At DarkSide, we are passionate about empowering divers with the knowledge and expertise to explore the hidden depths of Mexico’s caves and caverns. Whether you’re a novice looking to dip your toes into the world of scuba diving or an experienced diver seeking advanced certifications, our comprehensive dive courses cater to all levels of expertise.
Chat with Laura through WhatsApp to plan your next dive trip with DarkSide! We can’t wait to dive with you!
The caves around the area provide us multiple options for different types of cave dives. The caves are the extended parts of the Caverns, where the natural sunlight is not penetrating anymore, where restrictions might be found, the navigation will include more tasks and the way to the exit will obviously be further. For cave diving, a Full Cave Diver certification is a minimum requirement. Around the coast we have plenty of different navigations to choose from.
A day of cave diving through us consists of two shorter dives or one longer dive, depending on the level of one’s certification, depth of that particular system, penetration time and gas strategies.
$200
USD – 1 Dive
$250
USD – 2 dives
Delve into the enchanting realm of underwater passages as you explore stunning cenotes with us. Cenotes, known as “Ts’onot” in Mayan, are nature’s sinkholes created by the collapse of limestone layers that conceal underground water. Rainwater seeping through the earth provides crystal-clear water with exceptional visibility, revealing impressive speleothems such as stalagmites and stalactites. With countless cenotes awaiting discovery in the Mayan Riviera, including the world’s longest underwater cave system, Sac Aktun, our cenote adventures promise unforgettable experiences.
Exploring these submerged pathways, you’ll always be accompanied by natural daylight. Most of the time, while cavern diving you’ll be protected from direct sunlight which means there is not always a direct ascend to the surface. You will encounter magnificent mineral formations while exploring these cooler waters with temperatures around 24-25°C (75-77°F).
$160
USD
The Bull sharks (Carcharhinus Leucas) are found in warm, shallow waters, coastlines, and rivers. They are the only type of sharks that can live in both fresh and saltwater environments. Their name comes from their bulky shape and behavior. For generations, female Bull sharks have been coming to the Riviera Maya during the winter season (November-February) to give birth. In the coastal area, there are plenty of shallow freshwater “fisheries” (mangrove forests) where the pregnant females are believed to leave their pups. As viviparous animals, the Bull sharks grow inside their mothers and are born alive. Once born, they are ready to hunt. The dives we organize will be for observation purposes only, and we will not feed them. We will provide a thorough briefing, explain all safety procedures, and go through their biology and behavior. The Bullshark dive will take place at Shark Point (a sandy patch) during official observation hours. We will follow this up with a shallow reef dive afterwards.
$160
USD
We use the most efficient way to reach the island by using local speedboats, avoiding the hassle of ferries. The morning boat navigates directly to the federally protected area for two dives and then immediately returns to Playa del Carmen.
Cozumel (‘Kùutsmil’ or ‘Cuzamil’; meaning ‘the island of the swallows’ in the Mayan language) is an island on the Caribbean coast, just in front of Playa del Carmen. It is 48km long and 16km wide, making it the largest permanently inhabited island in Mexico. It is believed that the first immigrants were Mayan pilgrims seeking shelter. The islanders built temples in honor of their moon, love, and fertility goddess ‘Ixchel’. As a gesture, she sent her favorite birds, the swallows, hence the name.
The island gained fame in the 1960s when French oceanographer Jaques Cousteau discovered its steep walls and healthy corals, attracting divers from around the world. The reefs have been under federal protection since 1996, and Cozumel became a National Park in 2005.
$200
USD
