Snorkelling & Scuba Diving

The waters off Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen and the island of Cozumel, offer some of the best diving in the world.

The region is a snorkelling and diving paradise because of its close proximity to the beautiful coral reef, the second largest in the world.

Jacques Cousteau’s 1960 documentary drew the world’s attention to the beauty and richness of the marine life in the waters off Cancun. Every year professional and amateur divers come to Cancun from all around the globe to experience reef diving, wall diving, wreck diving and cavern diving.

If you have never been snorkelling or scuba diving, Cancun is a good place to learn.

You can begin by snorkelling in the shallow, clear waters on many of the beaches around Cancun. No licence is required.
 

There are many scuba diving schools in Cancun. Before venturing into open waters, you will probably start in a deep pool where techniques of swimming underwater, how to breathe and safety precautions will be taught.

It is recommended that travellers do not attempt to dive alone. Divers should be accompanied by an instructor or other certified divers who are familiar with the reefs. Visit one of the many Scuba Diving companies to join group or individual diving tours.

Here is a sample of some of the best locations for diving or snorkelling in the waters off Cancun:

Coral Heads - At a depth of between 40 and 80 feet, there are manta rays, sharks and turtles. Be careful of the strong currents.

Barracuda - Angel fish plus sharks, manta rays and other large species.

Cantarell - marine sponges and coral are scattered over large sand dunes. The marine life includes manta rays, sharks, turtles and other large species. Depths are between 35 and 90 feet.

Cardona - a variety of coral and marine life. Depth between 18 and 30 feet.

Chankanaab Park - perhaps one of the most crowded places for snorkeling and scuba diving. Large coral heads and scattered coral plus a statue of Jesus Christ, 14 feet high and a smaller one of the Virgin Mary underwater.

Chankanaab Reef - coral head, lots of marine life, groper, turtles and amberjacks. Between 50 and 90 feet deep on the brink of an ocean abyss.

Chen Rio - coral scattered on sandbars, depth about 60 feet and fall over a cliff.

Shallow Colombia - variety of coral and abundant marine life. Excellent place to snorkel in a depth of up to 30 feet.

Colombia Reef - a great variety of marine life including large sea turtles, manta rays and sharks. Pillars of coral 50 feet emerge from a depth of 90 feet just before the slopes leading to the bottom of the seabed.

Chun Chacaab - Coral scattered on sandy seabed with an abundance of large species. Be careful of strong currents. Depth of 80 feet.

Islet – Varied scattered coral. Depth between 40 and 80 feet.

The "Mirador" - Scattered coral and varied marine life. Be careful of dangerous undercurrents. Depth 35 feet.

The French - Small mounds of sand with coral and sponges scattered around. Varied marine life with sharks, sea turtles and manta rays. Be careful of ocean currents and fire coral, which can cause injury to the skin if touched. Depth between 40 and 80 feet.

Palms – Sponges and an abundance of marine life and scattered coral. The wall of rocks and coral starts to fall 40 feet over the abyss of the ocean. Atolls and a small atoll of 15 feet with depths between 15 and 30 feet.


Punta Maracaibo - Large mounds of sand and large coral formations. Abundance of fine coral and marine sponges. Large manta rays, sea turtles and other large species. Be careful of the currents. Low depths between 35 and 90 feet. There is also a place with the same name at the southern end of Cozumel Island with a water depth of 10 feet which is excellent for snorkeling – abundance of marine life.

Molas - Fine coral and sponges scattered throughout the sand. Marine life includes sharks, manta rays, sea turtles and other species of good size. Be careful of the currents. Depth between 35 and 90 feet.

Palancar Caves - Abundance of marine life including sea turtles. There are passageways between coral formations that emerge from the white sandy seabed. Peaks begin between 35 and 40 feet and then fall over an abyss.

Palancar Gardens - Corals and sponges scattered along sandbars. Abundant marine life with groper, sea turtles and manta rays. Depth of 30 feet.

Palancar Horseshoe - Corals and sponges as well as excellent marine life. Extensive coral formations which begin at 25 feet then fall to the marine abyss.

Paradise - Profusion of large reef coral formations. A section of scattered coral at 18 feet, a second between 40 and 45 feet, and a third to 50 feet where the slope leads to the ocean abyss.

Cedral Pass - Scattered coral, sponges and marine life, including groper, morays, eels, sharks and sea turtles. Depth between 30 and 60 feet. At 40 feet there is a wall of fire coral which leads to the abyss of the sea.

Playa Bosh - Scattered coral and sponges. Depth between 30 and 40 feet.

Punta Dalila - A variety of sponges, coral and angel fish can be seen. Be careful of the sea currents and coral fire. Depth between 30 and 60 feet.

Punta Morena - Scattered coral and variety of multi-colored fish. Depth 40 feet.

Punta Sur - Extensive coral formations emerging from the sandy bottom. Big sharks and manta rays. The wall begins to fall 70 feet into the abyss of the sea. Shallow depths suitable for snorkelling between 18 and 30 feet.

Wall of San Francisco - Small coral on the sandy bottom. Manta rays and sea turtles. Depth of 40 feet.

San Juan - Lots of coral. Abundance of marine life such as sharks and  manta rays. Be careful of the currents. Depth of 35 to 70 feet.


Santa Rosa Wall - Caves (be careful of currents). Sharks, manta rays and sea turtles. Fire coral at depths of 40 feet.

Torments - Variety of coral and sponges. A great sandbank with abundant marine life including morays and groper. Depth between 30 and 60 feet.

Tunich Vall - Small cliffs and several species of sponges. Green moray, eels, manta rays and sea turtles. Be careful of the currents..

 

Villa Blanca Wall - An abundance of giant sponges and a variety of marine life. Wall starts at 35 feet and then drops to an abyss.

Wreck C - At a depth of 53 to 80 feet on the Chankanaab reef, sits a Mexican minesweeper of 1000 tons and a height of 40 feet. Divers can swim through the wreck without difficulty or risk.

Yucab - Variety of coral and sponges scattered along the sandy bottom with abundant marine life including morays, groper, lobsters and crabs. Excellent location for night dives. Be careful of the fire coral. Depths between 35 and 60 feet.

 An underwater exhibition is being installed in the Ocean .

Located in the National Marine Park, on the west coast of Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancun and Punta Nizuc , Cancun , Riviera . The sculpture museum will include 400 statues that will be laid on the seabed over the next months.

The gallery was created by Jaime Gonzalez Cano of The National Marine Park, Roberto Diaz of The Cancun Nautical Association and renowned British underwater sculptor .