SouthEast Divers

Puerto Morelos serves as a quiet, authentic gateway to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, situated perfectly between the larger hubs of Cancun and Playa del Carmen. This coastal village offers a more relaxed pace for divers looking to access both the vibrant Caribbean reefs and the famous inland cenotes.

SouthEast Divers operates as an SSI centre, focusing on professional standards and high-quality instruction. Whether you are looking to complete your first Open Water Diver qualification or you are a technical diver seeking rebreather support, the centre provides the necessary expertise and local knowledge to navigate the diverse underwater landscapes of the Quintana Roo coast.

The instruction team is led by experienced professionals, including Pablo A. Arias Cid, an instructor and underwater photographer, and Laura Delgadillo, a biologist and instructor. This combination of technical skill and biological expertise ensures that you gain both a practical and an ecological understanding of the marine environment.

Training is conducted in English and Spanish, making the centre accessible to an international community of divers. The team places a strong emphasis on professionalism and safety, catering to a wide range of experience levels through small, personalised groups.

As an SSI affiliated centre, SouthEast Divers offers a comprehensive curriculum. Beginners can start with Try Scuba or the Open Water Diver course, while those looking to refine their skills can enrol in the Perfect Buoyancy or Scuba Skills Update programmes.

Advanced training is a core part of the centre's offering, with specific courses for Deep Diving, Wreck Diving, Navigation, and Night Diving and Limited Visibility. For divers looking to move into technical or rescue territory, they offer Stress & Rescue, Search & Recovery, and specialized training in Coral Reef Restoration.

The centre provides a full range of rental kit for those not travelling with their own equipment. This includes regulators, wetsuits, fins, and masks, all maintained to high standards.

For those looking to extend their training or improve their skills, the facility offers specialized services including equipment repair and maintenance. Nitrox is available on-site for divers looking to extend their bottom times on the reef or the wreck.

The Mesoamerican Reef is a high-biodiversity environment where you will encounter large pelagics and colourful reef dwellers. You can regularly spot eagle rays, nurse sharks, and various species of turtles, alongside schools of barracuda and grouper (Epinephelus).

On the reef wall and around the C-56 Juan Escutia wreck, the scenery is defined by corals, sponges, and sea fans (Gorgoniidae). Look closely to find parrotfish, angelfish, lionfish, and moray eels amongst the structure.

Macro life enthusiasts will find plenty to observe, including sea slugs, crabs, shrimp, and various species of lobster. Small details like fireworms and various anemones add to the complexity of the seabed.

Between November and April, the area offers the opportunity for Bull Shark diving near Playa del Carmen, a specialized experience for advanced divers.

The diving environment in Puerto Morelos is characterised by warm water and generally excellent visibility, typically ranging between 15 and 30 metres. The C-56 Juan Escutia wreck is subject to moderate currents, which is an important consideration for those planning a wreck penetration.

Cenote diving offers a stark contrast to the ocean, providing perfectly still water with no current and exceptional visibility. However, these freshwater environments require specific buoyancy control and certification levels, particularly for deeper cave dives.