Xico Dive Center

Located in the heart of Playa del Carmen, Xico Dive Center provides access to some of the most diverse diving environments in the Riviera Maya. From the calm, freshwater cave systems of the inland cenotes to the salt-water reefs of the Caribbean, the centre is positioned to serve divers of all experience levels.

The centre's location near the beach and the main boat zone makes logistics straightforward for those staying in Playa del Carmen. They offer a range of experiences including reef dives, night dives, and dedicated excursions to the Cozumel reefs, which are famous for their drift diving and vertical walls.

The team at Xico Dive Center is composed of PADI professionals who prioritise clear safety briefings and small group sizes. Their approach is built on providing personalised attention, ensuring that every diver, from a student to a seasoned veteran, feels comfortable with their surroundings.

Safety and conservation are central to their operations. They provide honest recommendations based on your specific certification level, your most recent dive experience, and your personal comfort levels. This ensures that you are matched with the right dive site and the right level of challenge.

Xico Dive Center offers a comprehensive range of PADI courses, starting from the basics with Discover Scuba Diving and the Junior programs for younger divers. They cover the full spectrum of recreational training, including Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, and Rescue Diver.

For those looking to specialise, they offer several PADI Specialty courses such as PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver, PADI Deep Diver, PADI Wreck Diver, and the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy course. They also run the PADI AWARE Shark Conservation programme and the PADI ReActivate Refresher Program for divers returning to the water after a break.

Professional training is also available for those looking to progress their careers, including Divemaster courses. For those interested in technical diversions, they offer the PADI Scooter (DPV) Specialty course.

The centre operates a local shop located near the beach, which serves as a base for your diving activities. They offer equipment servicing and have a selection of kit available for hire to suit your needs.

For those looking to extend their training or refresh their skills, the centre provides Nitrox availability. This is a significant advantage for divers looking to extend their bottom time on the deeper reef or cenote profiles.

The local reefs are teeming with life, including sea turtles, Southern stingray (Hypanus americanus), and various species of reef fish. You will frequently see schools of grunts, snappers (Lutjanus), and parrotfish (Calotomus) moving amongst the hard coral (Scleractinia) and soft corals (Alcyonacea).

During the season from November to April, you may encounter bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) and eagle rays (Aetobatus). In the summer months, from June to September, whale sharks are also present in the area.

For macro enthusiasts, the environment holds many treasures such as octopus (Octopus vulgaris), crabs (Brachyura), and various species of shrimp (Caridea). You might also spot nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani), seahorses (Hippocampus kuda), and scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae) tucked into the reef structure.

The seafloor and rock formations are adorned with gorgonians, sponges (Porifera), and anemones (Actiniaria), providing a complex habitat for moray eels (Muraenidae) and various crustaceans.

The cenotes are characterized by very calm conditions with virtually no current, making them ideal for practicing buoyancy. However, these are fragile environments that require careful movement to avoid disturbing the silt or the rock formations.

The Caribbean reefs can experience different conditions depending on the site; while many local Playa del Carmen sites are relaxed, the Cozumel reefs are well-known for drift diving, where you will move with the current along the walls.