A small white skiff called “Santiago” vanished off Coco Beach, and now the harbor master wants everyone’s eyes on the water. The boat was reportedly last seen at anchor near the end of Avenida Constituyentes. No passengers are listed, and officials aren’t ruling out anything—from a quiet theft to a boat set adrift by currents. Tour operators and fishers have been asked to report any sightings as the Navigational Notice stays active. Here’s what authorities confirmed—and what locals are watching for.
Mystery at Coco Beach as “Santiago” goes missing
Playa del Carmen’s Harbor Master has asked mariners, tour boats, and beachgoers to help find a small vessel called “Santiago,” reported missing after it was last seen at anchor off Coco Beach near the end of Avenida Constituyentes. The alert was issued on Tuesday via Navigational Notice 028/2025; the owner filed a report, and authorities confirm that no people are listed as missing with the boat.
The notice identifies the skiff as white, about seven meters long and 1.65 meters wide, with a 40-hp Yamaha outboard and registration 2305169213-1. Local outlets that reviewed the same notice say “Santiago” was observed on Oct. 13 and then disappeared without a trace. Officials haven’t said whether it slipped its anchor, drifted, or was taken.
Missing boat in Playa del Carmen
The call for eyes on the water isn’t just for show. In coastal Mexico, Harbor Masters coordinate “Avisos Náuticos” to crowdsource search information quickly among fishers and tour operators while avoiding panic. The Navy’s maritime authority (SEMAR) manages the national framework for these navigational notices; in practice, local offices issue numbered bulletins when vessels go adrift, hazards appear, or channels change. Tuesday’s Notice 028/2025 fits that playbook.
As of Wednesday, media in Playa del Carmen continued to echo the alert, describing the exact key details: the boat’s dimensions, color, motor, and last known position off Coco Beach. None reported missing occupants, and all urged captains to call in any sighting. That consistent picture suggests authorities are treating this as a vessel-only disappearance unless new information surfaces.
Currents and wind can quickly move a light skiff if its ground tackle fails, especially off open stretches of the Riviera Maya. But quiet thefts of small outboards and skiffs also occur along busy tourism coasts, which is why the notice leaves room for both possibilities. Officials haven’t named a working theory; they’ve kept the notice active and asked the maritime community to help find “Santiago.”
What locals should watch for next
If the boat was adrift, it could turn up on nearby beaches or be spotted by dive boats that work the same waters daily. If it was towed, cameras on piers or hotel fronts may become relevant, and captains might recall unusual movements the night of Oct. 13. Either way, the quickest resolution typically comes from the same people already on the water every morning—tour operators and fishers who know this coastline by heart. Until then, the harbor notice remains the public’s clearest cue to report what they see.
