Meros - Caribbean Coast
Let's clear something up right away: "Playa del Carmen" isn't a dive site *in* Cozumel. It's the bustling town on the mainland, across the channel from Cozumel. We're talking about diving *off* Playa del Carmen, often done as a day trip from Cancún or a quick hop from Cozumel if you're keen to see something different. And different it is, especially for the resident bull sharks. From November to March, we head out specifically for them. We often drop onto a sandy patch around 16 meters, then settle in. The water can be cooler here, sometimes a bit murky, but that just adds to the atmosphere when a two-meter bull shark glides past, silent and powerful. It’s not a coral reef dive in the traditional sense, more about the raw thrill of sharing the water with these incredible animals. Visibility averages 18m, but it can drop, particularly if the current picks up. We’ve found the early morning dives tend to be calmer, before the boat traffic really gets going. Beyond the sharks, you'll spot plenty of French grunts schooling, maybe a curious barracuda, and we always keep an eye out for the delicate little post horn squid. We find these dives are best for experienced divers comfortable with deeper sandy bottoms and potentially strong currents. If you're looking for vibrant coral gardens, Cozumel proper is your place. But if you want a genuine adrenaline rush and a close encounter with some serious marine predators, this is an experience you won't forget.
- Location
- Caribbean Coast, Costa Rica, Central America
- Coordinates
- 10.611400, -85.679700
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Santa Rosa
Best Time to Dive in Caribbean Coast
The warmest water temperatures in Caribbean Coast occur in March, averaging 29.8°C. The coolest conditions are in November at 27.6°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.9°C
- February: 29.6°C
- March: 29.8°C
- April: 29.6°C
- May: 29.1°C
- June: 28.4°C
- July: 28.6°C
- August: 28.5°C
- September: 28.5°C
- October: 28.1°C
- November: 27.6°C
- December: 28.4°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Caribbean Coast
Nearest Dive Centres to Meros
Marine Life in Caribbean Coast
Home to 218 recorded species including 198 reef fish, 11 hard corals, 5 whales & dolphins, 3 other, 1 seagrass & algae.
Notable Species
- Sleeper (Gobiomorus maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Lesser Starlet Coral (Siderastrea radians) - Hard Corals
- Barred Livebearer (Poeciliopsis turrubarensis) - Reef Fish
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
- Spotted Sleeper (Eleotris picta) - Reef Fish
- Lamarck's sheet coral (Agaricia lamarcki) - Hard Corals
- Pointed Pencil Coral (Madracis asperula) - Hard Corals
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Bridled Dolphin (Stenella attenuata) - Whales & Dolphins
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Giant goby (Gobiomorus dormitor) - Reef Fish
- Mulet (Mugil curema) - Reef Fish
- Scroll Coral (Agaricia undata) - Hard Corals
- Yellowtail Parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Graham's sheet coral (Agaricia grahamae) - Hard Corals
- Sleeper (Eleotris amblyopsis) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Meros
Based on average water temperature of 28.8°C, currents 3 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories