Best diving in Mexico
It’s hard to pinpoint a single prime destination to dive in Mexico, as there is such a variety of locations that offer unique diving experiences. However, we have put together an informative list of a selection of places we believe showcase the best places to dive in Mexico.
Cancun
Scuba diving in
Cancun offers some outstanding wrecks to explore and is also known as a prime place to go night diving. Many Cancun dive centers will also give you the opportunity to go whale shark diving; head to your nearest dive center and they will sort you out.
You can also experience Manchones Reef, also known as the Cancun Underwater Museum of Art (MUSA). This human-made reef features over 500 life-size underwater sculptures by artist, Jason deCaires Taylor. They were designed to protect the natural reefs and allow them time to recover from tourists. The statues were initially created using local models from the community and have become a haven to many marine species. You will get the opportunity to swim with dolphins, sea turtles, nurse sharks and a variety of reef fish, not to mention you may get glimpses of eels tucked away in their homes.
You will find that Cancun dive shops have a variety of packages and deals to accommodate your adventuring needs when it comes to exploring these areas.
Cozumel
Cozumel is Mexico’s largest island and is known for its laid-back, relaxed vibe, and was named by the “Father of scuba diving” Jacques Cousteau as one of the best scuba diving locations in the world. The limestone island is also known as the 'Island of Swallows' and is part of the world’s second largest reef system, the Great Maya Barrier Reef. It is separated from the mainland by deep ocean trenches that provide the perfect nutrient balance for attracting wildlife, such as tropical fish, eagle rays, and nurse sharks.
Cozumel is fortunate to have a diverse range of places to explore, with its abundance of reefs, caves, tunnels, and fissures. Also, because of its locations, is known for its drift diving with currents usually sitting at a moderate 1-2 knots.
Yucatan Peninsula
Based on the Caribbean side of the Yucatan Peninsula, located along the coastline of Riveria Maya, you will find
Playa Del Carmen. It is known as a turtle playground and also a fantastic location to get up close to bull sharks, mainly between November to March. The Playa Del Carmen scuba diving centers may recommend that only intermediate to advanced divers attempt this type of dive.
Another fantastic location and just under a 50-minute drive from Playa Del Carmen is the Dos Ojos Cenote located in the Riveria Maya and translates in English to Cenote Two Eyes, which refers to the two neighboring cenotes that join to the one large cavern. To experience the 50-mile-long (80 kilometer) underwater cave system, you are charged a small fee and must be accompanied by a dive master. Derived from the Mayan word, “Dzonot” meaning sacred well, cenotes are sculptured through a series of geological and climate events. Through this amazing underwater architecture filled with caverns, stalagmites, stalactites, and tunnels, you will swim through beautifully clear water, but it depends what dive adventure you take, as to how much daylight you have during your dive.
Socorro
Socorro is situated along the stretch of Baja California, where you have access to the Sea of Cortez as well as the Socorro Islands. Socorro is where the liveaboards operate from and with their calm seas and the abundance of species to see, there is a good reason why. You will find the diving here based mostly at beach resorts, with the atmosphere of the island being quite touristy.
Socorro diving is known for its encounters with sharks and humpbacks but is famous for the sightings of Manta Rays, known as "The Galapagos of Mexico", so you are guaranteed to experience some stunning marine life.
