Dive sites
Tortugas (Turtle Reef)
Travel Time 15 min
Max Depth 15 - 30 m / 50 - 100 ft
Bottom Time 40 - 50 min
Current Moderate - Strong
Difficulty Moderate
Description Playa's most famous dive site due to the abundance of turtles (Greens, Hawksbills, and the occasional Loggerhead). This flat-bottom reef is rich with barrel sponges and a plethora of larger animals such as barracuda, groupers, and tarpon.
Barracuda
Travel Time 15 min
Max Depth 14m / 45 ft
Bottom Time 45 - 60 min
Current Moderate - Strong
Difficulty Easy/Moderate
Description A finger-like wall dive with a white sandy bottom holds surprises at every corner. The small caverns and over-hangs are filled with large schools of grunts and snappers with hidden treasures of giant morays, tiny seahorses, and resting turtles.
Sabalos (Tarpon Reef)
Travel Time 15 min
Max Depth 14m / 45 ft
Bottom Time 45 - 60 min
Current Moderate - Strong
Difficulty Moderate
Description Being next to Barracuda reef, this dive enjoys similar cavern formations and exceptionally large schools of colorful fish. The drastic turns and corners make it a slightly harder reef to navigate but you will be rewarded with the large animal life enjoying the currents: huge tarpon, schools of barracuda, and giant groupers just to name a few.
Mama Viña Ship Wreck
Travel Time 15 min
Max Depth 28 m / 92 ft
Bottom Time 25 - 40 min
Current Moderate - Strong
Difficulty Moderate/Hard
Description A shrimping boat sunk for divers in 1995, this shipwreck has quickly become a hangout for many schooling fish. Schools of spadefish, jacks, and barracuda can often be spotted around the wreck. While inside the cabins, you will be greeted by an aquarium of small colorful fish, green morays, and intricate coral growth.
Punta Venado (Deer Point)
Travel Time 25 min
Max Depth 20 - 30 m / 65 - 100 ft
Bottom Time 30 - 40 min
Current Moderate - Strong
Difficulty Moderate
Description Playa's furthest southern reef and the richest in coral formations and sponges. Be sure to look in the nooks and crannies as the diversity on this reef is unparalleled. Eagle rays, nurse sharks, and large turtles are common sights on this lush drift dive.
Jardines (Gardens)
Travel Time 3 min
Max Depth 12 m / 40 ft
Bottom Time 45 - 60 min
Current Weak
Difficulty Easy
Description Our closest reef, this relaxed shallower dive is a nursery for many tropical fish and crustaceans. The large schools of fish will impress even the seasoned divers. Be sure to look under the many overhangs to find morays, stingrays, shrimp and lobsters.
Shangri-la
Travel Time 4 min
Max Depth 10 m / 33 ft
Bottom Time 45 - 60 min
Current Weak
Difficulty Easy
Description Next to Jardines, this dive shares similar sea life with less depth and generally milder currents. The large cavern in the middle of the dive has even, on occasion, held a napping nurse shark. Take it slow and enjoy the small stuff!
Chunzumbul
Travel Time 5 min
Max Depth 10 m / 33 ft
Bottom Time 45 - 60 min
Current Weak
Difficulty Easy
Description Our longest shallow reef, this multi-layered dive is lush with large fan coral, sponges, and nooks and crannies filled with interesting life. Highlights can include snacking turtles, giant barracuda, and large stingrays off in the sandy areas.
Cueva del Pargo (Snapper Cave)
Travel Time 6 min
Max Depth 10 m / 33 ft
Bottom Time 45 - 60 min
Current Weak
Difficulty Easy
Description As the name would indicate, this reef boasts a large circular overhang filled will schooling snappers. A great dive to feel submerged in fish life with very little current and lots of time to enjoy the underwater bustle.
Moc Che
Travel Time 8 min
Max Depth 15 m / 50 ft
Bottom Time 40 - 50 min
Current Weak - Moderate
Difficulty Easy/Moderate
Description Reaching all the way to the surface, this reef can also be used for snorkeling and offers intricate vertical formations. The small tunnel towards the end of the dive is home to a large green moray grumpily greeting divers as they swim through a school of grunts.
Moc Che Deep
Travel Time 10 min
Max Depth 30 m / 100 ft
Bottom Time 30 - 40 min
Current Moderate - Strong
Difficulty Moderate/Hard
Description The first of the deeper wall dives, this long drift dive is rich with large coral formations, huge fans, and varied sea life. Make sure to look in the cracks and crevices for king crabs, green morays, and sleeping turtles.
Pared Verde (Green Wall)
Travel Time 12 min
Max Depth 30 m / 100 ft
Bottom Time 30 - 40 min
Current Moderate - Strong
Difficulty Moderate/Hard
Description Directly after Moc Che Deep, this site boasts similar formations and life. In the winter months, it is also possible to spot bull sharks out in the sandy flats. Diving a multi-level profile on our wall dives will also allow for an extended bottom time to truly enjoy the site.
Los Arcos (The Arches)
Travel Time 15min
Max Depth 30 m / 100 ft
Bottom Time 30 - 40 min
Current Moderate - Strong
Difficulty Hard
Description The furthest of our wall dives, this site is less uniform in shape making for interesting passages and formations. You can often spot a great barracuda or two cruising the reef or large stingrays resting on the sandy bottom.
Cerebros (Brains)
Travel Time 20 min
Max Depth 12 m / 40 ft
Bottom Time 45 - 60 min
Current Weak
Difficulty Easy
Description True to its name, this reef is covered in large blocks of brain coral. Zigzagging around, you will find an abundance of lobsters, schools of grunts, and occasional eagle rays sweeping down over the reef. The narrow canyons throughout the dive make this site unique and one of our favorites after a deeper morning dive.
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