Explore Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres is a unique dive destination that offers interactions with pelagic species as well as reef-dwelling macrofauna through access to shallow and deep dive sites. Like all of the popular dive destinations that dot the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, the dive sites surrounding Isla Mujeres are on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which is the second largest reef system in the world. The highlight of Isla Mujeres, however, is that whale sharks terminate their migratory path just off the northeast coast, which makes for a spectacular sight for those in the water.


Upcoming Events

Try Scuba

Try Scuba

Discover Scuba Diving in Isla Mujeres - Beginner-Friendly 2-Tank DiveReady to breathe underwater for the first time?Our Discover Scuba Diving program is designed for absolute beginners who want to experience scuba diving in a safe, fun, and unforgettable way - no certification required!What to Expect:Quick safety briefing and gear introduction on landShallow water training session with your instructor2-tank dive at beautiful reef sites or MUSA (Underwater Museum)Personal guidance throughout the entire experienceCalm, clear waters - ideal for first-time diversSchedule:Meeting time: 7:30 AMDeparture: 8:00 AMDuration: Approx. 3.5 to 4 hoursPrices:Discover Scuba Diving experience: $3,000 MXN per personIncludes instruction, 2 dives, full gear, boat, snacks, water, and guide.Book nowWhat's Included:Full scuba equipment (mask, fins, wetsuit, BCD, regulator, tanks)Instructor-led training & supervision2-tank dive (reef and/or MUSA)Bottled water, fruit, and snacksSmall groups (max 4 beginners per instructor)???? Meeting Point:Squalo Adventures Dive CenterHidalgo Av., Local C6, Plaza Isla Mujeres (downtown)Requirements:Minimum age: 10 yearsNo previous diving experience neededMust be comfortable in the waterNot suitable for people with heart or respiratory conditions.Book your Discover Scuba Diving tour now and take your first breath underwater with the experts at Squalo Adventures!

SQUALO ADVENTURES, SMZ 001 MZA 016 LOTE 005 AV. HIDALGO #026 LOCAL 31, INT.PLAZA ISLA MUJERES, COLONIA CENTRO, 77400, Isla Mujeres, QR, MEX
September 9, 2026 +71 More
$177.17
MX$3,000.00
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Dive Activity

Diving in Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres is versatile in that it has reef-diving, wreck-diving, and drift-diving opportunities. The wrecks in this area are plentiful: remnants of the General Anaya, Hondureño, and El Pesquero are some of the many that can be explored.

Due to the proximity of all dive sites to either Isla Mujeres or Cancún, liveaboard dive boats do not operate in this region. Instead, local dive shops and dive resorts make frequent boat trips out to the area’s dive sites.

Dive Centers

SQUALO ADVENTURES

SQUALO ADVENTURES

SMZ 001 MZA 016 LOTE 005 AV. HIDALGO #026 LOCAL 31, INT.PLAZA ISLA MUJERES, COLONIA CENTRO, 77400 Isla Mujeres, QR - Mexico
Scuba Garrido

Scuba Garrido

Av.matamoros entre Av.rueda Medina y Juárez Mz2 L13 col.centro, 77400 sla Mujeres, QR - Mexico

Dive Sites

CHAD B. (#3319083)
Cancun Underwater Museum | MUSA (★4.4)

Cancun Underwater Museum | MUSA (★4.4)

Probably one of the most unique dive sites in the Riviera Maya is the Cancun Underwater Museum of Art, otherwise known as MUSA. This site consists of 500 different sculptures all placed on the bottom of the ocean for divers to explore and appreciate.
SQUALO ADVENTURES, 77400 Isla Mujeres
Piedra Atravezada (★4.3)

Piedra Atravezada (★4.3)

This dive is deep with mild current sometimes strong current , Considering Wreck dive , Old sunked wreck from a bad weather , this is a Car ferry wreck for about 100 feet long , great dive , lots a barracudas on the top and with good chance to see eagle rays , grouper and snapper.
Riviera Maya Diving Adventures, 77500 Cancun
Manchones (★4.5)

Manchones (★4.5)

Manchones Reef is one of the most popular dive sites in Cancun and Isla Mujeres, known for its vibrant coral formations and abundant marine life. This shallow reef is ideal for both beginner and certified divers. Divers can expect to see sea turtles, tropical fish, rays, and occasionally nurse sharks
Scubapro, Stephen Frink
Punta Sur - Isla Mujeres (★4.4)

Punta Sur - Isla Mujeres (★4.4)

15 minutes from north of the island. Located right at the southern tip. Great drift dive. The only drift dive of the island where you can see big turtles in May through July.
Scubapro
Sleeping Shark Cave (★4.5)

Sleeping Shark Cave (★4.5)

Excellent dive site for advanced divers , where is located a the north side of the Island for a boat ride of 30 minutes , with a depth of 16 meters with bit of current sometimes.
Mares, Janez Kranjc
Punta Negra (★4.3)

Punta Negra (★4.3)

Punta Negra Reef is a vibrant dive site in Cancun known for its healthy coral formations and abundant marine life. This reef offers a mix of coral structures and sandy areas, where divers can encounter tropical fish, rays, and occasional sea turtles.
Aqualung
Santo Remedio (★4.5)

Santo Remedio (★4.5)

Santo Remedio is a lesser-known dive site in Cancún that offers a calm and relaxed underwater experience for divers of all skill levels—and is typically a particular favorite among beginners.

The best Months to dive in Isla Mujeres

If your main objective is to swim with whale sharks, May through September is the time to visit Isla Mujeres. This is when waters are warmest, so novice divers who prefer not to dive with a wetsuit should target this month as well. The wintertime is normally the most popular time to visit Isla Mujeres, since visibility is at its peak and encounters with other pelagic species are quite common.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Isla Mujeres

The main attraction of Isla Mujeres that inspires divers to travel from all over the world is the opportunity to swim with whale sharks. These magnificent and gentle giants are the largest species of shark, and they arrive off the northeast coast of Isla Mujeres between June and September every year as the final stop on their migratory path. These whale sharks can grow up to 13 meters/42.7 feet in length and can weigh more than 1,000 kilograms/2,205 pounds. Their size and feeding patterns (filter feeding) are what make them more like whales than sharks.

Aside from these majestic megafauna, a variety of reef-dwellers can also be found in the waters surrounding Isla Mujeres. Grouper, parrotfish, snappers, angelfish, trunkfish, grunts, wrasses, and blue tangs swim in and around the elkhorn, staghorn, and brain corals.

Eels can be found in the little cracks in the reef and under the overhangs. Other pelagic species that divers may come across include bull, nurse, gray reef, and blacktip sharks, Hawksbill sea turtles, and sailfish.

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

iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda

Barracuda
1.2k Sightings
J
102
F
71
M
83
A
96
M
81
J
145
J
149
A
137
S
76
O
81
N
96
D
92

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

Total number of species approx.: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel

Moray Eel
475 Sightings
J
41
F
7
M
44
A
29
M
43
J
60
J
58
A
38
S
28
O
53
N
49
D
25
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle

Green Turtle
393 Sightings
J
27
F
27
M
22
A
12
M
37
J
60
J
55
A
52
S
20
O
30
N
28
D
23
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle
299 Sightings
J
25
F
0
M
4
A
25
M
28
J
50
J
55
A
33
S
24
O
32
N
17
D
6
iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle
215 Sightings
J
14
F
3
M
22
A
1
M
23
J
47
J
26
A
36
S
9
O
18
N
8
D
8

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

Total number of species approx.: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray
81 Sightings
J
10
F
13
M
7
A
5
M
0
J
0
J
20
A
15
S
2
O
0
N
5
D
4

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

Total number of species approx.: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse

Wrasse
70 Sightings
J
11
F
3
M
14
A
5
M
0
J
2
J
20
A
3
S
0
O
10
N
0
D
2
Alamy-National Geographic Creative
Leatherback Turtle

Leatherback Turtle
33 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
7
M
8
J
0
J
16
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
1

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

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish

Angelfish
1.2k Sightings
J
109
F
59
M
86
A
79
M
98
J
149
J
149
A
124
S
77
O
83
N
98
D
97

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

Total number of species approx.: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays

Stingrays
1.1k Sightings
J
80
F
58
M
107
A
85
M
87
J
97
J
143
A
153
S
68
O
70
N
74
D
55

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

Total number of species approx.: 100

iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish

Parrotfish
798 Sightings
J
69
F
34
M
60
A
64
M
72
J
98
J
90
A
106
S
45
O
61
N
56
D
43

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

Total number of species approx.: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish
621 Sightings
J
71
F
32
M
36
A
40
M
22
J
63
J
75
A
75
S
29
O
46
N
63
D
69

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

Total number of species approx.: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish

Pufferfish
550 Sightings
J
53
F
23
M
34
A
31
M
40
J
70
J
51
A
69
S
28
O
44
N
61
D
46

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

Total number of species approx.: 12

iStock/cinoby
Lionfish

Lionfish
512 Sightings
J
52
F
22
M
39
A
32
M
34
J
37
J
55
A
42
S
25
O
51
N
84
D
39

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster
434 Sightings
J
38
F
1
M
39
A
4
M
42
J
40
J
44
A
72
S
40
O
27
N
56
D
31

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

Total number of species approx.: 85

iStock-mirecca
Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish
421 Sightings
J
54
F
8
M
46
A
8
M
20
J
49
J
44
A
48
S
11
O
22
N
55
D
56

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

Total number of species approx.: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix
Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts
400 Sightings
J
51
F
12
M
30
A
21
M
7
J
47
J
42
A
36
S
15
O
32
N
54
D
53

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

Total number of species approx.: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal
Damselfish

Damselfish
339 Sightings
J
57
F
20
M
18
A
7
M
7
J
43
J
38
A
8
S
31
O
21
N
36
D
53

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

Total number of species approx.: 2

AdobeStock-hakbak
Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark
317 Sightings
J
12
F
24
M
28
A
28
M
13
J
34
J
48
A
52
S
21
O
10
N
29
D
18

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

Total number of species approx.: 55

Shutterstock-RLS Photo
Lobster

Lobster
242 Sightings
J
17
F
11
M
22
A
14
M
8
J
25
J
22
A
34
S
23
O
37
N
13
D
16

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

Total number of species approx.: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel
Boxfish

Boxfish
217 Sightings
J
34
F
10
M
22
A
2
M
0
J
16
J
20
A
17
S
8
O
4
N
45
D
39

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

Total number of species approx.: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp
Jackfish

Jackfish
196 Sightings
J
42
F
4
M
18
A
4
M
4
J
19
J
7
A
19
S
0
O
6
N
32
D
41

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

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk
Goatfish

Goatfish
165 Sightings
J
14
F
3
M
27
A
5
M
22
J
35
J
28
A
18
S
5
O
6
N
2
D
0

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

Total number of species approx.: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis
Snapper

Snapper
147 Sightings
J
8
F
13
M
16
A
14
M
6
J
41
J
3
A
31
S
0
O
2
N
10
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

iStock-wrangel
Triggerfish

Triggerfish
121 Sightings
J
13
F
1
M
19
A
11
M
8
J
19
J
0
A
36
S
2
O
11
N
0
D
1

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

Total number of species approx.: 7000

iStock-Michael Zeigler
Crab

Crab
119 Sightings
J
12
F
1
M
3
A
3
M
7
J
24
J
15
A
20
S
18
O
9
N
7
D
0

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

Total number of species approx.: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo
Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish
107 Sightings
J
16
F
1
M
2
A
1
M
0
J
18
J
17
A
20
S
4
O
6
N
17
D
5

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

Total number of species approx.: 20

iStock-stephankerkhofs
Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish
75 Sightings
J
23
F
2
M
11
A
0
M
1
J
3
J
10
A
1
S
4
O
3
N
5
D
12

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Soldierfish

Soldierfish
70 Sightings
J
13
F
2
M
19
A
6
M
5
J
5
J
4
A
0
S
8
O
6
N
0
D
2

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

Total number of species approx.: 28

Udo Kefrig
Clownfish

Clownfish
59 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
0
A
4
M
5
J
9
J
2
A
21
S
0
O
8
N
1
D
6

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

Total number of species approx.: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker
Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets
56 Sightings
J
5
F
3
M
3
A
0
M
2
J
8
J
0
A
19
S
1
O
7
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.: 30

SSI-Peter-Schinck
Stonefish

Stonefish
52 Sightings
J
9
F
3
M
7
A
15
M
0
J
4
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
1
N
2
D
10

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish
35 Sightings
J
5
F
3
M
13
A
0
M
1
J
4
J
4
A
0
S
0
O
3
N
0
D
2