We Know Because We Go! | Book with a 5-Star Team,| Trusted by 10,000+ Divers
We Know Because We Go! | Book with a 5-Star Team,| Trusted by 10,000+ Divers
Diving in Riviera Maya, Yucatán, offers stunning cenotes, vibrant coral reefs, wall dives, and diverse marine life, including turtles, rays, and sharks, in crystal-clear Caribbean waters.
Average flight time from LAX
4
Scuba Dive Level
Suitable for All
Visibility
50 to 131 feet (15 to 40 meters)
Average Water Temperature
80
Cave Diving
Shark Encounters
Easy to reach, the Yucatan is a very popular vacation destination. The region is in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo and is also known as the Riviera Maya. Described as the 100-mile long Tourist Corridor, Riviera Maya extends 24 miles from Punta Brava, south of Puerto Morelos to the fishing village of Punta Allen inside the Biosphere Reserve of Sian Ka’an. The further south one travels, the land becomes less developed and more ancestral Mayan. Riviera Maya offers wonderful beaches, turquoise waters and fine white sand, archeological sites, picturesque little towns, recreation centers, freshwater lagoons, underwater caves, cenotes, ecological tours, food and lodging options ranging from rustic cabins to gleaming condos, five-star hotels, and all-inclusive accommodation.
Unique diving opportunities abound, whether as a dedicated dive trip or as an add-on to a tropical vacation package. Divers can find many different types of unique places to stay in Tulum, Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel or Isla Mujeres. Accommodation ranges from quiet retreats to huge all-inclusive resorts, with plenty of topside activities like visiting the Mayan ruins of Tulum. The abundance of activities and tours makes the Yucatan a great destination for divers traveling with non-divers.
Top dive destinations within the Yucatan Peninsula
Though the cenotes do not have much marine life, the rest of the diving in Yucatan is very colorful. An expansive coral reef system extending just off the coast is home to a dizzying array of marine life including colorful tropical fish, manta rays, dolphins, and whale sharks. Here is a list of some of the marine life you are likely to see when scuba diving in Riviera Maya:
Water Temperatures: The water off Cozumel ranges from 75-85F (24-29C) depending on the season. The angle of the sun shifts during the year, so different cenotes will benefit from different angles of light. For example, temperatures can be very hot during the summer, but that is when the sun is overhead and shines to the bottom of The Pit (391ft/119m), creating a very surreal experience. Along the Riviera Maya coastline, the water temperatures range from 77-82°F (25-28C) in winter and 81-85°F (27-29C) in summer.
Visibility: 15 - 40m (49 - 131 ft)
Depth Range: 10 - 40m (30 - 131 ft)
Weather: Air temperatures range from 18-32°C/65-90°F
Travel to the Yucatan is easy from the United States and major international hubs. Flying to Cancun (CUN) is easy thanks to all the visiting tourists. The Cancun International Airport is the main gate of entrance to Riviera Maya, and it is served by all major international airlines with direct or non-stop service from many places around the world.
From the airport, there are several transportation services like shuttles and taxis providing convenient and safe airport transfers to any location in the Riviera Maya. In the southeast corner of Terminal 2, there is a bus service from the airport to Playa del Carmen which is only a 45-minute drive. The bus departs every 30 minutes from 5:00 hrs to 1:00 hrs. The drive from Cancun Airport (CUN) to the Isla Mujeres ferry takes about 30 minutes, with ferries running every half hour during the day. You can also fly directly into Cozumel – Cozumel International Airport (CZM) and take a modern ferry to Playa del Carmen.
There are plenty of dive resorts and dive centers you can choose from in Riviera Maya. There are facilities, instructors and equipment rentals at Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Xcaret, Paamul, Puerto Aventuras, Xpu-Ha, Kantenah, Chemuyil Xcacel and Akumal, known as a diver’s paradise. There is even liveaboard diving possible in the Yucatan Peninsula, the first liveaboard in the Mexican Caribbean called the Caribbean Kraken. This vessel can take you around Banco Chincorro, Los Picos & Alcaranes.
The Yucatan is a year-round dive destination, although the specific marine life encounters are seasonal. If you want to see the whale sharks near Isla Mujeres, then the best time to visit is from June until mid-September. If you are interested in bull shark diving in Playa del Carmen, then the season starts around November until March.
The rainy season is from May through October and the dry season is November through April. May and June have the highest humidity. June through October is hurricane season.
The Yucatan has many non-diving activities, making it a fun destination for divers as well as groups and those who aren't divers. Resort and hotel accommodation is abundant, whether quiet and romantic or large and all-inclusive. Whale sharks are a snorkeling activity, and several of the cenotes offer snorkeling in addition to scuba diving (including Dos Ojos and Eden). Visitors can tour Mayan ruins, visit postcard-perfect white sand beaches, shop, or participate in the vibrant nightlife of Cancun. Playa Del Rey offers a more quiet scene.
Here are some of the top non-diving activities you can do in Riviera Maya:
Currency: Mexican Peso (MXN)
Language:Spanish is the official language in Mexico but most people today learn English as a second language
Main Airport Code: CUN
Time Zone: UTC-5
Electricity: 127 V 60 Hz
