20 Best Dive Sites in Mexico in 2023

If there is only one destination when you book your trip to Mexico, it should 100% be its cenotes. Cenotes are flooded sinkholes, creating huge cave systems stretching across the Yucatan Peninsula. They may not compare to Raja Ampat when it comes to reef life, but the experience is quite literally out of this world!

Due to their limestone composition, the waters are crystal clear, allowing the sun to illuminate their majestic chambers.

Read more about these incredible cenotes!

Cancun is the gateway to the Yucatan Peninsula, and there is plenty to see, whether diving in the magical cenotes, following the whale sharks at the nearby Isla Mujeres, or swimming through the captivating MUSA scultptures.

Isla Mujeres

Just a quick 15 minute ferry across the bay from Cancun is Isla Mujeres. Isla Mujeres is a fully functional island, so you can definitely stay a few nights to get away from the craziness of Cancun. Isla Mujures has plenty of picturesque white sand beaches with tropical turquoise water.

What you will see 

There are plenty of snorkeling opportunities, whether it is just off the beach or specific tours. From June to September whale sharks are around the island, and a local festival takes place in July, celebrating their return. Snorkeling with them is heavily regulated, with a minimum set price of $125, and only 2 guests per guide. This allows us, and more importantly the whale sharks, a more relaxed and magical encounter.

Everything you need to know about whale sharks!

If ticking weird and wonderful off your list is what you want from a dive, then definitely consider adding Museo Subacuatico De Arte (MUSA) to it! This unique collection is an eclectic mix of 1,364 underwater sculptures, created by national and international artists, and dotted around Isla Mujures.

Originally founded by Jason deCaires Taylor, MUSA’s aim is to raise awareness about climate change by creating an artificial reef system to enlarge the ecosystem for the national park, and thus support the local marine life.

What you will see 

The shallow waters at most MUSA sites allow everyone to admire the giant sculpturse, and appreciate the different “galleries” that have been set up. The statues include “The Silent Evolution”, a collection of dozens of life size human sculptures, or “The Anchors” a set of busts within the seagrass.

The spectacular detail of the pieces give them a realistic, if not somewhat eerie feel. With twelve individual galleries, MUSA can be visited multiple times, offering something different every time!

Maybe you are a beginner scuba diver or a novice wanting a day off from the exciting cenotes, Manchones Reef is the perfect blend of peaceful and spectacular. Just a ten-minute speed boat ride from the coast, Manchones stretches over 6 miles/10 kilometers with depths ranging from 16ft/5m to over 1650ft/500m!

What you will see

Whether you are watching from above or down below,  there is plenty of reef fish life for all to see! The clear blue waters and brilliant sunshine make it easy to spot angelfish, wrasse, parrot fish and blue tangs. Those scuba diving will have a better chance to see lobsters and king crabs hiding in crevices.

Also on Manchones Reef there is “The Man on Fire” and “The Ernest Hemingway Desk”; both MUSA sculptures.

Playa Del Carmen is a popular base for visiting the Yucatan Peninsula, and a perfect alternative to the busier Cancun. Keeping with the theme of the region, Playa Del Carmen has cenote cavern diving, and also stunning reef scenes just off the coast.

Inland, top cenote sites are Azul, Cristalino and Jardin del Eden, conveniently located nearby meaning that they can all be visited in one day. All three are caverns with large entrances, and accessible for all dive certifications and snorkelers.

What you will see

The top attraction of Playa Del Carmen is diving with bull sharks. From November to March/April large female bull sharks come close to the shoreline, returning to breeding grounds.

Please note that diving with these big ladies is baited, meaning dead fish are used to tease them closer.  We will leave it up to you whether that is a practice you agree with, but shark ecotourism is worth backing.

Feeding; a necessity to promote shark ecotourism?

Cozumel is Mexico’s largest island, and is conveniently located just 10 miles/16 km offshore from Playa del Carmen/ an hour from Cancun. Cozumel and its Marine Park are part of the Great Mayan Reef, which stretches over 620 miles/1000km south to Honduras.

Scattered around Cozumel and within its national park there are over 45 individual dive sites, which are generally shallow wall dives-great for all levels of divers.

What you will see

Home to over 500 fish species and even more coral, the colourful scenes and relatively calm conditions make it a photographer’s dream. The northern sites tend to be shallower with the opportunity to see turtles, rays, and other cool critters. On the southern end, the sites require additional deep and drift diving training.

There are a multitude of massive corals such as elephant ears and barrels, a perfect subject for any underwater camera! There is a current around the island, running south to north, so drifting is the way it is done.

Continue down the coast from Playa del Carmen and you will come to Tulum, the next obvious stop on your Yucatan road trip. The karst nature of the peninsula is still present here, with plenty of inland sinkholes just outside Tulum. The best time to visit Tulum’s cenotes are the spring-summer months, May-October, when the water is a balmy 82°F/28°C, perfect shorty conditions!

What you will see 

If you missed the bull sharks in Playa del Carmen, don’t worry, there’s still a chance to catch a sighting in Tulum. Every winter, female bull sharks migrate to the warm Mexican waters, giving divers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see them up close. The sites around Tulum for bull shark diving are deeper, around 20m/65ft, so an intermediate certification is required.

A popular cenote for scuba diving is Cenote Calavera, just 2miles/3km out of town. Calavera is a great way to see the halocline-where freshwater and seawater meet. The water level is about 10ft/3m below the ledge, so you can opt for an exciting leap to start your dive. Don’t worry though, there is a ladder if jumping in isn’t really your style!

What you will see Once in the water you’ll be able to see light piercing through gaps in the cenotes, giving Calavera–aka skull in English–its name. Just under the surface, where it is the brightest, you can see the rainbow hues of the rock formations.

The total depth of Calavera is 50ft/15m and there is a permanent line to help guide you throughout the dive. The bottom of this cenote presents cool geological features such as stunning stalagmites and stalactites.

Probably the most popular of all Mexico’s cenotes is Angelita. After a short but enchanting walk through the jungle, a large opening appears; an underwater gateway. Cenote Angelita is basically a straight column of water, reaching a max depth of nearly 200tf/60m.

What will you see

The first 100ft is clear freshwater, whose bottom is a milky mirage of a sandy bottom. But as you and your dive light inch downwards, you fall through the dizzying layer into the second layer of saltwater. There is a mound rising from the base of the cenotes to about 25m, just at the border of the water mixtures. There are in fact trees at the top of the mound, a truly unique underwater feature!

Due to its depth and decompression concerns, it is only suitable for intermediate divers. However Cenote Angelita does have an open-top and lacks side passages, so cave training isn’t necessary.

Dos Ojos, meaning “Two Eyes”, are two neighouring sinkholes, just 130ft/70m apart above ground and with 1312ft/400m of passageway joining them underwater. The Dos Ojos cave system is one of the top ten longest in the world, with 38 miles documented so far! Their openings are wide and shallow, great for snorkeling as well.

What you will see

Despite the excitement topside with tourists getting an insta-worthy photo, be comforted to know that underwater it is much more serene. If you’re new to cave diving, Dos Ojos is a great place to start; their large openings allow a lot of sunlight to brighten up the underwater spaces.

The depths here are around 30-40ft/9-12m, so beginner divers can learn to cave/cavern dive here as well. But since it is so shallow, remember to master your kicking so you won’t scrape your gear up in any tight spots!

What’s the difference between cave and cavern diving?

Sian Ka’an is a part of the Great Mayan Reef, located about halfway down the eastern coastline of the Yucatan Peninsula. Sian Ka’an is an area of outstanding natural beauty and understandably a UNESCO World Heritage Site. What makes Sian Ka’an so special are 23 archaeological Mayan sites and rich wildlife, both above and below the water.

What you will see 

The majority of the reserve is a mangrove forest consisting of reasonably shallow waters. Like other mangrove habitats around the world, manatees live here, alongside marine turtles, crocodiles, hundreds of fish species, and even the occasional pod of dolphins. Due to its UNESCO status, diving is heavily controlled and limited to certain areas so be sure to book in advance.

Xcalak

This quiet town, pronounced “sh-ka-luk”, is perfect for those who love to get away from the crowds and off the beaten track! On the border with Belize, Xcalak has the Great Mayan Reef on its doorstep, the second largest barrier reef in the world. Mexico has some of the best diving in the world, Xcalak claiming a top spot in Mexico itself.

What you will see

Xcalak has many exciting dive sites, the favourites being The Cathedral, La Pozeta, La Poza, and The Chimney. La Pozeta and La Poza are both situated close to shore and offer the rare opportunity to dive with manatees. The sites’ depth range from 5-25m, so it’s an experience all divers will love. The Chimney (Chiminea locally) and The Cathedral’s topography are more maze-like, reserved for advanced divers.

Linking the two sites together is a narrow swim through, leading to a spectacular chamber, at 28m depth.

Just a stone’s throw away north from sleepy Xcalak, is the UNESCO Biosphere reserve, Chinchorro Banks/Banco Chinchorro. Chinchorro Banks is one of the last few underwater edens, with 2,500 species of marine flora and fauna. Surrounding its shores are 60+ wrecks, including Spanish galleons over 500 years old!

What you will see

Being the largest reef system in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s no surprise that animal sightings are endless. There are lobsters, turtles, angelfish, sharks, tapilon, moray eels, and spectacular coral to name a few. But the real star of Chinchorro Banks is the Croc! Cayo Centro, a small  6 km² island–but the largest in Chinchorro Banks–is home to approximately 400 American crocodiles. The crocodiles inhabit the mangroves and surrounding seagrass and can reach lengths up to 12ft/4m! Encounters are done while snorkeling, so getting face to face with a croc can be done by anyone-if you dare!

On the Western coast of Mexico, by the peninsula of Baja California, is the Gulf of California, also referred to as the Sea of Cortez. The most popular diving destinations are situated at the southern tip, between La Paz and Cabo San Lucas. Hosting the major airport of the region, La Paz (not-to-be-confused with Bolivia) is the biggest city and a hub for diving and the starting point for most liveaboards.

What you will see

Due to its isolated conditions, the waters of La Paz are the perfect place for large marine animals like seals and whales, free from their open ocean predators. Generally, all year round there are opportunities to see rays, including mobulas, eagles and majestic mantas. Their shark cousins, like white and black tip, are also native to the area. During the warmer months, May until September, divers can expect to see whalesharks and frolicing sea lions.

Although it may not be as rich in terms of biodiversity as the Sea of Cortez, Cabo San Lucas still has plenty to offer. Being on the edge of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean, it gets a great mix of underwater action, especially marine megafauna!

What you will see

The just-off-the-coast sites have a rocky topography, with lionfish, lobsters, moray eels, and other critters within. However, it requires getting on a speedboat to see the real action. Conditions can get choppy, with strong currents and depths to match. Being a new diver, it can take your breath away for the wrong reasons!

Further out at sea, large schools of mobulas, whales, hammerheads, sardines, and dolphinfish migrate. In the cooler months, December to April, the humpbacks and blue whales pass by. Open water dives, reserved for advanced divers, hold a chance encounter with mako sharks, marlins, and slender blue sharks.

Approximately 8miles/5km offshore from Cabo San Lucas, is Gordo Banks. This collection of exposed seamounts features underwater plateaus and pinnacles, attracting passing pelagics. The peaks of the pinnacles range from 180-120ft/54-36m, and can be experienced as a big blue drift dive at shallower depths.

What you will see 

As with many ocean drift dives, no one really knows what great marine animals you will get to encounter that day. Common sightings include scalloped hammerheads, manta rays, schools of groupers, tuna, and jacks. Keep your fingers crossed for a sailfish or a humpback. As you look into the endless blue, second guessing a silhouette, remember to look at your dive computer and be wary of your buoyancy!

Cabo Pulmo National Park is a protected area of 27 square miles on the eastern side of the peninsula. The reef here is approximately 20,000 years old, making it the oldest marine reef in the Americas. The stars of the region are the great Californian sea lions, seen both above and below the water.

What you will see

Keeping in the theme of its neighboring dive spots, Cabo Pulmo promises big schools of big fish. On the reef are plenty of cute reef fish and colorful critters to entertain your macro lens. Just passing by the reef you can see tornadoes of groupers, barracudas, tunas, jacks, and mobulas rays. Conditions are calmer here than at Gordo Banks or Cabo San Lucas, and the depths shallower. Cabo Pulmo is a good starting point for beginner divers or great for a relaxing day-off snorkelling.

Like all the island diving destinations based around Mexico, they are too far away for a casual day trip, and require a liveaboard booking to get there. Guadalupe Island is definitely a unique experience, since the trips are to specifically see great white sharks!

What you will see 

Well, hopefully, great white sharks! The majority of the operators offer the standard surface-supplied cage diving so anyone can witness great whites in the water. Others, like Nautlius, have a submersible cage, so certified divers can plunge upto 40ft/12m deep! The sharks are around Guadalupe Island year round, with peak season being July-October, when sea conditions are calmer.

Read more about liveaboards going to Guadalupe!

Socorro Island

Lying 300 miles/500 km south of the tip of the Baja Peninsula is the Revillagigedo Archipelago. These Islands are a UNESCO Site, and their most famous diving destination is the sensational Socorro Island.

What you will see

Often dubbed the “Mexican Galapagos,” Socorro Island is an absolute marine megafauna mecca. Booking a liveaboard will give you the opportunity to see manta rays, big schools of fish, and sharks like hammerheads, dolphins, and even humpback whales! This remote island, with its neighboring brothers, offers sights that are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Diving here does not promise shallow reef scenes but pinnacles with mild to high currents. With an open water feel, diving here is reserved for the experienced.

NB *Humpback whale season is approximately January-April*

Also within the same archipelago, San Benedicto is the first stop for many Socorro liveaboards. San Benedicto is the perfect place to tickle your interest and fine tune your camera skills before arriving at Socorro.

What you will see

San Benedicto’s number one stop is The Boiler, a world-class site for diving with mantas. This site is predominantly a pinnacle starting from 165ft/50m and getting as shallow at 20ft/6m. This pinnacle serves as a cleaning station where eye-catching Clarion angelfish help out the grateful Manta.

What makes The Boiler unique is that the mantas are not just fleeting passersby but an awesome dive-long encounter. It has been speculated that Mantas, like whale sharks, enjoy the company of scuba divers, using their bubbles to break away their parasites. So be prepared for some up close and personal experiences!