Experience the Riviera Maya Underwater
Whether you are a scuba diver or want to try scuba diving, you are in the right place to make the plunge! Diving in the Riviera Maya and Costa Maya is an experience you will never forget. The Riviera Maya started as a scuba diving destination and continues to be a great place to dive! Great guides, calms seas, incredible visibility and short boat rides make the Riviera Maya a diving mecca.
Dive on the Mesoamerican Reef – 2nd Largest Barrier Reef in the World
Whether you are a seasoned diver, an occasional diver or want to learn to scuba dive, the Riviera Maya is a great diving destination with lots of dive centers to dive with. International guides love what they do, and want to make your Riviera Maya and Costa Maya dive trip a blast! Once you see the clear blue waters of the Mexican Caribbean, you will want to get your gear on and see what you can see. Turtles, stingrays, eagle rays, tropical fish, barrel sponges, coral, and some endangered species of coral and fish are seen every day in the sea.
Experienced divers will love the flora and fauna seen in visibility of 80ft/20m or more. New divers and occasional divers will have the time of their life in warm waters that are calm and easy to dive in. Bring your dive card, rent gear or use your own, hook up with a dive center and start diving. There is no shore diving in the Riviera Maya or Costa Maya so find a dive center as soon as you arrive and get signed up to dive! You get to all the dive sites by boat, and a local guide gets in the water with you to show you the best spots! Now that’s service! You never know you may see a Loco Gringo staff member underwater with you!
Where to dive in the Riviera Maya and Costa Maya
We have to say, there is no bad diving in the area. There are areas that have different highlights and their own unique features, but there is no bad or ‘better diving areas’ on any one part of the coast. Here is the breakdown of scuba diving highlights:
Playa del Carmen – Known for calm seas as the Island of Cozumel protects the dive sites from oncoming weather. Enjoy the Turtle dive, the Mama Vina wreck, great beginner dive sites for newbies, and lots of fish!
Puerto Morelos – The reef located off the shores of Puerto Morelos is part of a protected national marine park. Highlights include a wreck, untouched coral, and lots of sea life.
Akumal, Tulum, and all the little towns in between – Diving throughout the coast is great and the smaller towns offer great diving and wonderful dive centers to dive with. If you want a really great dive trip, try it all! Each location and destination offers a unique coral bed and fish sightings on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world.
Cozumel – Discovered as a diving haven by Jacques Cousteau, Cozumel is all about large coral walls, deep diving and great colors. The toadfish is only found in Cozumel and sea horses are found easily. Cozumel is more about coral and less about fish, with some world-class diving just a ferry ride away.
Cancun – A recent reef recovery program was installed off the shores of Cancun. Underwater sculpture gardens were installed to encourage more coral growth. The sculptures reflect the culture and nationality of Mexico, with a particular focus on Mayan history and contemporary Mexican culture.
Xcalak and Mahahual – The Chinchorro Banks can be accessed from either of these destinations and is a bucket list dive trip, when you get out to sea. We have to forewarn our diving friends, the Chinchorro Banks requires specific sea conditions so ensure great visibility and an easy boat ride. We wish we could tell you the best time to try and get out to see the Chinchorro Banks, but the only one who knows is Mother Nature. If you get out, it is wonderful, but be patient, as this is a not a guaranteed dive trip when you make the trip south to the Costa Maya.