Mexico or Brasil?

[matmikko]

Hi all,
I'm planning a X-mas vacation trip to the southern America, probably to Playa Del Carmen/Mexico or Porto De Galinhas/Brasil. Anyone got experience on both and ability to compare these two?

Also diving experiences on either one are most welcome!

Matti

 

[DavidWarshaw]

Matti -- Have never been to Brazil, but Playa del Carmen is at the heart of the Rivera Maya... the section of the Mexican mainland south from Cancun. This area was hard hit by recent hurricane Wilma, with quite a bit of damage to electrical grid and some hotels. You can find some threads on this board giving reports, and should check on conditions at any hotel you might want to try. Having said that, it is an excellent destination. The town itself is growing commercially into quite a tourist destination, but it still is much smaller and more laid back than Cancun. It is also close to the most popular cenotes... cavern systems... which provide a different diving experience (fresh water overhead environment). Training for this is vital. We have been to the area five times in the last year. Cozumel, the island off the Cancun coast, is reachable by ferry from Playa. Cozumel diving is better than mainland diving from Playa. The reefs in Cozumel is more extensive and typcially has better stuff. Diving is usually drift diving... you get into the water... drift with the current... and your "taxi" picks you up after 45 minutes. Current can range from placid to ripping! Vizibility is typcally 75-80 feet. Reef tops up to 45 feet below surface. In Playa, we dove with Tank Ha; very accomodating and good operation. For cenotes... especially if cavern training is of interest... the masters are at PROTEC. Hope this helps. Good diving.

 

[stoneshot]

I have to say that Costa Maya, Mexico is an absolute dream to dive, I dove 100 yards offshore and was in the thick of huge sea fans, sponges, barracuda, angelfish, even a couple of wahoo! That was six years ago, but it shouldn't be that built up, in comparison to other ports in Mexico.

 

[Oldsarge]

I don't know anything about the East coast of Mexico but the Sea of Cortez rocks!

 

[ckb24]

Peninsula of Mexico known as the Yucatan, consists of limestone. The cenote dives can be done here also you will encounter with a wide variety of tropical fish, huge barrel sponges, mountains of star coral, gorgonians and much more while comfortably suspended in warm Caribbean waters.

 

[porsc]

i would definitely go to cozumel over playa de carmen. i thought pdc was kind of boring. but the diving in coz was excellent! you could, however, compromise, b/t mexico and brazil, and go to belize. i actually think belize is better than both. there is so much more to see in belize. you can take safaries into the rainforests, see the ruins, swim in blue lagoons below 150 foot water falls, see unbelievable wild life and party all night long in great nightclubs in several areas of the city. and that's just the above water stuff. the diving is world class! the three atolls and ambergris cay are some of the most exciting dives you will ever experience. belize is the full package!