Shore Diving in Mexico

Playa del Carmen

The bustling town of Playa del Carmen sits in the middle of the Riviera Maya, halfway between Cancun and Tulum. Its beaches look across the water to the island of Cozumel, while behind the town, the Yucatan's thick jungle conceals several impressive cenotes. For advanced divers, the incredible lighting within Cenote Maravilla, just north of Playa, is a great introduction to cenote diving.

Staying in and around Playa also positions you conveniently for a day trip to Cozumel, with most of the shore diving taking place at Chankanaab Beach Park. Located in Cozumel's National Reef Marine Park, the shore dives are characterized by thriving reefs teeming with colourful reef fish, and there's always a good chance of spotting a white-spotted eagle ray.

Puerto Aventuras

Located just south of Playa del Carmen, en route to Tulum, Puerto Aventuras offers a quieter and more intimate atmosphere compared to its larger neighbour. When it comes to shore diving in Mexico, Puerto Aventuras is perfectly placed on the doorstep of two of the peninsula's most captivating cenote dives: Cenote Tajma Ha and Cenote Chac Mool.

Cenote Tajma Ha is famous for its unique light effects, particularly in the Points of Light Room chamber, where laser-like rays of light pierce through two holes in the ceiling. Just a short fifteen-minute drive from Tajma Ha, Cenote Chac Mool features large, open chambers illuminated in crystal-clear water. Reaching a maximum depth of 12 metres, this is an ideal cenote for beginner divers wanting to experience the cenote shore diving in Mexico.

Tulum

A 45-minute drive further south of Puerto Aventuras will bring you to Tulum. It's an ideal day trip for history buffs and those wishing to go shore diving in Mexico. Tulum boasts two of the most famous cenotes on its doorstep: Cenote El Pit and Cenote Dos Ojos. After your dives, you can explore the ancient Maya ruins at the Tulum archaeological site.

Cenote El Pit, with its vertical tube, is perfect for divers seeking greater depth. As one of the deeper cenotes, El Pit features a hydrogen sulphide layer and a debris mound at around 30 metres. The cenote's pit-like shape allows light beams to penetrate deeply, providing HD-visibility of the stalagmites and stalactites lining the cave. Meanwhile, Dos Ojos, which translates to 'two eyes', in Spanish, is the most-visited cenote in the area. The large, shallow chambers are perfectly suited for beginner divers, and the site also features an eerie 'bat cave' where flying bats swirl above you mid-dive.