Dove in Mexico on vacation. The July 3 dive was on the Playa del Carmen side of the strait. The July 6 dive was in Cozumel.
The two dives on Playa del Carmen were Moc Che Shallow and Pared Verde (Green Wall).
Pared Verde, meaning “green wall”, is a wall dive that is broken up into two sections. The sections of the wall are separated by a sloping sandy bottom. The top of the wall starts at 75ft/24m and bottoms out in sand at 100ft/30m. The current here is moderate and the visibility ranges from 75-100ft (24-30m). There is a chimney style swim thru towards the end of the dive. It is best to stay at the lip of the wall where the coral growth is the most abundant. Here you can see turtles, stingrays, barracudas, large moray eels, and the occasional spotted eagle ray or manta.
Moc-Che Shallow is a winding reef that gently slopes down to sand. There are numerous coral formations providing a home to sea life. The top of the reef is in 25ft/8m and bottoms out in sand at 40ft/14m. There is a light to moderate current with visibility ranging from 40-50ft (15m). Here you can find small and large rays and in spring spotted eagle rays schooling around toward the end of the site. The highlight of the dive is a beautiful arch covered in coral which is the home to a very large green moray eel. Seahorses, pipefish and pipehorses have been spotted here as well.
The two dives on Cozumel were Tormentos and Paradise.
Tomentos Healthy reef with a rich coral environment, overhangs, and marine life. Dive is divided into two sections. Start on the Southernmost section, this section has piles of old queen Conch shells at about 50 Ft. as you drift along, take some time to see the overhangs and the abundance of fish and numerous cleaning stations. As the reef becomes rockier, continue on as the second section mini wall appears soon.
Paradise Reef is actually two reefs, north and south, which is divided into four sections. Paraiso North is near the shore and because of its shallow depth (30’) and slow currents, it is a great place for the beginners. Paradise South is just south of the International Pier and is just a bit deeper. Both sides have excellent visibility and are abundant with marine life!
SCUBA PLAYA Dive Shop
Calle 10 Norte entre 1 y 5 Ave. Col. Centro
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, 77710