Jardines
Boat dive · Shallow reef
A relaxed coral garden with sandy channels, little or no current and plenty of small life — one of the best shallow reefs in Playa for newer divers, training dives and refreshers.
About this site
Jardines is one of the best shallow local reef sites in Playa del Carmen. It offers a relaxed, easygoing profile of coral gardens and sandy patches with little or no current, which makes it perfect for Discover Scuba Diving, Open Water training and easy certified dives. Despite the gentle conditions there is a lot to see: lobsters, scorpion fish, trumpet fish, flamingo tongue snails, green eagle rays and green moray eels all call this reef home.
Marine life spotted here
- Lobsters
- Scorpion fish
- Trumpet fish
- Flamingo tongue snails
- Green eagle rays
- Green moray eels
More in Playa del Carmen & the Riviera Maya
Sabalos
A marine-life focused drift over coral ridges and sandy channels, where big silver tarpon and barracuda hang in the current. Just a short boat ride from shore.
Barracuda
Named for the schools of barracuda that gather here, this drift runs along reef fingers and sandy channels and works just as well as a night dive.
Tortugas
One of the most popular dives in the area — a relatively flat reef sloping from 15 to 40 metres, covered in corals and big barrel sponges, with turtles a regular sight.