Playa del Carmen · Mexico · Reef · Drift
Moc Che Deep
A long run of coral formations at 26–28 m in strong current
Area photo: Ratha Grimes · CC BY 2.0
Moc Che Deep is a deep section of the reef off Playa del Carmen, dived between 26 and 28 m. It is a long dive over a run of coral formations, with strong current pushing divers along the reef, and it is open to certified divers only. A full neoprene wetsuit is the local recommendation here, to avoid scratches when working close to the bottom.
Also known as Moche Profundo.
Where it is and how deep
20.6396° N, 87.0393° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
The site is deep from the outset, between 26 and 28 m, so the descent goes straight to the reef and the whole dive is planned around that band rather than stepping down into it. Strong current is the normal condition here, and it rather than a chosen route sets the direction: the dive runs with the water, along the coral, for as long as depth and gas allow.
What follows is a long dive over many coral formations, taken one after another as the current moves you past them. A full neoprene wetsuit is the standard recommendation here rather than a shorty, because the bottom terrain is rough enough to scratch exposed skin when you move in close to a formation. At 26 to 28 m it is the no-decompression clock and not the reef that ends the dive, so the ascent comes mid-drift, in open water, when gas and bottom time say so.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Off-season | Off-season | Good | Good |
Season follows Playa del Carmen: Dry season (Dec–Apr) brings the calmest seas; June–November is Atlantic hurricane season, wettest and roughest around September–October.
Know before you go
- Strong current runs along the reef and the dive is a one-way drift; stay with the group and surface where the current leaves you.
- The bottom terrain scratches. A full neoprene wetsuit is recommended if you plan to work in close to the coral.
- The whole dive sits between 26 and 28 m, so no-decompression time is short and gas planning has to account for a deep ascent.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Moc Che Deep?+
The dive runs between 26 and 28 m for its whole length. There is no shallow section to finish on, so bottom time is limited and the ascent is made in open water at the end of the drift.
What should I wear at Moc Che Deep?+
A full neoprene wetsuit rather than a shorty. The bottom terrain here is rough and the local recommendation is to keep skin covered when exploring close to the coral formations.
Sources
- Moc Che Deep - Scubago — Scubago/SSI
- Moc Che Deep - SSI MyDiveGuide — SSI
More dive sites in Playa del Carmen
Reef
Three reef plateaus split by sand dunes, drifted at 26 m
Wreck
A small ferry-style vessel at 28 m, toured in one dive
Pelagic & blue water
Pregnant bull sharks gather on open sand through the winter pupping season
Similar dives elsewhere
Giant coral pinnacles cut with caves, tunnels and caverns
A multi-level drift through tunnels in the deeper Palancar reef
Splendid toadfish, nurse sharks and turtles along the coral
Jacks and barracuda stacked in the current