Tulum is a popular hideout for backpackers, and scuba divers alike. You could of course stay in Playa Del Carmen and still visit the same cenotes, with longer drives, but some prefer the smaller and quieter Tulum, where it’s easier to relax.
There is one main highway going through Tulum, with plenty of little shops and restaurants, and you can easily get around most of the town by walking.
Just like most coastal Mexican towns, Tulum boasts a wide, pristine beach that is amazing to relax on, when you’re done exploring ruins and diving cenotes.
This being cenote central, the closest town to the most famous cenotes such as Gran Cenote, The Pit, Dos Ojos and more, there are plenty of dive shops in town that can take you out.
But if you want a break from cenotes, you can check out the dives offshore, around what’s called the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, specifically the Sian Ka’an Reserve, a UNESCO site of Mexico.