Scuba Diving in Playa del Carmen with Xico Dive Center
Small-group reef dives, cenotes, Cozumel trips and PADI courses from our dive center near the beach.
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Small-group reef dives, cenotes, Cozumel trips and PADI courses from our dive center near the beach.
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Xico Dive Center offers local reef dives, cenote diving, direct Cozumel boat trips, PADI courses, kids programs and private snorkeling from our shop near the beach.
We also offer selected snorkeling and Riviera Maya tours for families, couples and mixed groups.
Trusted by divers, families and first-time students looking for safe, small-group ocean experiences in Playa del Carmen.
Choose local reef dives in Playa del Carmen, explore cenote diving, join Cozumel diving from Playa del Carmen, or start with Discover Scuba Diving or the PADI Open Water course.
Tell us your certification level, last dive date and comfort level. We will recommend the safest and most enjoyable option for your trip.
Start with local reef dives, cenotes, Cozumel trips, night dives, scooter dives, bull shark season or whale shark snorkeling. We help you choose the right option based on your certification, recent experience and comfort level.
Explore freshwater cenotes with clear water, rock formations, haloclines and light beams. For certified divers with good buoyancy.
Two-tank local reef dives with turtles, rays and colorful coral just offshore. Short boat rides and relaxed Caribbean conditions.
Direct boat trip from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel reefs, without the public ferry. Clear water, drift dives, walls and vibrant coral.
Explore the reef after sunset and look for eels, octopuses, crabs and sleeping turtles as nocturnal marine life becomes active.
Cover more reef, save energy and enjoy the fun of underwater movement with guided DPV dives for qualified divers.
Seasonal shark dives for certified, confident divers with recent experience. Usual season: November to April.
Seasonal snorkeling tour from June 1 to September 17, 2026. Pickup available from many areas between Cancun and Tulum.
Start with a beginner-friendly scuba experience or earn your first PADI certification in warm Caribbean water.
No prior experience required. Try scuba in a pool first, then join supervised ocean dives with a PADI professional.
Earn your Open Water certification with flexible eLearning, small groups and supportive instruction.
Build confidence, improve safety and unlock new dive sites with continuing education and specialty training.
Level up with five adventure dives—deep, navigation and your choice of night, drift, wreck, DPV or others. Build confidence and skills.
Learn to prevent problems and manage emergencies with realistic scenarios—our most rewarding course for confident divers.
Go deeper into what you love: Nitrox, DPV, Night, Wreck, Buoyancy and more—short, focused training that sticks.
Start your pro path in the Riviera Maya—mentor-led training, real-world experience and a supportive, conservation-minded team.
Fun, confidence-building programs designed for young adventurers—led by patient PADI professionals with kid-friendly gear.
Pool-based AquaMissions with buoyancy games and simple skills—an exciting first step into the underwater world. Minimum age: 8+.
Make bubbles, make memories—gentle, shallow-water fun that introduces kids to scuba in a playful, supervised setting. Minimum age: 8+.
Safety briefing, pool practice and a guided shallow dive with a PADI pro—perfect for trying real scuba with extra care. Minimum age: 10+.
eLearning, confined-water practice and open-water dives—supportive training that leads to a junior scuba certification. Minimum age: 10+.
Five Adventure Dives build skills and confidence—navigation, peak buoyancy and more, tailored for young divers. Minimum age: 12+.
Traveling with non-divers? These options work well for couples, families and mixed groups who want ocean, cenote or Riviera Maya experiences without scuba certification.
Explore Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres in one day: snorkel vibrant reefs, watch nesting birds, enjoy beachside lunch and relax on Playa Norte.
Enjoy a private reef snorkeling experience by boat. A good option for couples, families and mixed groups where not everyone wants to scuba dive.
Catch the first light on a peaceful stand-up paddle session along the Caribbean coast.
Discover Tulum’s cliff-top ruins, swim with turtles in Akumal, and cool off in a cenote with transport and expert guides.
Explore our Riviera Maya tours in one place—hand-picked experiences from cenotes and reef snorkels to Mayan ruins and wildlife outings.
Quick answers about reef dives, cenotes, Cozumel, PADI courses, seasonal trips and booking logistics.
Yes. Playa del Carmen is a practical base for reef dives, cenotes, Cozumel trips, PADI courses and seasonal wildlife experiences. Local reefs are close to shore, boat rides are short, and you can combine several different types of diving in one trip.
On our local reef dives, you may see turtles, rays, moray eels, nurse sharks, schools of grunts and snappers, and many tropical reef fish. Eagle rays can appear in season, and the exact sightings depend on conditions and the dive site.
Many local reef sites are suitable for beginners, Discover Scuba participants, Open Water students and relaxed certified divers. We choose sites based on certification level, recent experience, sea conditions and group comfort.
We dive all year. Reef water is usually warm, visibility is often good, and cenotes are stable throughout the year. Bull shark season is normally from November to April, while whale shark snorkeling is a summer activity.
If you want to try scuba for one day, book Discover Scuba Diving. If you want a full certification, choose the PADI Open Water Diver course.
The Open Water course normally takes three days after your eLearning is completed. Training includes confined-water practice and four open water dives with a PADI instructor.
You do not need to be an athlete, but you should feel comfortable in the water. Discover Scuba does not require the full course swim test, while PADI certification courses include basic swim and float requirements.
Yes. Children can start with selected PADI programs from age 8 in shallow water. Junior Open Water certification starts from age 10, with depth limits and extra supervision.
Yes. Playa del Carmen is a convenient base for cenote diving. Cenotes are freshwater cavern dives with clear water, rock formations, haloclines and beautiful light effects. They are for certified divers and require good buoyancy control.
Our Cozumel dive trip uses a direct boat from Playa del Carmen, so you do not need to take the public ferry. It is a two-tank trip for certified divers who are comfortable with drift diving.
Yes, during the normal winter season. Bull shark diving is for certified, confident divers with recent experience. Requirements depend on the type of shark dive and current conditions.
No. The whale shark tour is snorkeling only, not scuba diving. It is seasonal, and you do not need a scuba certification, but you should be comfortable swimming in open water.
Yes. Send us your certification level, number of dives, last dive date, comfort level, travel dates and what you would like to see. We can recommend the best option, whether that is a relaxed reef dive, a refresher, a PADI course, cenotes, Cozumel or a seasonal activity.
Send us your preferred date, activity, certification level, last dive date, number of divers and whether you need rental gear. To confirm most reservations, we ask for a deposit and then send the meeting time and details.
Safety comes first. If the port authority closes the port or conditions are not suitable, we will try to reschedule. If rescheduling is not possible, the refund or credit option depends on the activity and supplier rules.
For recreational diving, the general recommendation is to leave at least 18 to 24 hours between your last dive and your flight. For several days of repetitive dives, it is better to be conservative.
Still have questions? Send us a message and we will help you choose the right dive, course or tour for your trip.