Marine life
Mexico is an exceptional country. Because of its history and culture, but also thanks to its geographical position between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Mexico has beautiful Tropical Jungles, deep Cenotes and exceptional underwater fauna density. Few know it but, southeast of Mexico is the second largest barrier reef in the world. The coast of Mexicos offer the opportunity to dive on some of the best dive sites in the world . Mexico has many exceptional dive sites.
Where to dive in Mexico?
There are two main areas for diving in Mexico:
The Caribbean and especially Playa del Carmen , Tulum , Cozumel and the famous Cancun with its unique underwater museum, MUSA.
Baja California or Baja side the Pacific Ocean known as the largest aquarium in the world said Jacques Cousteau.
Where to dive in Mexico?
The Yucatan Peninsula
Located in southeastern Mexico, this region is incredibly rich. There is a teeming tropical jungle and magnificent limestone formations, as well as cenotes, large natural wells dug into the rock. These cavities containing hundreds of translucent freshwater wells can be explored by scuba diving. Divers who have had the chance to explore that part of the planet will tell you that it is simply a magical experience. Expect landscapes from another world, incredible lighting effects and even underwater rivers under the sea. The most famous Cenote is Dos Ojos. Its cave network is the largest in the world. Other cenotes are also extremely popular like “The Pit”, Angelita and Chac Mol. The Yucatan region does not only offer cave diving , it also offers the opportunity to do some great ocean diving, including the second largest barrier reef in the world .
Diving in Playa del carmen
This small fishing village has become an essential seaside resort. A loading port for the neighboring island of Cozumel, Playa del Carmen has more than fifteen magnificent diving spots that will suit both novice divers and experienced divers. Underwater photographers will also find many photo subjects with a beautiful palette of coral fish, sea turtles, and during the good periods also bulldog sharks and whale sharks. Do not miss the dive sites of Punta Venado, Los Arcos and the wreck of Mama Vina.
Diving in Cozumel
Cozumel is also called the island of Swallows. It enjoys beautiful coral reefs from Palancar, Chancanaab or Santa Rosa that are famous around the world. The marine park of Cozumel was the favorite of Jacques Cousteau where he found a great diversity underwater: mountains of coral, caves, drifting dives, majestic falls.
Diving in Cancun
In Cancun, divers can visit the world’s largest underwater museum , the MUSA but also the C-56, a shipwreck from a minesweeper ferry. For lovers of beautiful reefs, the marine reserve of Puerto Morelos has many dive sites.
Isla Mujeres
Located a quarter of an hour by boat from Cancun, this dive site is atypical, because the goal here is to dive into the big blue with your back turned to the drop, to see the gigantic groupings of sailfish January and February, and whale sharks June to September.
Baja California Peninsula and the Sea of Cortez
The Pacific coast of Mexico is, thanks to its unique location, between the mainland and Baja California, one of the richest seas on the planet. It concentrates the largest pelagic life and marine mammals of this part of Mexico. This region is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site and no less than six biosphere reserves.
La Paz
A pretty, peaceful village, La Paz is a must-see destination for blue whales, humpback whales, killer whales, sperm whales, manta rays and hawksbill turtles!
Cabo San Lucas
This marine reserve, protected from fishing, offers incredible dives in the company of abundant wildlife. Several dive sites will allow you to see devil rays and hammerhead sharks. Do not miss the dive sites “Gordon Banks” and “the Corridor”.
Cabo Pulmo
At the southern tip, the Cabo Pulm Marine Park has more than 10 diving sites. In addition to hundreds of different species of fish, you can also admire eagle rays as well as manta rays and whale sharks.
Puerto Escondido
At the extreme south, Puerto Escondido is also one of the jewels of Mexico. From May to November, good diving conditions allow you to see humpback whales, manta rays and whale sharks.
Guadalupe Islands
Located off Baja California in the Pacific, the island of Guadalupe is one of the best diving destinations in the world to see great white sharks. In a steel cage immersed in transparent waters, you will probably see one of the 170 white sharks identified in the area. The island of Guadalupe is accessible only by diving cruise .
Socorro Island
This world-famous island makes it possible to cross almost every time giant manta rays of 6 m wingspan. No less than 10 species of sharks have been recorded such as hammerhead sharks, tiger sharks or white tip sharks. Sea turtles, giant tuna, humpback whales, dolphins and whale sharks are also regularly sighted.
Best time to go?
The best time to dive in Mexico depends heavily on the region, east or west, where you plan your diving holiday.
On the East Coast , the best time to dive in the Caribbean is from November to April . Hurricane season is from July to November and the most tourist season from December to March .
On the West Coast, the best time to dive in Baja California is from May to November for hammerhead sharks or whale sharks . From December to May , you can dive with Whale in Sea of Cortez Baja but the water will be colder and less visibility.
Scuba diving conditions
Diving conditions in Mexico are excellent.
Visibility: West Coast, Happy March to September, 30 to 35 meters. Average from September to March, East Coast, visibility from July to November, 25 to 30 meters. average or poor visibility the rest of the year.
Current: West Coast: Low to strong. Depend heavily on the exact region See the diving destinations in the bottom of this page for more information. East Coast: Low to High. Depend heavily on the exact region See the diving destinations in the bottom of this page for more information.
Difficulty: Overall, Mexico is a very accessible destination to start but the difficulty is very variable depending on pongée sites. To the west, most sites Cozumel, Playa del Carmen and Tulum are accessible to all levels of diving but some sites like especially to Playa Tortugas have strong currents and are more technical. We recommend you consult a specific region at the bottom of page for more information.
The water temperature in Mexico is generally always greater than 26 °. However, in Baja California, the water temperature can drop to 20°c in winter.
Diving cruise in Mexico
Enjoy your diving trip to Mexico by booking a diving cruise. To discover a wide selection of cruises we invite you to visit our partner liveaboard. You will have the chance to be accommodated and practice diving with enthusiasts. And discover throughout your cruise different diving spots, for some accessible only in cruise. You can book your next dive cruise in Mexico by booking on liveaboard. You will be able, thanks to our partner, to observe exceptional cenotes and a dense underwater fauna and to see whale sharks.
What can I see underwater?
Mexico has an extraordinary and diverse underwater fauna. To the east, in the Caribbean Sea, you will enjoy the second world’s largest coral reef, magnificent underwater museums like the MUSA in Cancun, amazing wrecks as the Felipe Xicotencatl, Cenotes of clear water to the surroundings of Playa Del Carmen, or the unavoidable coral towers over 50 meters south of Cozumel like Palancar, Punta Sur, Colombia and Maracaibo. You will probably dive with many reef fish such as green morays, groupers, lobsters, fish, limes, triggerfish, wrasses, cows, fish … In the West, in Baja California, the Sea of Cortez is famous for its sea lions, hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, octopus, kingfish, rays, tuna … The biggest aquarium of Cousteau is a real meeting club for pelagics.
