Cancún is the tourist mecca of Mexico’s state of Quintana Roo and is located on the northeast tip of the Yucatán Peninsula. Cancún is popular among tourists from all over the world due to its warm weather all-year-round, sandy beaches, ruins of the ancient Mayan civilization, and stunning terrestrial and marine wildlife.

For divers, there are many top-notch dive sites that are just a short drive or boat ride from Cancún. The Underwater Contemporary Museum of Art, the island of Isla Mujeres, and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef are definite must-sees. Isla Mujeres is an island about 13km offshore from Cancún that marks where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Caribbean Sea. Isla Mujeres is part of a National Marine Park that contains a portion of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef system, as well as the sculptures of the underwater museum.

Aside from the plentiful offshore dive sites, this region of Mexico boasts cenote-diving opportunities as well. Cenotes are underwater caves that are partially exposed to the air, and they are part of an underground, interconnected cave system. They are usually filled with brackish water (mixture of fresh groundwater and salty seawater) and are made of limestone bedrock. A cenote is created when weaknesses in the limestone bedrock lead to a cave collapsing, which forms a sinkhole and exposes the cave to the atmosphere. The freshwater of the cenote comes from filtered rainwater—its very few suspended particles make for very clear water, and great visibility. 

Impressive dive sites dot the eastern coast of Quintana Roo. Treat Cancún as your home base and make day trips down to Playa del Carmen, Cozumel Island, Cenote Dos Ojos, Tulum, and Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve to make the most of the diverse diving opportunities in this region! There are dive shops and dive resorts galore with experts that can show you the ins and outs of these gems. Liveaboard dive boats, however, are not common because all dive sites are accessible from shore or by boat.

Upcoming Events

MUSA Diving for Beginners in Cancun

MUSA Diving for Beginners in Cancun

Discover Scuba Diving in Cancun MUSA Underwater Museum – Perfect for Beginners! Limited Time Offer $149 USD - Includes: Scuba equipment, Conservation & dock fees! Cancun’s Underwater Museum (MUSA) Is the perfect place for your first diving experience. This dive spot in Cancun is so easy, the clear water and shallow depth creates the perfect conditions for scuba diving cancun without certification since its only 30ft. deep (10 Meters). MUSA Scuba Diving for Beginners Highlights: This Diving Experience is done on the same day & No prior diving experience required. Check in: 8:00 am @ Sotavento Hotel & Yatch Club (pool area) Theory & Pool Session: 1-hour training session to learn the essentials of scuba diving. 20-minute boat ride we get inside the Federal Protected Area where the Underwater Museum MUSA is located, we get ready and jump in the water First dive in MUSA at 30 ft deep, where we are able to see how the coral has been growing in the statues for the last decade forming new life in the area The second dive is at Manchones reef at 30 ft, where we are able to see the amazing reef and dive it for another 45 minutes! Back in the shop around 1:30 p.m. Afternoon trips (11:30 am check in) available with groups of 3 or more divers This is a product with very high demand, please book with time! Scuba Dive in Cancun without Certification Today! Why Choose Our MUSA Diving for Beginners? No Certification Required: Our Discover Scuba Diving course is perfect for beginners with no prior diving experience. We’ll teach you all the basics, from breathing techniques to underwater communication, so you can fully enjoy the dive. Unique Dive Site: Explore the breathtaking underwater art of MUSA, where over 500 life-sized sculptures have been transformed into a thriving artificial reef. It’s a one-of-a-kind dive you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Shallow Depth: With a maximum depth of 30 feet (10 meters), this dive is ideal for beginners. The calm waters and vibrant marine life make it a perfect introduction to the world of scuba diving. Small Groups for Personalized Attention: We keep our group sizes small to ensure you receive individual attention from our experienced instructors, making your first dive relaxed and comfortable. If you already have a Diving Certification book here your MUSA diving experience.

Solo Buceo, La Mar Oceano S.A. de C.V., ZONA HOTELERA KM 5.5 INT HOTEL REAL INN C.P. 77500, 77500, Cancun, QR, MEX
August 12, 2026 +227 More
$149.00
Snorkeling in Cancun - 2 in 1 Snorkel in MUSA & Reef Tour

Snorkeling in Cancun - 2 in 1 Snorkel in MUSA & Reef Tour

Snorkeling in Cancun Underwater Museum If you're looking for an unforgettable activity in Cancun, snorkeling at the Underwater Museum of Art (MUSA) is a must-do. This underwater museum, one of the largest in the world, combines art and marine conservation in a stunning setting. What is MUSA? Opened in 2009, the Museo Subacuático de Arte was created to promote reef conservation and offers a unique experience for visitors. MUSA is home to over 450 life-sized underwater sculptures, positioned across carefully selected locations. During your snorkeling tour, you can observe these installations up close while floating above them, making it an accessible and visually engaging experience for visitors of all ages. Why Snorkel at MUSA? The Cancun Underwater Museum (MUSA) offers one of the most distinctive snorkeling experiences in the Caribbean Sea. Located at a shallow depth of approximately 30 feet (10 meters), this site is ideal for exploring comfortably while enjoying excellent visibility and calm conditions. What makes this site truly unique is its role as an artificial reef and conservation project. Over time, coral reef formations and marine life have begun to grow on the sculptures, gradually transforming them into living habitats. This natural process not only supports marine conservation but also offers a constantly evolving underwater landscape. Whether you are looking to enhance your vacation with a cultural element or simply enjoy a relaxed activity in clear Caribbean waters, snorkeling at MUSA delivers an experience that is both educational and memorable.

Solo Buceo, La Mar Oceano S.A. de C.V., ZONA HOTELERA KM 5.5 INT HOTEL REAL INN C.P. 77500, 77500, Cancun, QR, MEX
August 12, 2026 +228 More
$75.00

Dive Activity

Diving in Cancun

Cancún is a short drive from world-class cenote-diving opportunities, such as “Cenote Dos Ojos”. There are many cenotes in this region, with some catering to novice divers, and others attracting experienced tec divers. If cave-diving is not your cup of tea, there are plentiful reef dives, since offshore from Cancún is the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, or second largest reef system in the world. Another popular attraction is to dive among the sculptures of the Underwater Contemporary Museum of Art, a truly unforgettable experience. Playa del Carmen and the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve provide wreck-diving opportunities as well, at the “Mama Viña” site and “Banco Chinchorro” site, respectively.

Diving is usually done through a local, reputable dive shop or dive resort (of which there are many), especially because some of the dive sites in protected areas require permits. If you are brand new to the scuba diving world or are in the process of completing your Open Water certification, there are many accredited dive shops that offer certification courses and can help get you where you want to be.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Cancun

There is great diving in Cancún all year round due to constant warm water temperatures, with only slight cooling in the winter months. Temperatures can range from 25°C/78°F in the winter to 28°C/82°F in the summer months.

May through November is the best time to visit if cenote-diving is your main objective. This is the time of year that visibility is best, and that sunlight illuminates the caves in the most photogenic way. Within this window, from June to September, is when whale shark sightings are most common near the island of Isla Mujeres. Keep in mind that this window overlaps with hurricane season, which has cut short or cancelled many a trip to this region of Mexico.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Cancun

In the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef ecosystem near Isla Mujeres, sightings of crabs, lobsters, stingrays, eagle rays, eels, groupers, angelfish, and damselfish are common. Green, Loggerhead, and Hawksbill sea turtles are also frequently spotted along the edge of the reef. In the wintertime, the cooler waters of this region are a hotspot for pelagic megafauna.

Cenotes, on the other hand, are home to a completely different community of organisms due to its brackish water. Cichlids, catfish, molly fish, tetras, and shrimp can be found swimming among the stalagmites. Chara, a type of green marine algae, is the dominant plant life in cenotes. Do not be discouraged by the lack of aquatic life in some of these cenotes; after all, they are not the main attraction… the dramatic geologic formations are!

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

351 Sightings
J
41
F
27
M
31
A
27
M
19
J
23
J
36
A
26
S
20
O
21
N
33
D
47

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

256 Sightings
J
42
F
39
M
37
A
26
M
19
J
5
J
11
A
13
S
4
O
8
N
20
D
32

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

239 Sightings
J
21
F
20
M
25
A
25
M
23
J
13
J
30
A
16
S
20
O
23
N
9
D
14
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

203 Sightings
J
21
F
7
M
18
A
14
M
7
J
32
J
32
A
18
S
9
O
17
N
6
D
22
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle

44 Sightings
J
0
F
3
M
4
A
7
M
5
J
6
J
1
A
3
S
3
O
5
N
4
D
3
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

35 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
8
A
0
M
5
J
4
J
7
A
0
S
1
O
4
N
0
D
4
Leatherback Turtle

Leatherback Turtle

16 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
6
J
0
A
2
S
2
O
0
N
1
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

15 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
2
J
6
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
4
D
0
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

12 Sightings
J
0
F
8
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
0
Ocean Sunfish

Ocean Sunfish

10 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
1
A
4
S
2
O
0
N
1
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

335 Sightings
J
33
F
24
M
16
A
28
M
19
J
24
J
37
A
28
S
28
O
34
N
31
D
33

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

318 Sightings
J
37
F
17
M
14
A
32
M
21
J
29
J
25
A
29
S
18
O
30
N
30
D
36

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

240 Sightings
J
13
F
11
M
8
A
25
M
18
J
25
J
23
A
29
S
18
O
28
N
25
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

224 Sightings
J
13
F
9
M
13
A
20
M
22
J
14
J
27
A
25
S
15
O
22
N
23
D
21

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

212 Sightings
J
22
F
7
M
10
A
16
M
12
J
10
J
38
A
27
S
14
O
20
N
16
D
20

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

182 Sightings
J
10
F
5
M
14
A
16
M
13
J
17
J
17
A
23
S
12
O
15
N
19
D
21

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark

172 Sightings
J
13
F
15
M
13
A
9
M
20
J
18
J
12
A
14
S
14
O
11
N
16
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

139 Sightings
J
10
F
3
M
13
A
6
M
7
J
15
J
15
A
11
S
11
O
15
N
17
D
16

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

116 Sightings
J
12
F
8
M
1
A
15
M
7
J
10
J
4
A
15
S
0
O
9
N
19
D
16

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

114 Sightings
J
12
F
6
M
1
A
3
M
9
J
8
J
20
A
5
S
1
O
11
N
17
D
21

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

101 Sightings
J
0
F
3
M
9
A
1
M
9
J
9
J
13
A
13
S
9
O
16
N
13
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

91 Sightings
J
0
F
10
M
10
A
14
M
12
J
6
J
7
A
13
S
4
O
8
N
4
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

Lobster

79 Sightings
J
8
F
6
M
1
A
0
M
9
J
9
J
0
A
4
S
10
O
14
N
7
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

76 Sightings
J
9
F
6
M
0
A
0
M
5
J
4
J
7
A
12
S
8
O
7
N
8
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

75 Sightings
J
9
F
6
M
2
A
8
M
7
J
4
J
5
A
7
S
3
O
4
N
7
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

69 Sightings
J
13
F
4
M
1
A
2
M
2
J
3
J
5
A
5
S
4
O
8
N
12
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

59 Sightings
J
0
F
8
M
3
A
12
M
3
J
7
J
6
A
4
S
6
O
4
N
2
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

57 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
7
M
3
J
3
J
14
A
10
S
10
O
5
N
1
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

52 Sightings
J
4
F
2
M
1
A
6
M
4
J
4
J
3
A
0
S
8
O
6
N
7
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

37 Sightings
J
2
F
2
M
1
A
9
M
1
J
6
J
2
A
4
S
0
O
4
N
3
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

27 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
1
A
9
M
4
J
4
J
0
A
3
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

26 Sightings
J
6
F
1
M
5
A
0
M
3
J
1
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
3
N
0
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

25 Sightings
J
8
F
4
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
4
N
4
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

23 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
2
M
2
J
2
J
0
A
3
S
0
O
5
N
4
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

18 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
7
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
3
A
2
S
1
O
0
N
3
D
0
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

14 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
6
A
3
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
3
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

13 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
3
A
0
S
1
O
3
N
2
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

10 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
2
M
4
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
1
D
0

Curated by Interest

Events by Lifestyle Category

Underwater Beginner