Shangri La - Playa del Carmen
Protected Area
Caribe Mexicano
Why dive here
With 177+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, bull sharks, dolphins, eagle rays and nurse sharks - Shangri La - Playa del Carmen offers some of Cozumel's richest cave diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest August, September, October.
Shangri La, just a quick hop from Playa del Carmen, offers a comfortable shallow dive. The reef follows the coastline, so you can drift with the current either north or south, making navigation straightforward. With a maximum depth of 10 meters, it's a great spot for longer bottom times and less demanding profiles. We've often seen spotted eagle rays glide by, and nurse sharks are common resting in the sandy patches. It’s also a reliable place to spot a Splendid toadfish, that Cozumel endemic. Good for newer divers or those who prefer a relaxed drift.
Safety Notes
Overhead environment - never enter without proper cave/cavern training, redundant equipment, and a guideline.
Strong currents typical this month (avg 79 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.
Nearest Dive Centres to Shangri La - Playa del Carmen
Dive shops near Shangri La - Playa del Carmen
Tank-Ha Dive Center
PADI
Xico Dive Center
Scuba Planet Mexico
The Snorkel Shop
Phantom Divers
Reviews for Shangri La - Playa del Carmen
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Shangri La - Playa del Carmen
Shangri La - Playa del Carmen Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Shangri La - Playa del Carmen, sourced from NOAA NDBC + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Yucatan Basin - 120 NM ESE of Cozumel, MX (227km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
30°C
85°F · Range: 28.7–32.3°C
Air Temperature
29°C
84°F
Current Speed
78.6 cm/s
Direction: NE (36.7°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.046 mg/m³
Very clear (oligotrophic)
Salinity
35.99 PSU
Wave Height
1.1m
6.7s period
Wind Speed
5.5 m/s
10.7 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1010.7 hPa
Visibility
24.1 nmi
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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