Dive Sites in Mexico (Central America)

Mexico is a diver's dream with warm waters, vibrant reefs, colourful marine life including whale sharks, turtles & tropical fish. And explore the world famous Cenotes caves!

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Dive Site Overview for Mexico

Mexico has some of the most beautiful beaches and spectacular diving opportunities in the world from colourful reefs to the unique and spectacular underwater Cenotes caves.

Diving around Cancun both Playa del Carmen and Chinchorro Banks are popular areas with beautiful white sand beaches, turquoise waters and fantastic visibility. The Meso-American Barrier Reef (second largest in the world) is close to shore and has a wealth of colourful corals, turtles, tropical fish and pelagic fish.

Cozumel Island, just 12 miles form the Yucatan Pennisula, has beautiful reefs with dramatic drop-offs and canyons, vibrant corals and an abundance of fish. The Cozumel Marine Park protects all underwater life around this island so expect to see hundreds of reef fish, bright corals, turtles, rays, seahorses and pelagic species.

Mexico is famous for cave diving! Over 6,000 years ago, the Cenote Caves (the ‘sacred wells’) were naturally created from limestone along the Yucatan Pennisula of Mexico. These underground caverns and tunnels are now filled with crystal-clear freshwater and amazing stalagmites and stalactites –evidence of when these caves were once dry. There are more than 300 miles of tunnels and passageways that are illuminated by natural sunlight so divers can really experience the spectacular chambers and unique eco-system of the cenotes.

Whale sharks (May – early September) travel through the Gulf of Mexico and are often accompanied by giant manta rays and dolphins. Many dive centres offer diving trips and snorkeling trips where you can encounter these magnificent creatures which are well respected and protected around Mexico.

Puerto Vallarta and its nearby islands and bays including the Marietas are mostly Marine Parks with excellent underwater life and another great place to see migrating humpback whales and whale sharks.

Mexico diving is possible all year round and has fantastic visibility, water temperatures range from 25°C to 32°C, there may be some mild currents around Cozumel and some of the islands (1-2 knots) making a lot of dives gentle drift dives, hurricanes may arrive from September to October.