The Best Riviera Maya SCUBA Diving and Snorkeling Spots
Have you ever dreamed of visiting the Mesoamerican barrier reef (the world’s second-largest, after Australia’s)? Have you ever wished to experience a diving or snorkeling site that evokes an underwater cave? You’re in luck — the waters just off of our coast are world-renowned for being some of the best in the world for divers. These are the cenotes and coastal regions where you can experience the best Riviera Maya SCUBA diving and snorkeling.
Shangrila Reef
This spot is a great place to start, especially if you’re a novice diver. Shangrila Reef is the shallowest reef formation in the Riviera Maya, with a depth of just under 30 feet (9 meters). But make no mistake — just because it’s not as deep as some destinations doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the dive. Here, you’ll find gorgeous reef formations, as well as many playful and colorful fish species.
Gran Cenote
Cenote Dos Ojos
Comprising two interconnecting cenotes, this site shares Gran Cenote’s popularity thanks to its crystal clear water and many corners to explore. Cenote Dos Ojos is the ideal place for snorkeling and diving. In the semi-open part of the cenote, the light and colors are truly beautiful.
Casa Cenote
Tulum's Casa Cenote is notable not just for its formations and marine life, including schools of beautiful fish, but for its setting in a lush tropical jungle. It all adds up to Casa Cenote being not just a favorite spot for divers, but also for paddleboarders and others who prefer staying above the surface to descending into the waters.
Puerto Morelos
Few Riviera Maya towns feature a stretch of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef quite like what you’ll encounter at Puerto Morelos. The town’s National Marine Park is extremely well-protected, both in terms of the physical reef itself and the creatures who populate it, including eels, rays, green sea turtles, crabs, and nurse sharks. A must-visit.
MUSA
This is the dive site you’ve invariably seen in countless ads for not just the Riviera Maya, but Mexico itself. MUSA (that’s short for “Museo Subacuático de Arte” or “Subaquatic Art Museum”), as the name suggests, holds an underwater art collection. In this case, more than 500 permanent life-sized sculptures of buildings and human figures.
Banco Chinchorro
If you’re more interested in history than art or nature, you may prefer Banco Chinchorro, whose seafloor is home to not just reefs of black coral populated by angelfish and eagle rays, but a shipwrecked Dutch galleon.
Isla Mujeres
This fascinating region is popular with divers for many reasons. The current is light in Isla Mujeres, so it’s accessible to all experience levels. There are quite a few underwater caves, reef formations and even shipwrecks to explore. And regardless of the time of year, the local marine life is quite abundant and active. Expect lots of sailfish from mid-December to mid-March and schools of whale sharks during the summer.
Akumal
Divers at Akumal can expect to encounter considerably textured coral formations, and a wide variety of marine life species here (in particular, large numbers of turtles can typically be encountered). Akumal also represents a variable level of challenge — the shallows afford a lighter current, but stronger movement can be found in deeper areas.
Reserve Your Stay at Mahekal
When you’re ready to plan your diving adventure, Mahekal Beach Resort is the perfect place to hang your wetsuit. Our outstanding accommodations, spotless service and proximity to renowned dive sites puts us right in the sweet spot. Check out our Special Offers page, select the travel package that’s right for you. Then contact our Concierge and plan your diving escape.