One of the activities on my ultimate bucket list is to scuba dive with dolphins. At the time of writing this It hasn’t happened yet. However, I’ve taken the first step towards this goal by obtaining my PADI Open Water Diver certification. Some of you reading would like to do the same thing. The main question usually is where to take the course.
I chose to get certified in Playa Del Carmen, a popular diving hub in Quintana Roo, Mexico. This coastal region of the Riviera Maya boasts crystal clear waters, healthy coral, and marine life, including the renowned neighboring island of Cozumel. It is also famous for a magical system of underwater caves called cenotes.
Since there is so much to see and discover, the diving community is well established. It’s a great location for beginner and advanced divers alike. If you’re interested in seeing some specific wildlife only, check for any seasonal migrations. If not, then you can pretty much visit any time of year and have a wonderful experience. Diving conditions are great all year.
Choosing a Dive Center
My initial piece of advice when picking where to take your course is to make sure you choose your dive company wisely.
The one I went with was recommended by a friend who had know relations with them at all and just heard from someone else that they were good. I took the recommendation and it was a mistake. I received my open water certification, but it was rushed.
Along the way I was put in tough positions and wasn’t instructed thoroughly enough, leaving me less than confident in my diving abilities. Controlling my buoyancy was a source of frustration. During my course I was taken to the ocean from training dives in very unfavorable weather, which is a no-go for beginners. More reinforcement of some fundamental skills would’ve helped me greatly with my technique also. I was disappointed.
I decided to do an extra dive after my course finished, but with a different company, Good Vibes Diving, that just so happened to operate out of a hostel I stayed at for a couple nights.
(Just in case you’re interested here’s a link to their website) https://goodvibesdiving.com/
What a great team! I immediately noticed a stark contrast in education and professionalism compared to the other dive center. After a great first experience I decided to come back a year later to take a refresher course with them. Now I’m completely confident in my skills.
An important thing to consider when selecting your dive center is the vibes. Feeling a sense of community goes a long way. I liked the fact that the dive center operated in a communal environment with access to a pool on-site to train. The positive energy and easy access to water makes the process more relaxed all-inclusive. Swimming in the ocean or a dark cave can intimidating, so it’s helpful to learn in an accommodating place with a encouraging atmosphere. The team at GVD was very patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely wanted me to be fully prepared and trusting in myself.
TIME NEEDED
My next recommendation is that you give yourself adequate time for a course. There could be a stretch of a few days when the ocean current is quite strong and the waves are too choppy. Such conditions are not optimal to train in the ocean and you may not be able to do any practice dives outside of a pool.
Another thing…
If your plan is to dive a lot, expect that you might want to take a couple days off at some point. Going in the water with high frequency can be exhausting if you’re not accustomed to it. The body needs time to adjust . Even the ride on the speed boat to dive sites could be rough.
Diving Tips for Quintana Roo
I don’t qualify myself as an expert by any means, but I have a couple tips that I think you should consider.
COZUMEL
Cozumel is a must do, but there’s a right way to go about it. My ONE recommendation is that visit the dive sites around Cozumel from the island itself. This means you have accommodation there, and visit the dive sites directly from there.
I’d advise against doing a day trip based out of Playa Del Carmen or any other the other nearby towns. It’s not like it’s “bad” but you will have to take a bumpy and long speed boat ride to and from the dive sites. It’s an inconvenience. Moreover, the sites you will most likely see will only be on one side of the island, the side closest to the mainland.
When diving from Cozumel, you’ll have access to more dive sites in much closer proximity. You don’t have to do it, but it’s worthy to look into.
CENOTES
Diving in a cenote in the Riviera Maya is a very unique experience. The only thing you have to look into is which cenote to visit based on what you qualify for. Some require Advanced Open Water Certification and a higher number of dives under your belt. I’d say put some thought into that. Maybe you’d like to go for the advanced course if you really want to see specific cenotes.
There is cavern diving and cave diving.
To do a guided cavern dive in a cenote you only need open water certification. This is because there is always an opening of visible light and a straight line exit. In addition, the depths you reach aren’t so profound.
Cenote Dos Ojos is highly regarded as one of the best cavern dives. I personally did my cenote dive in Chac Mool before I knew about Dos Ojos. Chac Mool was awesome in it’s own right but I heard Dos Ojos is “way better”. Do what you will with that information.
Now for cave diving….
Cave diving ventures into complete darkness with no immediate exit. You will explore deeper tunnels of the cave, which requires more advanced technical skills. Some expert type stuff.
I hope you enjoyed this info and good luck in your adventure!
