Bull Shark Diving in Playa del Carmen
Dive with wild bull sharks in the Mexican Caribbean on a private, two-dive trip with a PADI Instructor — available every season from November to March.
- Season
- November – March
- Certification
- Advanced Open Water, or Open Water + Deep Diver
- Max depth
- 24 m / 79 ft
- Duration
- Half day, about 4 hours
- Dives
- 2 dives: bull sharks + shallow reef
Dive with bull sharks in their natural environment
Every winter, bull sharks gather off the coast of Playa del Carmen, making it one of the few places in the world where certified divers can see them up close in clear, warm Caribbean water.
On the first dive we descend to the sandy bottom, settle in a calm position and watch the sharks swim past at their own pace. The second dive is on a shallow reef, where you can relax and enjoy the turtles, reef fish and coral of the Mesoamerican Reef.
Like every Freeway Scuba Diving experience, the trip is 100% private: your group only, guided personally by a PADI Instructor who plans the dive around your experience level.
Bull shark diving photos from Playa del Carmen
How the bull shark dive works
- 1
Pickup and briefing
We meet you, check your certification and give a full safety briefing on how to behave around the sharks.
- 2
Dive 1: bull sharks
Descent to the sandy bottom, where you stay in position with your guide while the bull sharks swim around the group.
- 3
Dive 2: shallow reef
A relaxed second dive on a shallow Caribbean reef with turtles, rays and reef fish.
- 4
Back to Playa del Carmen
Return to shore by midday, with the rest of the day free.
Requirements
- PADI Advanced Open Water certification, or Open Water plus the Deep Diver specialty.
- Recent diving experience and good buoyancy control. If it has been a while, we recommend a refresher dive first.
- Bring your certification card and logbook.
What's included
- 2 guided dives
- PADI-certified guide
- Full diving equipment
- Round-trip transportation
- Refreshments
Not included
- Tips
- Underwater photos
Bull shark diving FAQ
When is bull shark season in Playa del Carmen?
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Bull sharks are seen in Playa del Carmen from November to March. Outside these months the sharks are not present, so we only run this dive during the season.
What certification do I need for the bull shark dive?
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You need PADI Advanced Open Water, or Open Water with the Deep Diver specialty, because the shark dive goes deeper than 18 meters.
Is diving with bull sharks safe?
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The dive follows a strict protocol: divers stay together in a calm, fixed position near the bottom, close to an experienced guide, and the sharks are observed with respect at all times.
Is the bull shark dive private?
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Yes. All our tours are 100% private, so you only dive with your own group and a PADI Instructor.
More diving in the Riviera Maya
What our divers say
"An incredible experience. This is my second time diving with them. Last year I dived Dos Ojos and Nicte Ha — this summer I did two reef dives in Tulum and they were the best dives of my life. Super friendly and professional, everything is included and the equipment is in great condition."
"We spent the last two days diving with Diego and had an amazing time. We dived Dos Ojos cenote — it was magical. Then Playa del Carmen for bull sharks: 8–9 sharks circling us calmly… an unforgettable experience. Diego took excellent care of us. Highly recommend!"
"A fantastic place to learn to scuba dive. Pegy is an exceptional instructor. The cenote was even more beautiful than I imagined — so many fish, blue crabs, mangroves and even a crocodile tail in the water! Then a reef dive right in front. Very relaxing. Thank you Diego and Pegy!"
"Diving in the cenotes was an incredible experience — without a doubt the highlight of my trip to Mexico! Diego was a fantastic instructor, very relaxed, explained everything clearly and was great to chat with. Highly recommend!"
"An incredible experience. This is my second time diving with them. Last year I dived Dos Ojos and Nicte Ha — this summer I did two reef dives in Tulum and they were the best dives of my life. Super friendly and professional, everything is included and the equipment is in great condition."
"We spent the last two days diving with Diego and had an amazing time. We dived Dos Ojos cenote — it was magical. Then Playa del Carmen for bull sharks: 8–9 sharks circling us calmly… an unforgettable experience. Diego took excellent care of us. Highly recommend!"
"A fantastic place to learn to scuba dive. Pegy is an exceptional instructor. The cenote was even more beautiful than I imagined — so many fish, blue crabs, mangroves and even a crocodile tail in the water! Then a reef dive right in front. Very relaxing. Thank you Diego and Pegy!"
"Diving in the cenotes was an incredible experience — without a doubt the highlight of my trip to Mexico! Diego was a fantastic instructor, very relaxed, explained everything clearly and was great to chat with. Highly recommend!"
"An incredible experience. This is my second time diving with them. Last year I dived Dos Ojos and Nicte Ha — this summer I did two reef dives in Tulum and they were the best dives of my life. Super friendly and professional, everything is included and the equipment is in great condition."
"We spent the last two days diving with Diego and had an amazing time. We dived Dos Ojos cenote — it was magical. Then Playa del Carmen for bull sharks: 8–9 sharks circling us calmly… an unforgettable experience. Diego took excellent care of us. Highly recommend!"
"A fantastic place to learn to scuba dive. Pegy is an exceptional instructor. The cenote was even more beautiful than I imagined — so many fish, blue crabs, mangroves and even a crocodile tail in the water! Then a reef dive right in front. Very relaxing. Thank you Diego and Pegy!"
"Diving in the cenotes was an incredible experience — without a doubt the highlight of my trip to Mexico! Diego was a fantastic instructor, very relaxed, explained everything clearly and was great to chat with. Highly recommend!"
"An incredible experience. This is my second time diving with them. Last year I dived Dos Ojos and Nicte Ha — this summer I did two reef dives in Tulum and they were the best dives of my life. Super friendly and professional, everything is included and the equipment is in great condition."
"We spent the last two days diving with Diego and had an amazing time. We dived Dos Ojos cenote — it was magical. Then Playa del Carmen for bull sharks: 8–9 sharks circling us calmly… an unforgettable experience. Diego took excellent care of us. Highly recommend!"
"A fantastic place to learn to scuba dive. Pegy is an exceptional instructor. The cenote was even more beautiful than I imagined — so many fish, blue crabs, mangroves and even a crocodile tail in the water! Then a reef dive right in front. Very relaxing. Thank you Diego and Pegy!"
"Diving in the cenotes was an incredible experience — without a doubt the highlight of my trip to Mexico! Diego was a fantastic instructor, very relaxed, explained everything clearly and was great to chat with. Highly recommend!"