Top-Notch Diving Destinations in Mexico That Worth Trying

Mexico is one of the most popular diving paradises with its amazing diving spots. Between the pacific, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic, it offers an unforgettable diving experience with astonishing diving and scuba spots. If you love diving very much, these places can leave your jaw-dropping. Thousands of diving spots are reachable with pristine coral reefs.

Mexico is always on the top list of the divers. What about diving on the west coast of Mexico? It offers various diving experiences you can choose from. Mexico is an extremely exciting destination for diving due to its pure variety of locations, a broader range of diving conditions, and unique marine life. 

Choosing where to dive seems like a difficult task since there are lots of attractive dive destinations here. Mexico offers you an awe-inspiring experience with a fantastic underwater view you have never imagined before. Below are some recommended diving destinations you can try while visiting Mexico.

#1 Discovery Bay, Isla Guadalupe

Isla Guadalupe is a volcanic island that is also well known for its white sharks. The population of white sharks is considered one of the most prolific on the planet.  You will have a great experience diving with those amazing white sharks you have never seen before. 

What a great experience! Guadalupe is not only offering a memorable diving experience but also lots of amazing views with clear water. The location is about 150 miles off the Baja Peninsula. The island is home to more than 170 people. 

At first, you may find it difficult to keep going, but when you are already there, the view is just worth it. Two types of diving are available here. The cages are placed under the sea to prevent you from doing scuba diving. 

You don’t need to feel to be disappointed as you still can dive half-way outside the cages. Since the white sharks are dangerous, scuba is not allowed here. The dive season in Isla Guadalupe is from August to October with colder temperatures.

#2 Cenote Dos Ojos, Yucatan

Cave diving is one of the most famous destinations offered when you are visiting Mexico. If you are visiting Yucatan, you will need to try a wonderful cave diving experience at Cenote Dos Ojos. 

Cenote Dos Ojos means Cenote’s two eyes in English. The cave reaches more than fifty miles as well as offering some dive paths throughout its rooms and passages. This place is named one of the most popular diving destinations in Mexico.

#3 Revillagigedo Islands

Revillagigedo Islands are located 240 miles off the Baja Peninsula right in the Pacific Ocean. Those islands are well known for their Giant Oceanic Manta Rays with whales. 

If you want to see Manta ray a little bit closer, the Boiler is probably the most predictable spot located on Soccoro Island. The condition of its clear water adds mystique and making it a persistent favorite among divers.

The Revillagigedo Islands are listed in UNESCO heritage lists that are highly protected. When visiting the island, you can try these dive sites:

  • Roca Partida
  • Another famous site on the island is Roca Partida that features some attractive whales sharks, dolphins, mantas, and even sharks. You can dive on a huge pinnacle all the way down to 200 feet with some beautiful caves.
  • Socorro Island
  • There are three dive sites you can try in Socorro Island; Punta Tosca, The Aquarium, and Cabo Pearce. You can find some unique pelagic in this rocky spot as well as finding some macros in the Aquarium. The best time to visit Socorro is from May to November when the sea is quite calm. Whale sharks can be seen during winter with dozen of gorgeous humpbacks appear in the area to calve and breed. You can see manta rays all year round. However, visibility is seasonal and associated with some plankton blooms which arise regularly especially during the full moon.
  • San Benedicto Island
  • The island has two popular dive sites to explore; The Canyon and The Boiler. Both dive sites offer you an unforgettable experience seeing many kinds of dolphins, sharks, and sometimes humpbacks in the migrating period. The Boiler is home to manta rays. You can explore the pinnacle to see some giant manta rays.

#4 Bull Shark Dive, Playa del Carmen

Bull Shark Dive in Playa del Carmen is worth considering if you are searching for an adventurous diving experience. Dozens of large sharks are arriving at this sandy beach offshore. 

Nobody knows why they are regularly coming here but many people say that the freshwater that makes it. If you are a courageous diver, you may want to dive with sharks under the sea. Just keep in mind that novice divers are not allowed here.

#5 Afuera, Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres is known for its large population of whales makes it the best place to dive with whales in the universe. The island is near Cancun, but Afuera which is the shallow spot of this island is about 40 kilometers from Isla Mujeres. 

Since there are many whales here, many tour guides or operators offer a money-back guarantee if you see none. Before going a tour, make sure to do research since the whales are extremely regulated.

#6 Aquarium I and II, Banco Chinchorro

Banco Chichorro is located in the south of Mexico that offers the biggest reef atolls right in the northern hemisphere. More than 300 square miles are covered by the atolls. 

It is highly protected as its home to colorful reefs, drift dives, and also wrecks. You can find some attractive examples of huge barrel sponges, brain coral, and also black corals which are stunning.

The site has excellent visibility to see some nurse sharks, moray eels, pufferfish, parrotfish, lobsters, turtles, and eagle rays. This is such an ideal place for scuba diving indeed.

#7 Manchones Reef, Cancun

More than sixty underwater installations are featured here. The installation was made by a famous sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. Those statues were sculpted using the local community model. 

They were placed underwater for some purposes like creating secondary attraction to scuba divers and snorkelers. Another advantage is that they can be new catalysts for coral growths. This destination is such a perfect place for those who love underwater photography.

#8 Gordo Banks, Los Cabos

Los Cabos is about five miles away from San Jose del Cabo, a giant platform to see marine life. This place is perfect for viewing various attractive species at the tilt of the Baja Peninsula. 

You can get a glimpse of some stunning underwater creatures such as cownose rays, mobula rays, eagle rays, snapper, jacks, mackerels, and if you are lucky you can witness silky sharks or scalloped hammerhead sharks here.

#9 Palancar Reef, Cozumel

When visiting Cozumel, try to ask locals about top diving destinations in their area. They may recommend you to visit Palancar Reef. The site consists of 4 beautiful sites that are situated to the southeast of the island. You can see coral pinnacles that rise from a sandy bottom that is astonishing. 

When diving around, you will find beautiful tunnels with dramatic walls as well as spotting some gorgeous fish along the way. Nurse sharks and eagle rays also make an infrequent appearance. If you are a novice diver, this place is perfect with its shallow nature and great visibility.

#10 Los Islotes, La Paz

In the north of La Paz, you can find Los Islotes which is home to beautiful sea lions with more than 400 sea lions found here. Both scuba divers and snorkelers are welcomed here. 

if you are going to go diving, make sure to pack a snorkel during the winter time, as the tour also boasts some whale sharks detection. On the other season, you can probably see some gray whales or humpbacks along the way to the island.

#11 Xcalack

On the southernmost of the Mexico coastline, Xcalack is one of the most desirable diving destinations in Mexico. The location of Xcalack is within the Xcalack Reef National Marine Park. 

The park is famous for its strict regulations. The location is less than sixty minutes from the biggest coral atolls, Banco Chinchorro in the northern hemisphere. You can have a great diving experience by seeing some unique underwater creatures. 

Xcalack is the home to scarce manatees, dolphins, sharks, and tarpon fish. If you plan to dive from Xcalack, consider going from May to November for the best condition with gorgeous visibility.

Mexico has long considered as a mesmerizing tourist haven, in recent years Mexico has also recognized as a top-notch dive destination. Mexico offers all kinds of scuba diving, caves of the Cenotes, and astonishing white sharks and whale in the Pacific Ocean. 

With Guatemala in the southeast and the USA in the north, Mexico has a broad range of diverse seascapes and lands. The east coast is featured with azure water stream down from the Caribbean Sea. 

It creates a unique atmosphere where diving is considered resort-based. The condition can vary greatly throughout the year with warmer water temperature.

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