Explore Quintana Roo

Quintana Roo is one of Mexico’s 31 states and is located on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, adjacent to the Caribbean Sea. It contains many cities that are tourist hotspots as well as scuba diving destinations: Cancún, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Akumal, Tulum, and the islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres. These coastal destinations are popular among tourists from all over the world due to their year-round warm weather, beautiful sandy beaches, alluring ruins of the ancient Mayan civilization, and terrestrial and marine biodiversity.

Quintana Roo arguably has some of the most diverse diving of anywhere in the world. It is a great place to visit to take advantage of the abundant cave-, wreck-, shark-, and reef-diving opportunities, not to mention diving through an underwater sculpture museum. These dives are never more than a short drive or boat ride away, and are best enjoyed and appreciated by diving with Quintana Roo’s many local dive shops and/or resorts. Because of the proximity and accessibility of these dive sites to the coast, liveaboard dive boats are not common in this region.

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the second largest barrier reef in the world, runs parallel to the coastline of the Yucatán Peninsula. Its splendor is especially well-known near the island of Cozumel, which is located 10km offshore from Playa del Carmen. The Arrecifes de Cozumel (Cozumel Reefs) National Marine Park is home to protected species such as the Cozumel splendid toadfish, green, hawksbill, and loggerhead sea turtles, the queen conch, and black coral. Divers can also expect to see lobsters, octopus, angelfish, parrotfish, snapper, eagle rays, moray eels, and seahorses. In the summer, whale shark sightings are common near the island of Isla Mujeres, and during the winter months, bull sharks can be spotted near Playa del Carmen.

Quintana Roo also hosts a complex system of about 10,000 cenotes! Cenotes are exposed, collapsed underwater caves that are part of an underground interconnected cave system. Cenotes boast great visibility and stunning geological features.

Places to explore

Courses and Events

Dive Activity

Diving in Quintana Roo

Quintana Roo, a diver's paradise on Mexico's Caribbean coast, offers a diverse range of underwater experiences. Among the top dive sites is the MUSA Underwater Museum, where art and marine life converge, creating a unique diving experience. The vibrant coral reefs of Cozumel are a must-visit, renowned for their rich biodiversity and crystal-clear waters, making them ideal for both shore and liveaboard diving. For wreck enthusiasts, the C-56 Minesweeper near Puerto Morelos provides an exciting exploration opportunity, teeming with marine life. Night dives in the region reveal fascinating behaviors, such as the bioluminescent displays of plankton. Quintana Roo's dive sites cater to all preferences, offering a perfect balance between accessible shore dives and the adventure of liveaboard trips, ensuring unforgettable underwater adventures for every diver.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Quintana Roo

Quintana Roo, located on the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, is renowned for its vibrant marine life, particularly along the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Divers can expect to encounter a diverse array of reef fish such as parrotfish, angelfish, and butterflyfish, which are abundant year-round. The colorful coral formations provide a habitat for these species, making them a common sight during dives. Seasonal highlights include the presence of whale sharks, which are typically spotted from May to September near Isla Mujeres. These gentle giants attract divers from around the world. Additionally, sea turtles, including the loggerhead and green turtles, are often seen nesting on the beaches from May to October, with increased underwater sightings during this period. Rays, such as the majestic eagle ray, are more frequently observed from December to March, especially around Cozumel and Playa del Carmen, offering divers a chance to witness their graceful movements.

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: 200

Moray Eel

14k Sightings
J
1.8k
F
1.3k
M
1.3k
A
1k
M
984
J
1k
J
1.2k
A
1k
S
698
O
987
N
1.4k
D
1.6k

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

Total number of species: 27

Barracuda

14k Sightings
J
1.4k
F
1.1k
M
1.4k
A
1.1k
M
1.1k
J
1.3k
J
1.3k
A
1.1k
S
724
O
958
N
1.1k
D
1.3k

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

Total number of species: 25

Eagle Ray

8.7k Sightings
J
1.8k
F
1.3k
M
1.3k
A
609
M
285
J
196
J
293
A
239
S
192
O
234
N
750
D
1.4k

Hawksbill Turtle

6.1k Sightings
J
600
F
506
M
621
A
457
M
503
J
508
J
657
A
478
S
326
O
482
N
495
D
471

Green Turtle

5.5k Sightings
J
652
F
404
M
572
A
361
M
456
J
460
J
537
A
413
S
252
O
404
N
440
D
508

Loggerhead Turtle

5.1k Sightings
J
456
F
292
M
562
A
491
M
573
J
541
J
534
A
382
S
242
O
314
N
375
D
375

Bull Shark

2.6k Sightings
J
626
F
340
M
129
A
15
M
1
J
4
J
2
A
12
S
11
O
44
N
682
D
701

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

Total number of species: 600

Wrasse

2.4k Sightings
J
241
F
184
M
273
A
134
M
157
J
217
J
171
A
262
S
104
O
148
N
228
D
241

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

Total number of species: 300

Octopus

1.8k Sightings
J
240
F
140
M
227
A
117
M
141
J
112
J
181
A
118
S
75
O
160
N
158
D
166

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

Total number of species: 80

Stingrays

19k Sightings
J
2.4k
F
1.7k
M
1.8k
A
1.3k
M
1.3k
J
1.4k
J
1.7k
A
1.5k
S
990
O
1.2k
N
1.9k
D
2.1k

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

Total number of species: 90

Angelfish

17k Sightings
J
1.8k
F
1.4k
M
1.7k
A
1.3k
M
1.2k
J
1.5k
J
1.5k
A
1.5k
S
990
O
1.2k
N
1.6k
D
1.7k

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

Total number of species: 100

Parrotfish

16k Sightings
J
1.7k
F
1.3k
M
1.6k
A
1.2k
M
1.1k
J
1.4k
J
1.3k
A
1.3k
S
873
O
1.2k
N
1.4k
D
1.5k

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

Total number of species: 2

Nurse Shark

12k Sightings
J
1.4k
F
803
M
1k
A
916
M
877
J
877
J
1k
A
877
S
631
O
933
N
1.1k
D
1.2k

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

Total number of species: 130

Butterfly Fish

10k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
844
M
914
A
781
M
652
J
861
J
921
A
940
S
572
O
679
N
916
D
1k

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

Total number of species: 130

Pufferfish

9.7k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
813
M
1.1k
A
758
M
649
J
786
J
784
A
740
S
511
O
662
N
860
D
941

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

Total number of species: 85

Surgeonfish

7.7k Sightings
J
884
F
562
M
652
A
567
M
466
J
661
J
748
A
738
S
535
O
482
N
747
D
694

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

Total number of species: 40

Triggerfish

7.5k Sightings
J
861
F
626
M
788
A
615
M
520
J
694
J
629
A
579
S
441
O
465
N
604
D
691

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

Total number of species: 7000

Crab

7k Sightings
J
754
F
607
M
807
A
503
M
429
J
542
J
530
A
492
S
426
O
523
N
658
D
742

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

Total number of species: 60

Spiny Lobster

6.8k Sightings
J
733
F
599
M
707
A
455
M
416
J
449
J
594
A
566
S
365
O
503
N
680
D
728

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

Total number of species: 55

Lobster

6.6k Sightings
J
675
F
619
M
770
A
467
M
446
J
612
J
568
A
400
S
292
O
536
N
561
D
672

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

Total number of species: 25

Boxfish

6.4k Sightings
J
750
F
578
M
657
A
534
M
345
J
469
J
527
A
630
S
288
O
390
N
567
D
627

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

Total number of species: 350

Damselfish

5.7k Sightings
J
686
F
451
M
561
A
382
M
344
J
508
J
485
A
584
S
323
O
373
N
480
D
551

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

Total number of species: 12

Lionfish

5.5k Sightings
J
598
F
378
M
282
A
266
M
239
J
433
J
631
A
551
S
362
O
514
N
755
D
521

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

Total number of species: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

5.2k Sightings
J
563
F
372
M
387
A
389
M
316
J
552
J
468
A
549
S
281
O
292
N
521
D
516

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

Total number of species: 3

Trumpetfish

5k Sightings
J
665
F
439
M
466
A
339
M
203
J
325
J
328
A
383
S
312
O
409
N
601
D
579

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

Total number of species: 250

Grouper/Basslets

4.6k Sightings
J
512
F
428
M
410
A
314
M
351
J
406
J
368
A
357
S
221
O
268
N
497
D
468

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

Total number of species: 110

Snapper

4.3k Sightings
J
502
F
349
M
389
A
320
M
260
J
352
J
365
A
367
S
217
O
264
N
467
D
446

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

Total number of species: 90

Goatfish

4k Sightings
J
484
F
350
M
365
A
302
M
223
J
341
J
315
A
445
S
220
O
270
N
326
D
362

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

Total number of species: 40

Jackfish

2.9k Sightings
J
418
F
215
M
253
A
203
M
167
J
250
J
198
A
338
S
114
O
184
N
319
D
271

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

Total number of species: 120

Flounder

2.9k Sightings
J
401
F
233
M
299
A
186
M
221
J
199
J
238
A
237
S
174
O
133
N
267
D
308

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

Total number of species: 20

Porcupinefish

2.8k Sightings
J
430
F
295
M
350
A
182
M
141
J
159
J
172
A
159
S
132
O
160
N
294
D
286

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

Total number of species: 60

Squirrelfish

2.5k Sightings
J
357
F
170
M
239
A
187
M
96
J
203
J
190
A
180
S
170
O
151
N
259
D
311

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

Total number of species: 60

Soldierfish

2.5k Sightings
J
364
F
213
M
244
A
218
M
133
J
181
J
229
A
246
S
95
O
68
N
242
D
254

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

Total number of species: 3400

Shrimp

1.2k Sightings
J
131
F
153
M
127
A
92
M
87
J
69
J
105
A
91
S
31
O
72
N
138
D
134

The best Months to dive in Quintana Roo

Quintana Roo offers excellent diving conditions year-round, making it a popular destination for divers. The region's water temperatures range from 25°C/78°F in the winter months to around 29°C/84°F in the summer, providing comfortable conditions for diving throughout the year. Visibility is typically excellent, often exceeding 30 meters/100 feet, especially during the dry season from November to April.

While diving is possible all year, the rainy season from May to October can bring stronger currents and reduced visibility due to increased sediment in the water. Additionally, the region can experience tropical storms or hurricanes, particularly from June to November, which may temporarily affect diving conditions. Despite these factors, Quintana Roo remains a prime location for divers, with many sites accessible regardless of the season.

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