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Mexico

About Mexico

Mexico is a culturally and historically rich country with widespread scuba diving regions. It's located in the southern portion of North America. Thus, Mexico is the sixth-most visited country in the world. A population of 120 million people means it’s the world’s largest Spanish speaking country. The advanced Mayan civilization originated in the Yucatan area of what is now Mexico around 2600 BC. Hundreds of pristine dive sites offer multiple dive experiences.

DIVING COZUMEL, RIVIERA MAYA, ISLA MUJERES

Cozumel is known for its drift diving, this means great underwater visibility, and numerous marine species. So, depending on the season, currents may vary from nonexistent to about two knots. At times, you may be able to experience the Cozumel Drift. This means spectacular scuba diving with little to no effort. Cozumel is suitable for all levels of divers from beginners with good buoyancy to experienced divers. Although there is some shore diving, the best diving is from boats. As such, there are 40 dive sites and miles of underwater scenery to explore. You can see sea turtles, stingrays, nurse sharks, small black tips, barracudas, and the indigenous toadfish. Some of the top dive sites include Santa Rosa Wall, Columbia wall, Paradise and Palancar reef. Read our blog: Destination Spotlight: Cozumel, Mexico  Riviera Maya is on Mexico’s northeastern Yucatán Peninsula. Scuba diving predominates the 65 mile length of its Caribbean Sea coastline. As a result, form Puerto Morales to Tulum are an extensive number of dive sites. Therefore, you can expect dives to healthy coral reefs, walls and even a few wrecks. Likewise, currents provide divers excellent underwater visibility. Thus, enabling sightings of a diverse array of marine fish, invertebrate and mollusk life. Turtles, sharks, rays, eels are common and pelagic species are often seen. Pared Verde off Playa del Carmen and Xaak near Akumal are among the best dive sites. Also, unique to this area are Cenotes. These are land based entrances to fresh water underground river systems with unique geological architecture. Dos Ojos is one of the most famous and most often visited cavern dive sites. Learn more about Rivera Maya with our Blog story, The Riviera Maya.
Near Cancun
Isla Mujeres – while this area off Cancun is not as well known, it has appeal for beginner to experienced divers. Coral reefs dominate the dive sites but there are arches, ledges and wrecks. Besides the usual reef species of marine life, soft corals and sponges expect eels, rays, turtles and sharks. Beyond the normal array of smaller underwater critters expect the largest fish. Whale Shark season spans from June to September. Hence, hundreds of whale sharks migrate to feed on the plankton that is plentiful in these waters. Prominent dive sites include MUSA (an underwater museum), Punta Negra, and the C58 Minesweeper Wreck. Enjoy Diving With Whale Sharks.

Baja Peninsula

La Paz is one of Mexico’s most cosmopolitan of cities and where many dive liveaboards originate. The diving matches the city both in terms of variety and quality. The Sea of Cortez and is home to sea lions, whale sharks, manta and mobula rays, dolphins, huge schools of fish and some fascinating macro life. Scuba diving Espirito Santo and Partida islands especially, means encountering sea lions, hammerhead sharks, manta rays and whale sharks. “Cabo Pulmo” national park is famous for its quantity of marine life. Well known dive sites include El Bajo (Seamount), Los Islotes, La Reina and the Salvatierra wreck. Cabo San Lucas is at the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula. Its marine park is best known for its dramatic rock formations and wall dives. Here you have the chance to see beautiful coral reefs and many different types of rays. In addition, you can experience the famous “Sandfalls” and “Sea Lion Colony” next to the iconic rock arch. Also, the deep seamounts at Gordo Banks means encountering pelagic fish. In addition to marlin, sailfish, dorado, wahoo, large schools of tuna and jacks, look for whale sharks. Finally, the “Blow Hole” contrast underwater pinnacles and large schools of fish.

Offshore Islands

Socorro Island is a small volcanic island but also largest of the 4 Revillagigedo Islands. Accordingly, it’s Pacific Ocean location 250 miles off the southern Baja coast assures pristine diving. Especially, November thru June offering once in a life time encounters with the oceans largest creatures. Together with giant manta rays, pods of dolphins and multiple shark species; you can encounter Humpback whales. This area can only be accessed by dive liveaboards. Likewise, sea conditions and currents, require a more experienced diver. Key dive sites for these islands include Cabo Pearce, El Canyon and The Boiler. Guadalupe is a small island in the Pacific Ocean. Opposite but 165 miles west of the upper region on Mexico's Baja Peninsula. Thus, it is only accessible by dive liveaboards. Compared to other dive destinations, there are no colorful reefs. Singularly it’s all about scuba diving with one creature - the great white shark. Therefore, you can observe, encounter and photograph this apex predator from a safety cage. Beyond this island there are only a few locations to see a number of great whites. None offer 100+ feet of visibility. The season is August to October, as the ocean is calmest with colder temperatures. Read our bog on this apex predator: Cage Diving with Great White Sharks

Accommodations, Attractions, Activities

Especially in Mexico are scores of dive resorts, all inclusive, condos and hotels. Every dive traveler will have choices. Accordingly, besides the offshore islands there are hundreds of restaurants. San Gervasio is an archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, located in the northern third of the island of Cozumel. Also, the Tulum Archaeological site. Museo Regional de Antropología E Historia in La Paz for indigenous culture and cave paintings. Similarly, Iglesia de San Lucas and Town Square in Cabo San Lucas for the 1730 church and Spanish architecture. In comparison to other destinations, just about every activity imaginable is available.

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