13 Amazing Reasons Why You Should Go Scuba Diving in Tulum this Year

If you’re an adventure seeker, you must visit Tulum and try scuba diving. Tulum, a charming town located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, offers you an exceptional scuba diving experience that you cannot miss, with excellent transportation links to nearby resorts and towns, as well as an unmatched variety of scuba diving sites.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro diver or just someone that wants to try and eventually learn how to scuba dive, here are the top 13 reasons why you should scuba dive in Tulum this year:

1. The Mesoamerican Reef

The Mesoamerican Reef is the second-largest barrier reef in the world and offers a variety of diving conditions and diverse marine life. Visibility is up to 200 feet / 60 m and temperatures range between 24-27 Celsius (75-81 Fahrenheit). With crystal clear waters, dramatic drop-offs, lush coral gardens, and extensive shipwrecks, it’s no wonder that divers come to explore this one-of-a-kind underwater paradise. From sea turtles, nurse sharks, and eagle rays to colorful schools of fish like damselfish and angelfish, divers can witness some amazing aquatic life when diving at the Mesoamerican Reef.

2. Cenotes

Tulum cenotes offer incredible scuba diving conditions and spectacular views for divers.
These natural sinkholes lead to underground water systems and actually form the longest one in the world. These freshwater pools offer some of the most incredible diving experiences in the world, with crystal-clear waters and unique geological formations. Visibility is about 100 meters throughout the year. Take a dive into the stunningly clear cenotes and you can experience the amazing phenomenon of the halocline. This is when two bodies of water with different salinities meet – such as salt water and fresh water – resulting in an extraordinary sight and unique underwater experience you’ll never forget! The water temperature in Tulum’s cenotes is a comfortable 75F (24C) and it varies by a few degrees throughout the year, making it ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling. Casa Cenote & Dos Ojos are some of the most popular cenotes for scuba diving.

Important to know: Buoyancy control is important when diving in cenotes because it has a significant impact on safety and underwater exploration. In the event of strong underwater currents, buoyancy control allows divers to remain at a desired depth rather than fighting against rising or sinking. Additionally, by controlling buoyancy, divers can navigate caves and other areas where there may be limited visibility by remaining at an even depth while exploring. This also helps protect delicate structures which are often found in cenotes. And to avoid stirring up the sediments with their fins, thus making the visibility poor.

3. Underwater Caverns

Tulum Caverns are considered advanced dive sites due to the narrow corridors, confined spaces, and difficult entry points. In cavern diving depths are limited to 40 feet (12 meters) below the surface, and direct light should be present so that divers can remain within visual range of the entrance and their guide. Experienced divers with a minimum of 50 logged dives should have no problem tackling this dive site but it is not recommended for novice divers. With proper gear and certified guides, advanced divers can enjoy the stunning rock formations and an eerie, otherworldly beauty that must be seen to be believed. Advanced divers can experience the underwater river phenomenon of cenote Angelita – a thick cloud of hydrogen sulfide amid the water. And also do a deep dive in the Pit.

4. Flooded Caves

Diving in flooded caves is an exciting but potentially dangerous activity. Before exploring the caves around Tulum, you’ll need to get special cave diving training and certifications from a qualified cave and tech instructor. This involves attending courses, and learning techniques, and safety protocols as diving would be happening in an overhead environment without direct sunlight. After completing this training, one can then take on the challenge of exploring the numerous caves located here – all part of the longest underwater cave system in the world: Sistema Sac Aktun. Koox Diving & Adventures owner Chucho, one of the most seasoned cenote and cave explorers in the Riviera Maya, would gladly be your cave instructor and guide if you decide to embark on this adventure. Make sure to familiarize yourself with what cave diving in Mexico is, before you take that step.

5. Marine Life

From colorful tropical fish to majestic manta rays, Tulum is teeming with marine life. Scuba divers can expect to see a wide variety of species, including sea turtles, lobsters, eels, octopuses, and even whale sharks during the summer and bull sharks in the winter. Barracudas, butterflyfish, surgeonfish, parrotfish, sergeant majors, and blue tangs are also abundant in these warm crystal clear waters.

Between May and September is when you have the best chance of seeing whale sharks swimming among the warm Caribbean currents. During these months they come to feed on plankton, commonly in larger groups so there is plenty of opportunity for spotting them.

November to March is when one can see Bull Sharks in the area near Tulum – Playa del Carmen. They are more common in the winter months when water temperatures start to cool down, and female sharks come to give birth.

The cenotes are also teeming with life, such as colorful schools of fish, catfish, molly, gobby and turtles. The crystal clear waters provide a perfect habitat for larvae shrimp, and other exotic species of marine life. The caverns are also home to invertebrates such as oysters, clams, and lobsters that can be seen among the stalactites and stalagmites. Panchita, the friendly crocodile, can also be seen chilling in the cenotes.

6. Wrecks

Several fascinating shipwreck dive sites are located near Tulum:

C-53 Felipe Xicotencatl in Cozumel –  This former Mexican Navy vessel was sunk in 2000 to create an artificial reef and now serves as a haven for a wide variety of marine life.

Juan Escutia C-56 Shipwreck in Puerto Morelos – a former minesweeper that belonged to the Mexican Army and was sunk on purpose to attract sea life and coral. The depth varies between 25-30 meters, and the current is mild, so Puerto Morelos C-56 Mine Sweeper is an advanced dive for experienced divers only.

7. Night Diving

For those looking for a unique diving experience, Tulum offers night diving opportunities that are sure to amaze you. From bioluminescent plankton to nocturnal marine life, there’s nothing quite like diving in the dark. Crocodile night diving is definitely a must-try on this list.

8. Certification Courses

If you’re new to scuba diving or looking to improve your skills, Tulum offers a wide variety of certification courses. From open water certification to advanced dive training, there’s something for divers of all skill levels. The most unique thing about learning to scuba dive in Tulum is that you get to practice in the cenotes – Casa cenote is the best natural swimming pool in the area, perfect for confined water dives. Your open-water dives would be in the ocean, where you’d see abundant marine life, too. So it is definitely worth taking the chance while you are there. Some cenotes are also popular free diving spots and offer amazing conditions for free diving courses as well.

9. Eco-Friendly Diving

Tulum is known for its commitment to eco-friendly tourism, and the diving industry is no exception. Many dive shops in Tulum are dedicated to sustainable diving practices, ensuring that the fragile underwater ecosystem is protected for future generations to enjoy. Special eco policies are in effect in the whole area: no sunscreen, no repellents, always shower before jumping in a cenote, avoid using plastic as much as possible, bring your own water bottle and refill it, etc.

10. Perfect Water Temperature

Tulum’s water temperature is perfect for scuba diving all year round. The water is warm and inviting, with an average temperature of 78°F (25°C). You don’t need to worry about being too cold or too hot, making Tulum an ideal destination for scuba diving.

11. Great Visibility

Thanks to the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea, seawater visibility in Tulum is often exceptional up to 200 feet / 60 m. This means that divers can enjoy unobstructed views of the stunning underwater scenery, including vibrant coral reefs and abundant marine life.
Cenotes are out of this world when it comes to visibility. The freshwater that fills them remains clear throughout the year – with up to up to 330 feet / 100 m visibility for divers to enjoy.

12: Ideal for Beginners and Experienced Divers

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, Tulum has something for everyone. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef has shallow areas ideal for beginners, and the underwater caves and tunnels offer challenges for experienced divers. There are also many scuba diving schools in Tulum where you can get certified and learn to scuba dive.

13. Convenient Location

It is convenient to stay in Tulum and explore the Riviera Maya from there. The town of Tulum has a variety of hotels and resorts that are situated near the coastline, giving you easy access to its pristine beaches and clear blue waters. Additionally, the region also offers many opportunities for exploring cenotes, ancient Mayan ruins, natural parks, and much more – all within a short distance from your accommodations. Plus, visiting divers can enjoy more than 200 dive sites ranging from shallow reefs perfect for beginners to deeper wrecks that provide an exciting challenge for experienced divers. And with some of the clearest waters in the Caribbean & the cenotes – making it is an ideal destination for scuba diving.

Do you need more convincing? We don’t think so. Make Tulum your next holiday destination and enjoy scuba diving in some of the best dive spots and best conditions in the world.