Scuba diving in Cancun, Mexico – the waters that offer it all

Reef diving? Check. Cavern and wreck diving? Check. Night diving? No problem. An underwater museum!? Absolutely. Scuba diving in Cancun, Mexico gives you such a variety of dive sites that you’ll never get bored.

More Things to do in Cancun

MUSA Underwater museum Cancun

Whale Shark Snorkel

Ocean Diving

Cenote Diving

Cenote Snorkeling

Dive Courses

Reef Snorkeling

Kayaking in Nichupte Lagoon

Paddle boarding in Nichupte Lagoon

Kite Surfing

Cultural Maya Tours

Visit Isla Contoy

Best known perhaps for the sheer variety of marine wildlife which can be found here, you can swim with dolphins, turtles and with an eye-catching variety of tropical fish all around you! Don’t let the local area’s reputation as a party hotspot put you off. When you scuba dive in Cancun you are swimming in a Marine Wildlife Park, an area of amazing beauty and wondrous underwater flora and fauna.

Unless you’re staying for an extended period of time, you’ll find it difficult to squeeze everything the local area has to offer into a single visit. Some of the best scuba diving in Cancun can be found at:

Manchones Reef

Located just south of Isla Mujeres, Manchones Reef will feature in most Cancun scuba diving reviews. Nearly two miles long, the wonderful coral formations here are visited by and home to stingrays, moray eels, dolphins, turtles and a huge variety of tropical fish.
Some of the shallower sections are perfect for snorkeling too. And if you’re in Cancun for scuba diving qualifications or find that you need to get it when you arrive, you might be able to take your course here.

The Cancun Underwater Museum, a.k.a. MUSA

Over 470 statues and artwork have been placed on the seabed for you to discover and enjoy, this includes statues of people and animals, a life-size VW Beetle, and so very much more where an artificial reef has already begun to grow. You’ll be able to spot work by artists Julian DeCaires, Roberto Díaz Abraham, Rodrigo Quiñones Reyes and Karen Salinas Martinez amongst many others.
When scuba diving in Cancun, beginners are often spoilt for choice, but no matter your skill level, Musa should not be missed! It is not very technically challenging, but you won’t find anything like it anywhere else!

Punta Cancun

This is another must-visit location when scuba diving in Cancun. Especially if you love tropical fish or the possibility of swimming with sharks!

Wreck of the C-58, USS Harlequin

This former US Navy minesweeper was bought by the Mexican Navy and then sunk as the base for an artificial reef in the 1980s. Scuba diving in Cancun, Mexico is known for being very welcoming for beginner divers, but the C-58 is definitely not for the uninitiated. You’ll need to be accustomed to diving with something over your head and the wreck is deeper than most other local dives.
The Ko’ox Dive Team is intimate with the local dive sites more than most Cancun scuba centers, so you can get all the advice, support and information you need before you set out.

The water in the Caribbean stays warm all year round so you can dive whenever you like. From late summer to early fall is the rainy season, with the potential for hurricanes as we move into the fall. This is also the off-season, traditionally May to September, where you’ll find dramatically reduced numbers of visitors scuba diving in Cancun and the best prices too.
That time of year is also the period where the annual migrations of whale sharks and other intriguing marine creatures reach the area. This is a much sought-after part of the experience of scuba in Cancun, so take the timing into account when you plan your trip.

Cenote Diving in Cancun – These are the top cenotes

Cenote Chikin Ha

Many Cancun scuba diving packages will include a visit to one of the Yucatan Peninsula’s amazing cenotes. These water-filled sinkholes offer you a simply extraordinary experience. Don’t visit the local area without swimming in one.
If you are in the area, Cenote Chikin Ha is a great option. It offers a welcoming dive without the need for cave diving qualifications. If you haven’t been diving much recently, or you’re not confident enough to dive in a cave – even in this very open cavern – it’s probably best to go on an ocean dive first.
When you do make it into the water here, get ready for an amazing light show.

Cenote Tajma Ha

Located conveniently close to the hotel zone where many visitors stay, Tajma Ha is a classic cenote. It offers glorious lighting effects and wondrous geology in the form of stalactites. Кnown locally as the “Taj Mahal” because of the beauty of its decorative interior, the name eventually became Tajma Ha as the word ‘Ha’ means ‘water’ in the Mayan language.
Much like Cenote Chikin Ha, you can dive here with only your open water dive certification. But if you’ve been away from diving for a while or if you haven’t dived in a cave before, an initial refresher dive in open water is recommended.

Cenote Dos Ojos

Easily accessible, this famous, highly regarded cenote needs almost no introduction. Check it out. If you’re trying scuba diving in Cancun, your trip wouldn’t be complete without a journey to Dos Ojos. It’s located in a national park too, making for a lovely day out and beautiful environs in which to relax between the thrilling dives which are possible here.

You can also swim in the amazing cenotes – the must-see Dos Ojos as well as Tajma Ha and Chikin Ha – throughout the year. In fact, the May-September off-season is often better if you are in Cancun for snorkeling and want to try out the cenotes. For a start, the light is better at this time of year. Plus, of course, it being the quieter season, snorkeling in Cancun comes at a reduced cost.

PADI Discover Scuba Diving: 1 Cenote Dive + 1 Ocean Dive from Cancun209USD8am – 1:30pmBook Now

Cancun Snorkeling Tours – tropical fish, reefs, whale sharks and more

Visit Cancun for snorkeling when you want to see a stunning array of marine wildlife while you swim in the warm, gorgeous waters of the Caribbean. Several shallow-water reefs can be found in the area, including parts of the Manchones Reef mentioned above. That reef, in particular, is well sheltered by the nearby Isla Mujeres and offers great conditions all year round for those who want to go snorkeling while in Cancun.

El Museo Subaquatico de Arte (MUSA, mentioned above) should be placed right at the top of your list of places to snorkel in Cancun. One of the best pieces of advice you will receive before you start most Cancun snorkeling tours is “don’t forget your camera.” There’s so much technicolor marine life here that it will be a challenge to remember it all! Keep an eye out for the loggerhead and Green turtles and sailfish which migrate through the area at certain times of the year. The vibrant sponges, multicolored coral formations, myriad of species of tropical fish and a kaleidoscope of colours.

You’ll always emerge into the bright sunshine, walking up one of the postcard-perfect white-sand beaches for which this tropical-daydream part of Mexico is rightly famous.

Snorkel with Whale Sharks near Isla Mujeres

Whale sharks remain some of the biggest local attractions for both divers and snorkelers. Indeed, most of the best snorkeling in Cancun can be found at sites that are easy to reach, often directly from the shore.

Please mind that there’s no pick up included. Ask us about the most convenient pick up location.

Nichupté Lagoon – Amazing Place for Paddle Board or Kayaking

Nichupté Lagoon is a natural paradise – a mangrove ecosystem reserve beaming with animal life and crystal clear warm blue waters. Laguna Nichupte, as they call it in Cancun, has 7 lakes that connect it with the Caribbean sea. The flora and fauna of the mangroves and the jungle are very diverse. It’s one of the best sunset watching in nature places in Cancun. We can take you kayaking in Cancun or on a paddle board tour in Cancun at sunset and more. You should definitely explore one of the most well-preserved natural wonders in Cancun.

Isla Contoy Natural Reserve – Protected Uninhabited Island

It’s one of the best ways to view the world as it once was, enjoy the beach, crystalline waters, healthy reef, and myriad of sea life. Isla Contoy is a protected natural treasure, only 200 people a day are allowed to enter. It’s so beautiful and quiet, you can feel the serenity and become one with nature.

Kitesurfing in Cancun

Kiteboarding has to be on your checklist of things you have to do in Cancun. Don’t lose the chance!
This is a water sport that blends elements and characteristics of wakeboarding, surfing, windsurfing, snowboarding, paragliding, and skateboarding.

Please mind that Kitesurfing is very much dependant on the weather conditions – we’d recommend the best day and location for you based on the wind speed & direction. Please make sure to book your Private kitesurfing adventure from Tulum at least 3 days in advance.

The best of Cancun Dive shops

When choosing between Cancun dive shops, be sure to get the best balance of price and experience. There are a huge variety of tour operators and guides in the local area. Many, however, might not have the qualifications or knowledge to get you the best value for your money.
Ko’ox prides itself on being one of those Cancun dive shops you can trust. Get in touch if you have any queries whatsoever about the local area, the best dive sites in general or about going diving with us in particular. The team speaks great English as well as Spanish, and French fluently, so you can get the information you need however you need it.

Get a Quote

Get in Touch: Address: Km 5.5, Blvd. Kukulcan, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R. WhatsApp: +52 1 984 141 5502