Best scuba diving in Cancun

The Riviera Maya offers what divers consider the best dive sites in Cancun, indeed among the most invigorating places to scuba dive anywhere in the world!

This area not only contains the biggest barrier reef anywhere in the Western Hemisphere but there are also shipwrecks and even an impressive underwater museum.

Scuba Diving Cancun

As far as scuba diving Cancun is concerned there is an abundance of astounding options for enjoying the best scuba diving in Cancun. From beginners to experienced divers with diving certification, you can discover the best dive sites in Cancun. Those without certification to dive who would still like to try can take a short course, which normally lasts for about four hours, that will enable diving to 40ft, supervised by a certified scuba instructor.

The Barrier Reef System that makes for the best scuba diving in Cancun is known as the Mesoamerican System. There are 65 species of coral here and over 500 species of fish. It is officially the world’s second largest barrier reef and runs along the whole Yucatan Peninsula. Its geography takes it right past Cozumel, which itself is only a ferry ride that takes 45 minutes from Playa del Carmen. The Caribbean Sea’s warm waters are crystal clear the here making for the best scuba diving in Cancun. It’s simply the perfect place for exploring everything that lies below the sea’s surface.

An increasingly popular place to enjoy the best dive sites in Cancun on the Yucatán Peninsula is in its natural sinkholes, known as cenotes. This peninsula boasts an impressive and extensive freshwater river system that lies underground. The ground itself has been forged out of porous limestone.

The Cenotes

were created when this limestone collapsed exposing the groundwater. It is a phenomenon that is unique to this Cancun region adding to the area’s ability to boast the best dive sites in Cancun. Also common here are inlets and lagoons which are wonderful to explore when anyone feels uncomfortable diving out in the open sea.

Of constant wonder to people in search of the best scuba diving in Cancun are the shipwrecks that can be found here. Shipwrecks conjure up the mystery, haunting, and romance of the ocean. It’s not possible to dive on the Titanic, but there is a C58 Minesweeper here, which is just around 80ft below the ocean’s surface and easily accessible with the help of a boat from Cancun.

It is an old US Navy vessel dating back to World War II that the Mexican Navy bought in 1962. It was eventually sunk in order to become part of an artificial reef and to add to the best dive sites in Cancun. Divers are recommended to have the experience to dive here. The currents on the way down to the C58 Minesweeper are known to be quite strong, but this area is populated by groupers and other fascinating sea life like eagle rays and barracuda as well as impressive manta rays. Divers are able to swim around the whole ship. They can even get inside the wreck because it was torn in two by Hurricane Wilma in 2005.