Bahia Príncipe

★★★★☆ (428)

This dive site is near Tulum, Mexico and is a great site for beginners. The water is shallow, warm, and easy to access. It can be done as a shore dive. There are your typical Caribbean reef corals and sponges mixed with a sandy bottom.

You will see the typical Caribbean reef fish species like tangs, damselfish, angelfish, butterflyfish and sea turtles. Sometimes there are nurse sharks.

Dive Activity

Potential Wildlife Sightings

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
37 Sightings
J
0
F
3
M
0
A
3
M
5
J
6
J
5
A
11
S
2
O
2
N
0
D
0
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle

Green Turtle
23 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
0
A
3
M
2
J
3
J
5
A
4
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
0
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle
12 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
2
J
6
A
0
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle
11 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
3
M
0
J
4
J
4
A
0
S
0
O
0
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.: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel

Moray Eel
11 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
4
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
3
N
2
D
2
iStock-crisod
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray
4 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
Alamy-National Geographic Creative
Leatherback Turtle

Leatherback Turtle
4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
3
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
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.: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse

Wrasse
4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
2
Alamy/BIOSPHOTO
Ocean Sunfish

Ocean Sunfish
2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
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.: 55

Shutterstock-RLS Photo
Lobster

Lobster
41 Sightings
J
11
F
3
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
9
J
9
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
9
Show More

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
39 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
5
A
0
M
0
J
10
J
11
A
6
S
0
O
4
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.: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays

Stingrays
38 Sightings
J
3
F
4
M
0
A
2
M
2
J
8
J
5
A
7
S
3
O
2
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.: 100

iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish

Parrotfish
37 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
0
A
0
M
3
J
6
J
5
A
9
S
0
O
0
N
7
D
3

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
35 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
0
A
2
M
2
J
8
J
5
A
7
S
0
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 approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster
28 Sightings
J
0
F
6
M
4
A
0
M
2
J
4
J
0
A
3
S
2
O
0
N
2
D
5

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
21 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
4
A
0
M
1
J
3
J
4
A
5
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
2

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
21 Sightings
J
7
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
5
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
3
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.: 28

Udo Kefrig
Clownfish

Clownfish
20 Sightings
J
5
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
3
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
3
N
5
D
0

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
19 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
5
J
6
A
5
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.: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish

Pufferfish
16 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
6
J
0
A
6
S
0
O
0
N
4
D
0

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
14 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
8
J
0
A
2
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.: 2

AdobeStock-hakbak
Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark
9 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
0
J
0
A
5
S
0
O
2
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.: 250

iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.
Scorpionfish

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

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
7 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
3
S
0
O
0
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.: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal
Damselfish

Damselfish
7 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
5
S
0
O
0
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.: 80

iStock-bearacreative
Emperor

Emperor
7 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
5
S
0
O
0
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.: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker
Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets
6 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
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.: 15

Shutterstock-Hans Gert Broeder
Garfish

Garfish
6 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
5
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
5 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
0
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.: 2

iStock-stock_colors
Tarpon

Tarpon
4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
4
A
0
S
0
O
0
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

iStock-Global_Pics
Soldierfish

Soldierfish
4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
4
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
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.: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk
Goatfish

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

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
3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
3
S
0
O
0
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

iStock-Global_Pics
Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish
3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
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.: 15

Shutterstock-Al McGlashan
Tuna

Tuna
2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
0
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.: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel
Boxfish

Boxfish
2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
AdobeStock_cherylvb
Garibaldi Damselfish

Garibaldi Damselfish
2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

Dive Sites Nearby

Get Wet, 77760 Tulum
Akumal Reef <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.5)</span>

Akumal Reef (★4.5)

Protected Reef: Part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System—the second-largest reef in the world!Turtle Town: Akumal literally means “Place of the Turtles” in Mayan, and yep, you’re almost guaranteed to see green sea turtles cruising by.Shallow & Clear: Great visibility (up to 30m/100ft)