Local Diving

As a certified diver you can enjoy a wide variety of Dive sites including the famous turtle reef, the Mama Viña wreck, beautiful deep dives and much more.

Our two-tank morning trip leaves at 8:30 right in front of the shop on the beach, returning at 12:00 taking you for two beautiful dives, coming back on time for lunch and some holiday sun.
For those who would like to start with an easy shallow dive we have the afternoon trip leaving at 13:00 returning at 16:00.
Trips include tanks, weights, drinks on the boat, multilingual guide and a guaranteed smile upon return!!

Schedule: Daily
Times: Deep dives: 8:30 to 12.00
Shallow dives: 13:00 to 16:00
Requirements: Open Water Diver or Equivalent

Dive Sites

Cerebros - Brains

picture of a brain coral, Playa del Carmen, Scuba Libre

Cerebros, which means brains, is the most northern dive site of Playa del Carmen. It got its name due to the large amount of brain coral that you will find as you dive in this reef. The coral formations at the edge of the reef create a beautiful landscape and are home to many crustaceans, such as lobsters, king crabs and shrimps. You can also find many moray eels, scorpion fish and beautiful reef fish.

maximum depth: 13m/39ft
average visibility: 20m/70ft

Los Arcos - The Arches

picture of a bullshark at Los Arcos, Playa del Carmen, Scuba Libre

Named after its two arches, Los Arcos is a deep dive. The wall sections are 5m/15ft in height and are covered with hard corals, sponges and seafans. On the sandy areas the diver can find turtles, groupers and stingrays. The arches shelter schools of fish, moray eels and many crustaceans. In the winter months (December-March) Los Arcos is also an excellent spot to encounter Bull-Sharks. Due to its depth and currents, Los Arcos is recommended for advanced divers.

maximum depth: 30m/100ft
average visibility: 30m/100 ft

Pared Verde - Green Wall

picture of Pared Verde, Playa del Carmen, Scuba Libre

If you are a wall lover, then this is a place you shouldn't miss while diving in Playa. At the beginning of the dive you'll find smaller walls divided by sandy areas, as you advance through the reef you'll encounter the main wall with its spectacular coral formation and a great variety of small and large marine life. Along the typical Caribbean marine life it is quite common to see sharks cruising this wall. At ¾ of your dive you'll find a chimney which you can penetrate and start your ascend from.

maximum depth: 28m/84ft
average visibility: 30m/100 ft

Moc-Che Deep

Moc-Che Deep is a sheer wall stretching from 21m/70ft to 30m/100ft. The current normally travels south to north but it is possible that it suddenly changes, although it is a very easy dive. This amazing wall is the home to many lobsters, king crabs, large moray eels, turtles and in the winter months (Dec-Mar) bull-sharks and eagle rays.

maximum depth: 21m/70ft to 30m/100ft
average visibility: 30m/100 ft

Moc-Che Shallow

This beautiful shallow site is an excellent place for those who like slow, relaxed dives looking for the smaller inhabitants of the reef. Here, you will find an abundance of reef fish, moray eels, scorpion fish and many rays in the sand. Also, at the end of the reef there is a small arch full of colorful fish and often the home of a very large green moray.

maximum depth: 12m/40ft
average visibility: 20m/70ft

Chun-zumbul - "There's no bins" in Mayan

picture of school of fish at Chun-zumbul, Playa del Carmen, Scuba Libre

This is one of the longest and shallowest reefs in the area. The best days to visit it is when the current is very slow. Right in the middle of the reef you'll find its most colorful section. Take your time to look at the garden-like vegetation with its coral overhangs and explore the little holes that you'll find along the reef as they are the home to all kinds of creatures and harbor big schools of fish, moray eels, lemon rays, shells and arrow crabs.

maximum depth: 10m/30ft
average visibility: 20m/70ft

Jardines - Gardens

picture of hard coral at Jardines, Playa del Carmen, Scuba Libre

Jardines, or Gardens takes its name from the abundant vegetation and large amount of sponges, hard corals and sea fans. We take our time to admire the variety of schools of tropical fishes, moray eels and all that the ocean is in the mood to allow us to see. In the winter months surprise visits can be expected by eagle rays and sometimes sharks.

maximum depth: 12m/50ft
average visibility: 20m/70ft

Sabalos - Tarpons

picture of Sabalos, Playa del Carmen, Scuba Libre

Originally named after the schools of Tarpon that occasionally can still be seen here, Sabalos is one of the most beautiful shallow dive sites in the area. Divers can frequently see turtles, occasionally eagle rays, large moray eels, stingrays, king crabs and much more. The reef has many coral overhangs filled with reef fish and close to the end of the reef you'll find a little cave to explore.
This is one of the most demanding shallow dives in Playa del Carmen due its strong current, so we recommend staying close to the bottom where the current is not as strong.

maximum depth: 15m/45ft
average visibility: 20m/70ft

Inna

Inna is a nice reef decorated by a large amount of coral, fans and sponges, being a perfect shelter for small fish, eels and turtles. It is common to see great barracudas patrolling this reef. Sometimes the current can be a bit strong but it is easy to find protection by staying close to the sandy bottom.

maximum depth: 12m/43ft
average visibility: 20m/70ft

Tortugas - Turtles

picture of a turtle at Tortuga, Playa del Carmen, Scuba Libre

The turtle garden is our most popular dive due to the large amount of sea turtles to be found there. This reef normally has a moderate to strong current which takes you over the amazing reef passing by moray eels, barracuda, large schools of pelagic fish, eagle rays, angelfish, groupers, sometimes nurse sharks, and turtles off course. During the summer months at the end of the reef you can sometimes see a very large school of Tarpons, which makes Tortugas a truly amazing dive.

maximum depth: 18m/60ft and 30m/100ft
average visibility: 30m/100ft

Barracuda

Picture this reef as a hand with fingerlike outcroppings accommodating many swim-throughs. We can find a huge amount of marine life in its hundreds of little holes and observe plenty of rays, moray eels, large schools of fish, barracudas, turtles and sometime eagle rays. The current is normally medium so we recommend staying over the sand at the reef's edge. At the end of the reef there's a little cave, which through a chimney takes us to an exit on the top of the reef.

maximum depth: 13m/39ft
average visibility: 20m/70ft

Mama Viña Wreck

picture of Mama Viña, Playa del Carmen, Scuba Libre

This former shrimp boat was intentionally sunk for scuba diving activities in 1995. Since then the wreck has been rapidly covered by corals and is home to many fish like big porcupine fish, moray eels, barracudas, large schools of jacks and other pelagic fish. The wreck lies at 30m/100ft and the dive site generally has a strong current making it recommended for experienced divers only. The main deck can be penetrated to observe the remains of this beautiful ship.

maximum depth: 27m/81ft
average visibility: 30m/100ft

Punta Venado

This amazing dive site is the southern-most reef in the area and is popular for its beautiful soft and hard corals. Punta Venado generally has a moderate to strong current that takes you past the amazing corals, moray eels, turtles, rays and schools of fish. In the winter season (Dec-Mar) you also have a good chance to see bull sharks in this area.
We take only experienced divers to this dive site.

maximum depth: 33m/99ft
average visibility: 30m/100ft