Explore Mahahual

Mahahual is a village on the east coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula that is about 300km south of Caucún in the state of Quintana Roo. It is located near the main cruise ship port of the tourist region of Costa Maya, and is therefore subject to a large influx of tourists year-round.

Tourists visit Mahahual for its access to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System and the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Mahahual is a great home base for divers who want to explore the stunning dive sites of Sian Ka’an, which is an area of protected land and ocean (including Mayan ruins and part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef) and is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among divers, the main attraction of this reserve is Banco Chinchorro, an atoll reef that is located just 30km offshore from Mahahual. It is known for its colorful reefs and majestic shipwrecks. Since Banco Chinchorro is technically part of the marine reserve, diving here must be done through a local reputable dive shop that has the correct permits. Liveaboard dive boats are not normally found in this region.

Aside from its proximity to this protected reef site, Mahahual is also close to some of this region’s many cenotes, or partially exposed underwater caves. Cenotes have great visibility, and the striking geologic formations found inside make for an exciting dive.

Upcoming Events

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Doctor Dive

Open Water Diver

Contact the Center for more information.

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Mahahual Dive Centre

Waves, Tides & Currents

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Diving in currents opens up a world of new dive sites that often host the most spectacular marine life. Go shore diving and you will discover the simplicity of just walking off the beach and exploring your favourite dive sites with ease. But wave, tides and currents can impact your dives and affect your safety if you do not know how to handle them. The SSI Waves, Tides and Currents specialty will enhance your dive skills and understanding, so you can enjoy diving in different environments safely and with confidence. You will gain a better understanding of dynamic open water environments and learn about the environmental conditions that affect different dive sites. You will also practice diving from shore, in currents or in rivers to earn the specialty certification. Get started today!

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Doctor Dive

Advanced Open Water Diver

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If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! You will try Deep Diving and Navigation plus a variety of 3 more specialty areas of choice before committing to full specialty training. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Open Water Diver Program, you will experience 5 different specialties by completing one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. By taking this program you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full Specialty trainings any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Mahahual Dive Centre

Enriched Air Nitrox Level 2 (40%)

18 Nov 2025

As a Nitrox diver, you can increase your bottom times and safety margins, plus shorten your surface intervals - so you can spend more time diving and less time waiting! In this program, you will learn new skills and increase your diving knowledge whilst learning how to safely plan and dive with enriched air mixtures of up to 40% oxygen. Upon completion, you will earn an SSI Enriched Air Nitrox 32% or 40% certification.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

Doctor Dive

Assistant Instructor

07 Dec 2025

The Assistant Instructor rating is the next step after becoming a Divemaster along the scuba instructor pathway. It allows you to collect valuable teaching experience, practice briefings, teach academics, and conduct in-water training. If you want to further your career as a dive professional, you can finish the Instructor Training Course, pass the Instructor Evaluation, and become an Open Water Diving Instructor.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

Doctor Dive

Open Water Instructor (Instructor Training Course ITC)

18 Dec 2025

The Instructor Evaluation (IE) is the final step of SSI’s 2-Step Instructor Training Approach Divemasters or equivalent-level professionals will have to successfully complete the Instructor Training Course (ITC) first where you’ll learn how to: • Conduct academic sessions • Lead confined water training • Teach Open Water Diver and various Specialty programs like Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress&Rescue, Perfect Buoyancy and more • Develop student management and communication skills Already an experienced instructor with another agency? You may be eligible for shortened oboarding options where you will only have to complete certain parts of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) followed by passing an Instructor Evaluation (IE). Contact an SSI Training Center near you to learn more. Already certified as an Assistant Instructor with another agency? You could continue your professional journey with SSI. Get in touch with a local SSI Training Center to explore your options.

Diving in

Mahahual has reef-diving, drift-diving, and wreck-diving at offshore sites – Banco Chinchorro itself offers all three! Banco Chinchorro also caters to different experience levels; the protected side of the atoll is geared towards beginner and intermediate divers, whereas the exposed side that is subject to strong surf and current should only be dived by advanced divers.

Cenote-diving is only a short drive from Mahahual and can also be tailored to the experience level of the divers. Diving in cenotes can range from easy, shallow (5m) dives in areas that are always illuminated by natural light, to technically challenging, deeper (15m) dives that require navigating through dark cave systems.

The best Months to dive in Mahahual

Diving in Mahahual is popular year-round. Surface water temperatures stay consistently warm and only cool slightly in the wintertime. Temperatures can range from 24°C (75°F) in the winter to 29°C (85°F) in the summer months. For the best visibility and best lighting in cenotes, May through November is the time to visit. To increase your chances of an encounter with pelagic megafauna, December through April is your best bet. 

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

ALUX DIVERS

Malecon Esquina Calle Rubia, 77976 Mahahual, QR - MEX

Doctor Dive

Avenida Mahahual manzana 12 lote 2 local 1, 77976 Mahahual, QR - MEX

Mahahual Dive Centre

Malecon entre calle Atun y Almeja Mza.22 Lote 2, 77976 Mahahual, QR - MEX

Buceando Mahahual

Av. Mahahual S/N Pargo Y Rubia, 77976 Mahahual, QR - MEX

MAR ADENTRO DIVING

Malecón de Mahahual S/N Blue Kay, 77976 Mahahual, QR - MEX