depth you are comfortable diving. Avg. # of turtles on one dive: 3 Depth of the reef: 40-130ft (12-40 meters) Visibility: 60-100 ft (18-30 meters) Current: South to North Boat Ride: 10-12 minutes Other sea life often seen: Green and Spotted Moray eels, Barracuda, Cubera Snapper, Amber Jacks, and the occasional Bull Shark. |
as you glide down gingerly into a comfortable position a few feet above the reef. Your
dive buddy flashes you the “OK sign” and you casually answer him back. A deep,
relaxed calm overcomes you. You feel your breathing slowing down and you can
actually hear your heartbeat soften as the quick adrenaline rush, commonly
experienced at the beginning of every dive, starts to wane. There is a little drift today, but
very manageable. This drift moves you along like a conveyor belt, making the dive
almost effortless. Small kicks correct your position, but you need no power to move you
along. Then, out of the corner of your eye, you spot a green line tucked under the reef.
Instinctively, your curiosity propels you to the location of the enigmatic underwater
creature. It’s at this point; you realize how docile the drift is for you to kick against. Just a
light flutter-kick and it holds you right in place. Now, you are hovering just a few feet
above a large Green Moray Eel. It was only two hundred years ago, when the image of
the moray would scare experienced sailors into a panic.
dive buddy flashes you the “OK sign” and you casually answer him back. A deep,
relaxed calm overcomes you. You feel your breathing slowing down and you can
actually hear your heartbeat soften as the quick adrenaline rush, commonly
experienced at the beginning of every dive, starts to wane. There is a little drift today, but
very manageable. This drift moves you along like a conveyor belt, making the dive
almost effortless. Small kicks correct your position, but you need no power to move you
along. Then, out of the corner of your eye, you spot a green line tucked under the reef.
Instinctively, your curiosity propels you to the location of the enigmatic underwater
creature. It’s at this point; you realize how docile the drift is for you to kick against. Just a
light flutter-kick and it holds you right in place. Now, you are hovering just a few feet
above a large Green Moray Eel. It was only two hundred years ago, when the image of
the moray would scare experienced sailors into a panic.
These stout men of the sea truly believed morays were terrorizing sea monsters. This
is what you came hunting for, however not with a weapon. A camera is what you shoot
with today. You brazenly stare at this beautiful creature getting ready to take a picture to
capture the majestic nature of this denizen of the deep. It’s hard to fit this six foot “sea
monster” into the entire view screen. However, with a little maneuvering, you take the
one picture that will inspire all your friends, back at home, to give Scuba diving a try.
The perfect shot, his eyes glancing menacingly, his mouth open (to the uneducated, he
looks like he ready to attack), his tale wrapped gently around the rocks in which it
spends the daylight hours. This moment in time is captured for eternity. You pause
immersed in this moment; however, it is just a small fragment of time in this spectacular
dive. This aquatic neighborhood is teaming with marine life, all posing for your camera.
Turtles, Stingrays, Bull Sharks, thousands of reef fish, and, who could forget, that goofy
dive buddy that likes to stick his tongue out when you snap an underwater photo of
him. This is what diving is all about. This is the dive life!
is what you came hunting for, however not with a weapon. A camera is what you shoot
with today. You brazenly stare at this beautiful creature getting ready to take a picture to
capture the majestic nature of this denizen of the deep. It’s hard to fit this six foot “sea
monster” into the entire view screen. However, with a little maneuvering, you take the
one picture that will inspire all your friends, back at home, to give Scuba diving a try.
The perfect shot, his eyes glancing menacingly, his mouth open (to the uneducated, he
looks like he ready to attack), his tale wrapped gently around the rocks in which it
spends the daylight hours. This moment in time is captured for eternity. You pause
immersed in this moment; however, it is just a small fragment of time in this spectacular
dive. This aquatic neighborhood is teaming with marine life, all posing for your camera.
Turtles, Stingrays, Bull Sharks, thousands of reef fish, and, who could forget, that goofy
dive buddy that likes to stick his tongue out when you snap an underwater photo of
him. This is what diving is all about. This is the dive life!
As you come to the surface, you are a stone’s throw away from the pearl white beaches of the Riviera Maya. Your dive boat is patiently
waiting for you. Fresh water and pineapple waiting on board your Playa del Carmen based Panga Boat. As you surface interval, drifting
off the beaches of Paamul and Playacar, you talk to your Divemaster about the next chapter of your Mayan Dive Adventure – tomorrow’s
trip to the Cenotes.
After your morning of Scuba diving the beautiful reefs of Playa del Carmen, you may have opted to relax by the resort pool or beautiful
beach. If, however, you wanted to keep the adventure going, you may have visited one of the sites where they offer zip-line tours or
tubing through a cave. All of these exciting activities are a quick trip after lunch and can easily be done in an afternoon off from diving.
waiting for you. Fresh water and pineapple waiting on board your Playa del Carmen based Panga Boat. As you surface interval, drifting
off the beaches of Paamul and Playacar, you talk to your Divemaster about the next chapter of your Mayan Dive Adventure – tomorrow’s
trip to the Cenotes.
After your morning of Scuba diving the beautiful reefs of Playa del Carmen, you may have opted to relax by the resort pool or beautiful
beach. If, however, you wanted to keep the adventure going, you may have visited one of the sites where they offer zip-line tours or
tubing through a cave. All of these exciting activities are a quick trip after lunch and can easily be done in an afternoon off from diving.
Story Continues - Click Here - Playa del Carmen - The Shining Star of the Riviera Maya (PART 2)