Cancun - once a scarcely populated fishing village with little to no activities for entertainment – this portion of the Yucatan Peninsula has evolved into one of the most coveted water sports and beach vacation destination on the Western Caribbean Sea. Offering a mix of cultural experiences, tranquil beaches for pure relaxation and exciting dive opportunities, an exceptional vacation is guaranteed in the tropical paradise of Cancun. Scuba diving in Cancun provides an unparalleled experience due to the fact that the surrounding area features shallow waters, great visibility and stunning coral reefs. Being part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, Cancun and its nearby destinations offer marvelous diving adventures. Check out some of the best reefs to dive in Cancun:
# Banderas reef: Located between Cancun and Isla Mujeres, the Bandera Reef is an elongated coral reef featuring ledges and overhangs coloured by elk-horn corals. It is home to crabs, lobsters and moray eels while barracudas, turtles, lumberjacks and pampano swim over the reef.
Depth: 40 feet
# Punta Nizuc reef: Punta Nizuc, a natural prolific coral garden which boasts an abundance of aquatic life including loggerheads, angel fish, parrot fish, hawksbill, starfish, and even some endangered species of turtles. It is part of the Cancun Underwater Museum, so you can expect to explore scenic reef as there are concrete sculptures installed as artificial reef.
Depth: 20-30 feet
# Manchones Reef: This shallow reef, a 12 km long natural marvel located south of Isla Mujeres- where you find exotic fish species and flora with amazing colors. It is also part of the Cancun Underwater Museum. Divers have so much to see including elk horn, stag horn, brain coral and sponges as well as schools of blue tangs, wrasse, trunkfish, grunts, snappers, damselfish and sea breams.
Depth: 30–40 feet
# Chitales: This shallow reef is a beautiful spot with great diversity of colorful fish and coral formations. Next to the reef is a sea-grassland where you can spot some green sea turtles feeding along the corals. With a minimum difficulty level and excellent visibility, Chitales is an ideal reef dive location for beginners.
Depth: 25-30 feet
# Media Luna Coral Reef: Media Luna is a unique reef dive site with arches, ridges, and ledges that make it a great dive for underwater exploration. It features a wide variety of colorful corals and popular inhabitants of the reef are large sea anemone, spiny sea urchins, and langosta.
Depth: 30–40 feet
# Hool Reef: 'Hool' has been derived from the Mayan word “Hole.” As the name suggests, this reef dive site appears to have a hole on the reef floor. You can see a wonderful garden of sea fans and soft coral while passing from one hole to another.
Depth: 25 – 30 feet
# Punta Negra: If you're looking for an adventurous diving experience near Cancun, Punta Negra reef site is a great spot. Here, you'll be in contact with the world's second largest barrier reef - Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. Besides the coral reefs, this place is a playground for sea turtles, groupers, and other colorful fish species.
Depth: Beginning at 70 feet
Other Reefs in and near Cancun: Aristos, La Loza, La Herradura, Granpin, El Túnel, San Toribio and Cuevas de Afuera - these are a set of reefs that are characterized by strong currents and an exuberant marine life.
Come and explore the stunning underwater world of Cancun. Book your own private Cancun scuba diving charter and get ready to discover these exclusive reef sites and bring your camera to capture a lifetime of memories.
