Playpen
Protected Area
Santa Rosa
Why dive here
With 217+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, humpback whales, orcas, sea turtles and pufferfish - Playpen offers some of Caribbean Coast's richest drift diving. Water ranges 29-31°C, warmest March, April, May.
Playpen is one of our favourites on the Caribbean side, especially if you’re into the smaller stuff. It’s got these cool rock formations that create plenty of nooks and crannies, perfect for spotting all sorts of creatures. We love drifting through the shallower sections, maybe 5-8 metres, where the schools of fusiliers are so thick they practically block out the sun. Keep an eye out for the Lumpy Claw Crabs tucked into crevices, and we’ve often found octopus hiding in plain sight. For those who enjoy a slower pace, this site is brilliant for macro photography. We've had fantastic luck finding Phallic Blennies poking their heads out, and the Delicate Triplefins are always a treat. Deeper down, around 12-15 metres, the reef structure shifts a bit, and that's where we've seen Longtail Stingrays gliding over the sand patches. Visibility averages around 12 metres, which is decent for the area, but if you hit it right after a calm spell, it can push closer to 15. The gentle currents here make it a relaxing dive, suitable for newer divers looking to build confidence or experienced eyes hunting for the unique.
Safety Notes
Drift dive - carry a surface marker buoy (SMB) and stay with your group. Brief the current direction before entry.
Nearest Dive Centres to Playpen
Dive shops near Playpen
TikiHut Watersports Coco (located near Bosque del Mar hotel in playa Hermosa)
Rockdivers Pick up
Summer Salt Dive Center
Deep Blue Diving
Summer Salt
Rich Coast Diving
Reviews for Playpen
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Playpen
Playpen Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Playpen, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (9.78, -84.89) (48km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
29°C
85°F · Range: 27.9–31.1°C
Current Speed
5 cm/s
Direction: N (0°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.142 mg/m³
Clear water
Salinity
28.81 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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