Caribbean & Eastern Pacific

Diving in Mexico

The Caribbean coast — Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres — offers warm, clear reef and wall diving with easy drift currents, alongside the freshwater cenotes of the Yucatán interior with their exceptional clarity. On the opposite coast, the Sea of Cortez off Baja California Sur delivers cooler, nutrient-rich water known for sea lions, mobula rays and seasonal whale sharks. The two coasts run opposite calendars, which is why Mexico has two entirely separate whale shark seasons.

What you can see

Know before you go

Best season

June to September for whale sharks off Isla Mujeres; late November to February for whale sharks off La Paz. December to April for the clearest Caribbean reef and cenote diving.

Conditions

Caribbean water runs about 24–29°C with visibility often beyond 30 meters in winter; a 3mm suit or shorty is typical. Cenotes hold a near-constant 24–26°C. The Sea of Cortez is around 27°C in late summer but drops into the high teens by winter, when a 5–7mm suit is recommended.

Getting there

Cancún International Airport serves the Caribbean coast and the Isla Mujeres whale shark boats. La Paz and Los Cabos airports serve Baja California Sur and the Sea of Cortez.