Diving Cozumel or Playa del Carmen? How to choose
Cozumel is the place for coral walls and drift diving. Playa del Carmen has reefs five minutes from the harbor, the Mama Viña wreck, bull sharks in winter and cenotes half an hour away. You don't have to choose, though. If you're staying in Playa del Carmen, you can dive Cozumel as a day trip without changing hotels.
Here's what each place offers and how a Cozumel day works when you leave from our scuba diving center in Playa del Carmen.
Cozumel at a glance
Many of the island's reefs are inside Cozumel Reefs National Park, protected since 1996, with about 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) off the southwest of the island. Cozumel is known for steep coral walls, like those in the Palancar area, and for drift dives where the current carries you along the reef.
Playa del Carmen at a glance
Playa's reefs run in two lines close to shore, a shallow one at about 33 to 40 ft (10 to 12 m) and a deeper one between 65 and 100 ft (20 and 30 m). That means there are dives for every level, from beginners to experienced divers. From November to March, there's also the bull shark dive, and the cenotes are about 15 miles (25 km) away. Our guide to Playa del Carmen dive sites covers them all.
Cozumel or Playa del Carmen, side by side
Cozumel | Playa del Carmen | |
Type of diving | Walls and drift | Reefs close to shore, wreck |
Level | Certified divers | All levels |
Special dives | Palancar walls | Bull sharks, November to March |
Nearby | Cenotes about 15 miles away |
If you have several days, the best plan is to combine both.
How a Cozumel day trip from Playa works
We leave Playa del Carmen at 8:00 a.m.
The boat takes about 45 minutes to the south of Cozumel. On the way we give the dive briefing and answer questions.
The first dive is usually in the Palancar area, along steep coral walls. The current is gentle and lets you glide along the reef.
After a good surface interval, we make the second dive on one of the reefs on the way back to Playa del Carmen.
We're back in Playa around 3:00 p.m.
Boat from Playa or ferry?
There are two ways to dive Cozumel if you're staying in Playa del Carmen.
By boat from Playa del Carmen
That's how we do it. The boat takes you straight to the reefs, the briefing happens on the way and the second dive is on the way back. No ferry schedules and no taxis on the island.
By ferry
The passenger ferry takes 35 to 45 minutes. On the island you need to get to the dive shop and back to the pier in time for the last ferry.
Cozumel marine park fee
To dive inside Cozumel Reefs National Park, there's a daily access fee, shown with a wristband. When you book, we'll confirm what the price includes.
What level do you need for Cozumel?
Cozumel is drift diving along coral walls, so you should be Open Water certified and comfortable with your buoyancy. If you have few dives or haven't been diving in a while, let us know when you book.
If you're not certified yet, you can get certified in Playa del Carmen first. See our article on the Open Water course in Playa del Carmen.
Want to book your Cozumel day? Message us on WhatsApp with the date and your certification.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel?
On our boat, about 45 minutes to the south of the island. By ferry, 35 to 45 minutes to the pier.
What time do you get back to Playa del Carmen?
Around 3:00 p.m.
Is Cozumel better than Playa del Carmen for diving?
They're different. Cozumel is better for walls and drift diving. Playa del Carmen is better if you want variety close by, with reefs for all levels, bull sharks in winter and cenotes nearby.
