summer04

My husband will be diving in Cozumel, but wondered if there are also some good sites on the mainland anywhere between Cancun and Akumal. Thanks for your opinions.

zootsi

I'm not a diver (just snorkel), but PDC and Akumal had many dive shops, and dive boats along the beach. I think the whole area is great for diving, Akumal in particular. Check out locogringo.com

Coskier

Hi Summer. We too have dived many times in Cozumel. we went this fall to Akumal and had great diving. I cannot remember the name of the dive shop but its right as you drive in to the main square. While it may not have the really big fish you see in Cozumel we thought the diving better. The reefs are in great shape. They get few divers as compared to Cozumel. Nice thing is all the dive sites are close in so the boat returns to the shop, you do not need to dive 2 dives unless you want to.

Now for something really different look into diving the centotes. We dove Chok Mool (sp?) out of this world! the dive was pricey but well worth it!

Coskier

found the dive shop http://www.akumaldivecenter.com/ they have, for now, a pic of the cenotes

summer04

Coskier
Thanks for the great info! We will be in Cancun a few days and then in Playacar, so definitely planned on going to Akumal. I'm confused about the cenotes. Are they the same as a cave and do you need a cave diving certification? We aren't sure how to do Cozumel. Either we'll go over for a few nights or my husband can take the ferry from Playa del Carmen in the early a.m., dive, and come back. My daughter and I could then just stay at the resort in Playacar. Is the water as clear in Akumal as in Cozumel? One last queston-who did you dive with in Cozumel? Thanks for the Akumal Dive Center info, also!

Coskier

Summer the cenotes are caverns, though you do not need a certification. I would however go with an expierenced guide. The pre dive "briefing" was about an hour. Not your typical "we will see fish, go for 40 min, come back" briefing. The operators we went with only took 4 people at a time. It was very safe. Surreal! I would highly recommend it. Unlike any dive we have ever done.

The waters in Akumal are beautiful, not allot of current like Cozumel. We have been to Cozumel numerous times and we were very pleased with the diving in Akumal, again they get allot less divers so the reefs are in much better shape.

In Cozumel we dive with Eco Divers. They take small fast boats http://www.cozumel-diving.net/ecodivers/

If you wanted to tag along to Akumal, like I said before the dives are close and the beach by the dive shop is very nice. Try La Beuna Vida ( think that is the name, close anyway) for lunch, great fish tacos and a nice beach area.

Have a great time!