Sunny weather, beautiful beaches and a non-stop party scene are part of what makes Cancun, Mexico a favorite vacation destination for young and old alike. While most do take time to enjoy the aforementioned, many miss the underwater paradise that Cancun offers.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to the sport, Cancun is a great place to enjoy a SCUBA adventure. With up 120 feet of visibility several days throughout the year, Cancun offers as much excitement underwater as it offers on land at the luxury resorts, beaches, bars and clubs. The tropical, turquoise waters of Mexico are home to countless species of fish, coral and other marine-life.
For Beginners
For diving newbies, there are plenty of dive centers that will take you through a full PADI certification course. During your certification, you’ll be taken on several dives, including pool dives and eventually, open water dives. Getting a PADI certification is a great option for any travelers who have the time to devote this course which can take a few days to complete. Remember, a PADI certification is something that you can take with you to dive just about anywhere in the world.
For beginner dives that are already certified, Cancun offers several amazing reef dives in fairly shallow waters. Ranging from 25 to 50 feet, reefs like Bandera, Chitales, Grampin and Santo Remedio offer a good dive experience for beginners. As always, beginners should avoid cave and wreck dives that are beyond their skill level.
Advanced Divers
For advanced divers, Cancun can be a diving paradise. For starters, consider expanding your diving know-how by taking an advanced open-water, cave, or wreck diving course with the local pros. Most any dive center will provide a range of advanced dive courses.
If you’re just looking to enjoy an exciting dive, consider cave dives at Cuevas de Afuera and Sleeping Sharks Cave. Or, ask about C-58 wreck which you can see as part of a drift dive offered by several local dive charters.
Safety
Diving can be an exciting and rewarding experience but is also one that should not be taken lightly. As with any dive excursion, make sure the dive group you dive with has a good reputation including a clean safety record. When in Mexico or any foreign country, research a few local dive charters and get recommendations from your hotel concierge. Additionally, avoid any charters that can’t give you specific details on their safety precautions, the size of a typical dive group, etc.
Renting equipment is a good option and will save you from having to bring down your own gear. As with any time you rent dive gear, pay extra attention to testing your gear before heading out on the boat. With a little extra planning, you can add a lot to your Cancun resort experience by mixing in a trip to Cancun’s underwater paradise.
