In the past, this part of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico was a small fishing village, but now, starting from the city of Cancun and stretching far to the south, this area has become one of the most popular and dynamic resorts in the western Caribbean. It offers a wonderful mix of dive sites, exotic culture, shopping and adventure. Both the most demanding diver and land dweller will be satisfied here. The region is a true legend for cave divers, but even beginners can explore some of the Riviera Maya’s sun-drenched grottoes. In Cancun, right next to the bustling resorts, there are excellent dive sites, including wrecks and reefs teeming with marine life. You will find everything your heart desires in the Yucatan, whether it is a vibrant nightlife and great diving, or quiet beaches and … great diving too.

Punta Cancun – This is a very popular spot for divers and offers access to several dive sites and spectacular coral reefs. Located in the eastern part of Cancun’s hotel zone, this reef is home to colorful coral formations where you can swim surrounded by a wide variety of marine life including barracudas, rays and sharks.

Punta Nizuk – famous for its snorkelling and diving thanks to its offshore reef teeming with marine life. The average depth is 10 meters, and excellent visibility will allow you to see lobsters, groupers, rays, sergeant majors and other reef inhabitants. Here, art serves the cause of coral conservation, and divers can admire the statue of a young girl reclining in the middle of a coral garden. It belongs to the underwater museum Museo Subacuático de Arte, which certainly deserves all the attention.

Playa del Carmen, Akumal and Tulum is a restless European-style city. Akumal and Tulum, south of Playa, are sleepy coastal settlements where the yesterday of the Yucatan Peninsula lingered. The dive sites here are generally shallow and have excellent visibility; you don’t have to go by boat for more than five minutes. You are sure to encounter turtles, barracudas, stingrays, lobsters and nurse sharks.

Pared Verde – Sections of the high wall here are separated by sloping waterfalls from the sand, and on the rocks you will see a lot of corals and sponges, among which myriads of small invertebrates teem. There are depths of up to 40 meters, and it is worth taking into account the current. The reef, located in the middle of a sandy plain, often attracts large pelagic animals.

Visibility – For offshore diving on the Riviera Maya, visibility ranges from 12 meters in winter to 27 meters in summer. Visibility in cenotes and grottoes is often only limited by the state of your eyesight.

Water Temperature – In winter, the average water temperature is 25-28°C, and 27-29°C in summer. The water in the cenotes is somewhat cooler.

Weather – The air temperature ranges from 18 to 32°C. The rainy season is from May to October, and the dry season is from November to April. Humidity is highest in May and June, and hurricanes pass here from June to October.

Character Inhabitants – Many hawksbill turtles live here, which are often seen by divers. Other native species include eagle rays, moray eels, lobsters, paguars, scarfish, Creole wrasse, flutefish, angelfish and other species common to the Caribbean. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the shadows of lemon sharks and nurse sharks, and on some dives you can even spot manatees.