Diving in Mexico 2024-2025

Reefs, wrecks, colourful wildlife, underwater museums, and sink holes—diving in Mexico is like nowhere else in the world

Best time: November–March

Mesmerising diving sites are located both on the eastern shores and western Pacific. Some of the unique dive spots are located in Cozumel, renowned for great reefs and drift dives. Cancun is another hotspot offering more reefs, wrecks, and an underwater museum with hundreds of life-size statues.

The Yucatan Peninsula is also dotted with cenotes, also known as sinkholes, appropriate for diving as well—but only for experienced divers.

The Pacific Coast is particularly praised for great white shark watching. Socorro island is famous for its large manta rays, sharks and humpback whales. It's often called "The Galapagos of Mexico". Guadalupe is the best place for great white shark cage diving. Its shark population is the most numerous in Mexico.

Diving season depends on location: August to February is the best time at the Pacific shoreline, whereas the Yucatan ensures the best underwater adventures from March through August. Diving conditions are also impacted by the plankton bloom that occurs between April and May, as well as between September and October. Moreover, May to September is hurricane season. Therefore, the optimal choice would be November to March.

Practical info

When is the opportune season for diving in Mexico?

The ideal diving season in Mexico varies depending on its location. Mexico's Pacific shoreline is great from August to February, while divers get the best experience in the Yucatan area between March and August. Also, the plankton bloom that occurs between April and May, as well as between September and October may affect diving conditions, so November to March is the best time to go diving in Mexico.

What are some of the most prominent diving sites in Mexico?

Mexico has many jazzy diving areas on its Pacific and eastern shores. Cozumel has excellent reefs and drift dives, Cancun provides more wrecks, reefs and an underwater museum with hundreds of life-size statues. The Yucatan Peninsula boasts of cenotes that pose a challenge to experienced divers. The Pacific Coast has a reputation for being a great watching spot for white sharks. As a whole, Mexico's greatest diving areas are situated along its coastlines.

What distinct underwater attractions can one see while scuba diving in Cancun?

Cancun provides distinctive underwater sites such as reefs, wrecks, and an underwater museum featuring hundreds of life-size sculptures. More than 500 sculptures are submerged in Cancun's Underwater Museum (MUSA) sprawled over an area of 420 square meters. As an eco-art project to promote marine life, the sculptures act as an artificial reef for fish. Divers can explore the statues, take in different fish species and swim amid man-made walls and underwater flora.

When is Mexico's hurricane season, and how does it impact diving?

Mexico experiences hurricane season between May and September, making it unsafe for diving in that region during that time due to the unpredictable and harsh weather. Although diving areas in Mexico rarely experience hurricane landfalls, diving during the hurricane season isn't advisable. It is best to go diving between November and March when diving conditions are favourable.

Where can experienced divers go for a unique diving experience in Mexico?

Divers with experience can enjoy the cenotes, or sinkholes, in the Yucatan Peninsula. The cenotes can be challenging to navigate and are only appropriate for experienced divers. Cozumel's drift dive is unique, while Cancun holds over a hundred life-size sculptures used as an underwater museum. For watching great white sharks in a cage, visit Guadalupe. For an exceptional experience, Socorro Island offers opportunities to see large manta rays and humpback whales.