This dive site, El Cantil, is located just a 5-minute boat ride from downtown Playa del Carmen, Mexico, running parallel to the coast. It features an impressive deep wall, making it ideal for deep diving training. Divers experience a free descending drift dive, offering the unique sensation of a 'no bottom' abyss in the Caribbean, requiring good buoyancy control and drift experience. The site is a natural formation of the reef shelf, providing a dramatic underwater topography.
The marine life at El Cantil is vibrant and diverse, with frequent sightings of sharks, making it a highlight for big animal encounters. The wall is also adorned with huge, expansive sponges, which create habitat for various reef fish and potential macro life within their structures and crevices. Typical Caribbean reef fish are also present throughout the dive.
El Cantil is excellent for conscious deep dives, offering consistent conditions typical of the clear Caribbean waters. The best time to visit generally aligns with the dry season, from November to April, for optimal visibility and calmer surface conditions. Freedivers will find the deep wall and 'no bottom' experience particularly appealing for depth training, while scuba divers should be comfortable with drift diving and managing their depth in an open water column.
