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Mexico
UNCOUNTABLE DIVE OPTIONS ON TWO COASTS
The diving in Mexico is world-famous and diverse. While the Caribbean side offers magical cenotes, whale sharks and lush reefs, the Pacific Coast lures liveaboard fans for trips to see great white sharks, whales and playful sea lions.
Mexico is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico. The fact, that the country has two coastlines makes it very interesting for scuba divers and watersports enthusiasts.
Scuba diving opportunities are just exceptional in Mexico. From beginners to tec divers, every diver level will find their favorite spot here. The marine life ranges from typical reef residents, playful sea lions to the big pelagics including bull sharks, great white sharks, whale sharks and manta rays.
WHEN TO DIVE IN MEXICO
The Caribbean side with the Yucatan peninsula can be dived year-round. If you want to see manta rays is in Socorro, the best time to go is between November and May. The sea is calm at this time. The winter is also a great time for whale watching in the Sea of Cortez. For the great white sharks, choose July to October. The water drops to 19°C in this time, but that´s what the great white shark likes. And for the bull sharks in Playa Del Carmen on the East coast, go between November and February.
BEST DIVE SPOTS IN MEXICO
Yucatan Peninsula – Caribbean side
The Yucatan peninsula on the Caribbean coast offers some great reef diving for beginners but also adventurous dives with bull sharks. But the very special highlight of this region are the mystical cenotes. These are sinkholes in the jungle, filled with freshwater, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath. There are thousands of cenotes in the jungle of Yucatan and they are connected with each other and with the ocean. That´s why you can see the mystical halocline in many cenotes, where freshwater mix with salty water. As there are so many caves to explore, the cenotes are very popular with tec divers. Famous cenotes are Dos Ojos, Angelita, The Pit and Tajma Ha.
Another great place for diving on the Caribbean side is Playa Del Carmen with the bull shark females, coming every year between November and February to give birth. Not only for snorkelers but for everybody the whale sharks around Isla Mujeres are a highlight. It is the biggest whale shark population in the world, that can be spotted here from May to November.
Pacific Side
Cabo Pulmo is a protected marine park on the south end of Baja California in the Sea of Cortez, where fishing is prohibited. The marine life here is very healthy. There is a huge famous school of jackfish and bull sharks can be spotted as well. Socorro is the place to see the big stuff. This island is a small volcanic island in the Revillagigedo Islands, a Mexican possession lying 600 kilometers off Baja California. Socorro is only accessible by liveaboard. On a trip, you can see hammerheads, silky, silvertip and white tips, Humpback whales, dolphins and the gentle manta rays. Every year between August and October the great white sharks come to the tiny island of Guadalupe out in the Pacific. Divers come here to explore these notorious sharks. Like Socorro, this place is only accessible by liveaboard. Some liveaboard operators offer also cage diving for a very close encounter with the sharks.
Other famous dive spots in Mexico are Cozumel for nurse sharks and eagle rays, La Paz for sea lions, Isla Mujeres for whale sharks, the whole Sea of Cortez and Banco Chinchorro for diving with crocodiles.
LIVEABOARDS IN MEXICO
Liveaboards in Mexico operating only on the Pacific side. Most popular are trips to Socorro, Guadalupe and in the Sea of Cortez to see the big pelagic animals like whales, sharks, mantas and sea lions. Most boats start from Cabo San Lucas or San Jose Del Cabo in Baja California.
As the sea conditions can be a bit rougher here, these trips are more for advanced divers. The locations are quite remote, so it takes around one night to reach the destination. All safari boats are made for long-distance trips and heavy sea conditions. So you will feel comfortable and won´t miss any amenities.
Guadalupe
COME CLOSE TO THE GREAT WHITE SHARKS
Cage diving with great white sharks at its best. Guadalupe is the place for real adventure seekers. There are only a few other places in the world, where you can get so close to these animals. Would you dare and go on a liveaboard trip here?
Guadalupe Island or Isla Guadalupe is a volcanic island located 241 kilometers (150 mi) off the west coast of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula and about 400 kilometers (249 mi) southwest of the city of Ensenada in the state of Baja California, in the Pacific Ocean. This island is very remote and there is not much to see above the surface. But from August to October the real adventure happens – underwater. In this time it is possible to dive with great white sharks in Guadalupe Island. Most of the diving is done in a cage. Only in three other places in the world, you can join this special adventure.
BEST TIME TO VISIT GUADALUPE ISLAND
Liveaboards visit Guadalupe only between July and October because in this time the water temperature is the coldest and that attracts the great white sharks. The average water temperature is between 19°C and 22°C.
ABOUT CAGE DIVING
– Most liveaboard operators do cage diving in Guadalupe Island. Only a few allow diving without cages for specially trained divers.
– Cage diving is possible for certified scuba divers and non-divers. Divers can jump into the bottom of the cage in around 10 meters in scuba equipment and non-divers stay in the shallower part with a hookah system that provides air from the surface.
– Sometimes the operators are using open-top cages, which means there is an upper level with only a handrail between the diver and the shark. During the dives, the sharks will not be feed, as this is forbidden.
LIVEABOARDS IN GUADALUPE
As mentioned, the diving trips to Guadalupe Island run only between July and October. Usually, they run over 4 to 6 days. Some dive operators combine a Guadalupe trip with Socorro Island. In that case, you can enjoy a longer scuba diving trip between 10 and 14 days.
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Sea of Cortez
A PELAGICS PARADISE
Sea lions, whale sharks, dolphins, manta rays and hammerhead sharks. The list of pelagics you can see on a liveaboard trip in the Sea of Cortez is just endless. A truly pelagic paradise.
The Sea of Cortez is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland. It is also called the Gulf of California. The Gulf is thought to be one of the most diverse seas on Earth and is home to more than 5,000 species of micro-invertebrates and the largest variety of whales and dolphins in the world. Jaque Cousteau also called it “Aquarium of the World”. Parts of the Gulf of California are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The marine life you can encounter on a liveaboard trip or day trip includes sea lions, dolphins, hammerhead sharks or whale sharks. There is almost nothing you can´t see.
BEST TIME TO VISIT THE SEA OF CORTEZ
If you fancy going on a dive safari, come between August and November as this is the main season for liveaboards. The water in the Sea of Cortez is still warm and pleasant with around 27°C. That´s also the best season for hammerhead sharks.
From December to March is the best time to encounter big pelagics as the water gets colder during the winter. Humpback whales and grey whales migrate the water of the Sea of Cortez. It is also the time for the whale shark puppies to visit the Gulf for feeding.
BEST DIVE SPOTS IN THE SEA OF CORTEZ
Cabo Pulmo National Park ist a very magical place. This remote area in the south of Baja California attracts bull sharks, mobulas, whales and huge schools of jacks. Fishing is prohibited, so the marine life is just untouched. In El Bajo you have a high chance to spot whale sharks during winter as well as sperm whales and humpbacks. Whale sharks can also be spotted on the coast of La Paz on a snorkeling trip. If you want to see huge hammerheads, make your way to Isla San Pedro during fall. Sea lions can be spotted year-round. These playful animals are residents everywhere in the Sea of Cortez but one hotspot is Los Islotes.
The Midriff Islands is a remote dive spot and only accessible by liveaboard. It is also called the “Galapagos of Mexico” because of its rich flora and fauna. 30 pristine islands filled with unique and rare marine and desert animals, 8 species of whales; including the largest in the world, Blue Whales and finback, curious and friendly Sea Lions lounging on nearby islands that love to swim with you, countless birds, mountains, white sand beaches and some of the best stargazing in the northern hemisphere.
LIVEABOARDS IN THE SEA OF CORTEZ
Liveaboards are the best option if you want to see remoter reefs like the Midriff Islands. Most liveaboard companies operate between August to March as the sea conditions are the best. Most trips run around seven days. The boats are built for comfort and safety so you can enjoy this trip to the pelagics paradise.
From $ 1,995.00
From $ 105.00
From $ 1,884.00
Socorro
A MANTAS HOME IN MEXICO
Hammerheads, silky sharks, manta rays, white tip sharks, humpback whales and dolphins. The list of residential pelagics you can see on your liveaboard trip in Socorro is long.
Socorro Island is a small volcanic island in the Revillagigedo Islands, a Mexican possession lying 600 kilometers off Baja California, the country’s western coast. With a size of 16.5 by 11.5 km, it is the biggest island of the Revillagigedo Archipelago. Socorro is only accessible by liveaboard and completely uninhabited. That makes it to one of the best diving spots in the world. The marine life is just spectacular. Large species of pelagics inhabit this area, including hammerheads, silky, silvertip and white tips, Humpback whales, dolphins and the gentle manta rays. Socorro is part of a protected biosphere reserve to preserve the unique wildlife. With visibility ranging from 15-50 m and water temperatures between 21 and 28 degrees, the diving conditions are very enjoyable but also more advanced due to stronger currents and waves.
BEST DIVE SPOTS IN SOCORRO
– San Benedicto is the home of the giant pacific manta ray. They hang around the cleaning station named The Boiler and are very curious. Close encounters with these gentle giants are highly possible and not dangerous at all.
– Roca Partida is a pinnacle in the sea that attracts many jacks and tuna. At around 13 m you can find the famous white tip balconies, where many of these sharks come and lay on each other, as this is the only place to rest in the current.
– Socorro Island is the place to see humpback whales during their breeding season from January to April. In this time swimming with dolphins is also possible. And throughout the year there are numerous Manta Rays and sharks; Silky, Galapagos, white tip and silvertip sharks.
LIVEABOARD TRIPS IN SOCORRO
Socorro is a year-round dive spot. However, the sea is calmest from November till May with a water temperature of 28 degrees in November. The things you can see differ seasonally. The winter is most spectacular with thousands of humpback whales and manta rays. Liveaboard trips usually take between 8 and 10 nights for Socorro. Make sure you have the required dive certification as this is a more challenging dive spot and companies sometimes require a minimum dive level. The boats are all made for high sea conditions to take you safe and comfortable to your great diving adventure.
From $ 1,995.00
From $ 105.00
From $ 1,884.00
