Explore Puerto Morelos

The section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef near Puerto Morelos is the closest to land compared to any of the other sections, which means that it is easily accessible from shore and by boat. Due to its status as a marine park, this part of the reef is teeming with life. There is plenty to see as a novice diver, since a lot of the reef is shallow. Visibility is great as well, ranging from 20–40 meters/66–131 feet year round.

Dive sites at other renowned scuba diving hubs such as Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, and Akumal are just a short boat or car ride away as well.

Courses and Events

Deep Diving

The SSI Deep Diving Specialty will teach you all you need to dive to depths between 18 and 40 meters, through a mixture of academic sessions and open water dives. You will learn to plan and safely complete your deep diving adventures and use computers and gas consumption calculations to get the most from your deep dives. Upon completion, you will earn your SSI Deep Diving Specialty certification and be able to explore beautiful deep dive sites wherever you choose. This SSI Specialty is also a prerequisite for some advanced training, making it the next logical step to take in your dive education.

29 March +5 More
€427.70
MX$8,900.00

First time ever diving experience 2 tanks in Puerto Morelos

In the SSI Basic Diver program, you will learn the skills and knowledge you need to try diving up to 12 meters deep with an SSI Professional. It is a great way to explore the underwater world more fully as you try diving. The entire Basic Diver program can be credited towards the Scuba Diver or Open Water Dive programs within 6 months, so you can take the next step in your dive adventure.

03 April +6 More
€136.96
MX$2,850.00

Open Water Diver

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.

07 April +3 More
€442.12
MX$9,200.00

Coral Reef Restoration Program Puerto Morelos

GET CERTIFIED FOR BUILD A WORLD OF HOPE Sign up for this Coral Restoration SSI specialty program and give your dives a purpose. Learn about the importance of coral reefs and how to help them with restoration and maintenance techniques in real Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) nurseries in the beautiful bay of Akumal to finally obtain your SSI Coral Reef Restoration certification.

08 April +11 More
€230.67
MX$4,800.00

Enriched Air Nitrox (40%)

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.

09 April +2 More
€134.56
MX$2,800.00

Advanced Wreck Diving

Learn all the skills and knowledge you need to penetrate wrecks and discover the hidden history inside this giants by yourself.

09 April +11 More
€422.90
MX$8,800.00

Night Diving & Limited Visibility

Night diving requires different skills from diving during the day. The SSI Night Diving and Limited Visibility specialty is the best way to learn about night diving and practice the techniques you will need to become a safe and confident night diver. In this program, you will be provided with all the knowledge and skills you need to safely and comfortably dive at night or in limited visibility conditions. With a combination of online learning and open water training dives, you will learn how to enter and exit the water, use specialized equipment, and how to communicate with your buddy easily at night or in limited visibility. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Night Diving and Limited Visibility specialty certification and be ready to go night diving with confidence.

09 April +14 More
€177.81
MX$3,700.00

Dive Activity

Diving in Puerto Morelos

Diving at Puerto Morelos can be geared towards beginners and advanced divers alike. The reef dives are definitely suitable for novice divers, while the deep, drift, wreck, and cave dives are geared towards more experienced divers. Another diving environment meant for more advanced divers is the cenotes, or partially exposed underwater caves. Cenotes are known for their extremely good visibility and marvelous cave features.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Puerto Morelos

Due to its marine park designation, the biodiversity of wildlife just offshore from Puerto Morelos is stunning. Countless species of tropical fish, barracuda, eels, stingrays, eagle rays, nurse sharks, crabs, lobsters, and Green and Loggerhead sea turtles are some of the marine fauna types that divers will come across.

If you have time to travel a little farther, you might get lucky and see whale sharks at Isla Mujeres (June-September) or bull sharks at Playa del Carmen (November-March).

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: 27

iStock-Global_Pics

Barracuda
565 Sightings
J
66
F
64
M
42
A
52
M
46
J
36
J
28
A
57
S
23
O
43
N
57
D
51

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

Total number of species: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan

Eagle Ray
258 Sightings
J
39
F
32
M
24
A
24
M
27
J
11
J
12
A
8
S
8
O
25
N
15
D
33

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

Total number of species: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame

Moray Eel
248 Sightings
J
30
F
18
M
28
A
35
M
31
J
19
J
6
A
2
S
16
O
11
N
18
D
34

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

Total number of species: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto

Wrasse
79 Sightings
J
16
F
16
M
3
A
4
M
4
J
0
J
5
A
1
S
4
O
0
N
23
D
3
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography

Green Turtle
65 Sightings
J
6
F
4
M
10
A
18
M
4
J
4
J
3
A
8
S
1
O
0
N
3
D
4

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

Total number of species: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl

Octopus
40 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
11
A
3
M
6
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
6
N
7
D
5

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

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey

Angelfish
653 Sightings
J
61
F
70
M
48
A
49
M
54
J
34
J
56
A
67
S
27
O
46
N
73
D
68

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

Total number of species: 100

iStock-burnsboxco

Parrotfish
553 Sightings
J
52
F
57
M
46
A
52
M
46
J
27
J
48
A
45
S
31
O
44
N
56
D
49

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

Total number of species: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek

Butterfly Fish
381 Sightings
J
36
F
43
M
28
A
30
M
40
J
8
J
20
A
26
S
17
O
30
N
53
D
50

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

Total number of species: 12

iStock/cinoby

Lionfish
325 Sightings
J
28
F
40
M
14
A
36
M
27
J
16
J
11
A
24
S
18
O
34
N
46
D
31
Show More

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

Total number of species: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer

Stingrays
290 Sightings
J
33
F
33
M
22
A
37
M
41
J
12
J
12
A
19
S
10
O
13
N
23
D
35

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

Total number of species: 85

iStock-mirecca

Surgeonfish
270 Sightings
J
34
F
31
M
7
A
24
M
30
J
16
J
9
A
11
S
19
O
16
N
37
D
36

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

Total number of species: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix

Sweetlips and Grunts
229 Sightings
J
46
F
38
M
5
A
19
M
17
J
8
J
6
A
6
S
11
O
13
N
34
D
26

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

Total number of species: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR

Pufferfish
184 Sightings
J
18
F
9
M
12
A
23
M
25
J
13
J
16
A
9
S
7
O
23
N
11
D
18

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

Total number of species: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo

Trumpetfish
182 Sightings
J
24
F
22
M
14
A
12
M
14
J
2
J
9
A
6
S
6
O
9
N
37
D
27

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

Total number of species: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal

Damselfish
181 Sightings
J
36
F
30
M
5
A
12
M
17
J
5
J
3
A
5
S
6
O
12
N
33
D
17

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

Total number of species: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel

Boxfish
166 Sightings
J
26
F
13
M
19
A
27
M
17
J
7
J
14
A
10
S
3
O
7
N
18
D
5

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

Total number of species: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker

Grouper/Basslets
159 Sightings
J
27
F
22
M
7
A
7
M
16
J
3
J
0
A
8
S
5
O
7
N
36
D
21

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

Total number of species: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis

Snapper
144 Sightings
J
22
F
18
M
6
A
8
M
8
J
2
J
5
A
6
S
8
O
8
N
30
D
23

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

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Spiny Lobster
118 Sightings
J
16
F
11
M
15
A
17
M
20
J
7
J
6
A
1
S
6
O
13
N
1
D
5

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

Total number of species: 2

AdobeStock-hakbak

Nurse Shark
107 Sightings
J
13
F
5
M
8
A
21
M
6
J
5
J
6
A
7
S
6
O
3
N
9
D
18

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

Total number of species: 20

iStock-stephankerkhofs

Porcupinefish
106 Sightings
J
26
F
18
M
4
A
8
M
3
J
0
J
0
A
4
S
1
O
7
N
21
D
14

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

Total number of species: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp

Jackfish
95 Sightings
J
17
F
23
M
2
A
10
M
5
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
1
O
2
N
19
D
14

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

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk

Goatfish
94 Sightings
J
7
F
2
M
5
A
12
M
24
J
5
J
2
A
2
S
5
O
8
N
5
D
17

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

Total number of species: 55

k

Lobster
81 Sightings
J
14
F
19
M
10
A
3
M
2
J
0
J
3
A
0
S
5
O
0
N
13
D
12

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

Total number of species: 40

iStock-wrangel

Triggerfish
78 Sightings
J
21
F
1
M
2
A
8
M
8
J
3
J
0
A
0
S
12
O
6
N
4
D
13

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

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Soldierfish
63 Sightings
J
10
F
0
M
0
A
8
M
14
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
5
O
0
N
11
D
15

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

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Squirrelfish
57 Sightings
J
5
F
10
M
0
A
9
M
8
J
0
J
3
A
1
S
3
O
0
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: 7000

iStock-Michael Zeigler

Crab
47 Sightings
J
11
F
9
M
3
A
10
M
2
J
0
J
2
A
1
S
1
O
0
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: 3400

Shutterstock-Shane Gross

Shrimp
34 Sightings
J
2
F
15
M
6
A
4
M
2
J
0
J
4
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The best Months to dive in Puerto Morelos

Due to its marine park designation, the biodiversity of wildlife just offshore from Puerto Morelos is stunning. Countless species of tropical fish, barracuda, eels, stingrays, eagle rays, nurse sharks, crabs, lobsters, and Green and Loggerhead sea turtles are some of the marine fauna types that divers will come across.

If you have time to travel a little farther, you might get lucky and see whale sharks at Isla Mujeres (June-September) or bull sharks at Playa del Carmen (November-March).

Dive Centers

Scuba Public

Sm 2 lote 16 fraccionamiento ojo de agua, 77580 Puerto Morelos, QR - Mexico

SouthEast Divers

RAFAEL E. MELGAR SM02 MZ04 L5-2, 77580 PUERTO MORELOS, QR - Mexico

Tolok Divers Mexico

Calle Calamar S011 M2 L20, 77580 Puerto Morelos, QR - Mexico

Scuba Kraken

SM 2 M5 L20 C. Javier Rojo Gomez, 77580 Puerto Morelos, QR - Mexico

KING SCUBA DIVE CENTER

SM2 M5 LOCLA 1 PUERTO MORELOS, 77539 PUERTO MORELOS, QR - Mexico

The Fives Dive Center

Av .Javier Rojo Gomez Nte .SM-02 MZ -25 Lote 01, 77580 Puerto Morelos, QR - Mexico

Dorado Buceo

Javier Rojo Gomez Smz 01,Mz09 L6 int 1, 77580 Puerto Morelos, QR - Mexico

Dive Sites

Alexa T. (#4292545)

The Wall (★4.8)

A site of singular beauty, located between two reef crests, with large formations of stony corals, gorgonians, and sea fans, its main interest is the sighting of green turtles.
DeepSee Adventure, 77580 Puerto Morelos

Ojo de Agua (★4.8)

Ojo de Agua is a shore diving spot, here we can enjoy a cenote inside the sea that provides nutrients and hence the amount of fish that can be observed in this place both during the day and in its magnificent night dives.
TRIPPY DIVERS, 77580 Puerto Moreles

Barco Hundido - Wreck Cadete Juan Escutia C-56 (★4.9)

Did you know that this ship served the US NAVY in the Atlantic during World War II? Welcome to the Juan Escutia C-56 wreck! Sunk in 2000 in the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park. This wreck lies at 27 meters / 90 feet on a white seabed.
DeepSee Adventure, 77580 Puerto Morelos

J-3 (★4.7)

J-3 It is a diving point located just 5 minutes away by boat, 9m deep, here we can appreciate a blanket of white sand with a large wall of corals.
DeepSee Adventure, 77580 Puerto Morelos

Puentes (★4.8)

Puentes is another great diving spot, the reef is about 20m deep where we can find coral formations in the form of natural bridges which you can swim through.
DeepSee Adventure, 77580 Puerto Morelos

Fish Market (★4.7)

Just 10 minutes away from the boat we find this incredible diving spot, as indicated by its name, Fish Market, given the number of schools of fish that we can find.
DeepSee Adventure, 77580 Puerto Morelos

Media Luna (★4.7)

As its name indicates, it is a crescent-shaped coral formation on a layer of white sand at a depth of about 15m. During the descent you can appreciate its shape in all its splendor.
DeepSee Adventure, 77580 Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos The Aquarium (★4.6)

Emblematic site within the Puerto Morelos Reefs National Marine Park, a reef composed of ridges where reef life abounds, composed of stony and soft corals and an exuberant life of fish.
DeepSee Adventure, 77580 Puerto Morelos

Rodman (★4.7)

Rodman, a dive just a few metres from the second largest coral reef in the world, at a shallow depth of 7m, with various types of coral formations, is a fantastic site but variable in both visibility and current.
sheila F. (#3704759)

Pargos (★4.7)

Pargos is a dive with a depth of 18m, characterized by its number of white sand paths that cross between the coral formations in addition to its immense variety of gorgonians, sea fans and stony corals.
DeepSee Adventure, 77580 Puerto Morelos

Jardines (★4.5)

Jardines is a diving point with a depth starting at around 12 meters or 38 feet where we can enjoy the coral fans that move to the sound of the current.