Diving in Mexico
by: ThePope
Word Count: 2052
Remains of ancient awe-inspiring Maya cities coexisting with polished tourist resorts - and a view to snow-capped volcanoes sloping down to pine forests, deserts and balmy tropical beaches. You have arrived to a country of great diversity where you can plunge into some of the best dive sites in the world for big fish, coral diving, kelp forests and cave diving!
The Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of California (sea of Cortez), the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea washes the beautiful beaches of this country and boosts dramatic changes in underwater conditions and marine life which are best described separately for the areas:
Baja California
A beautiful coast with peaceful bays and imposing cliffs is running along the western side of this peninsula facing the Pacific Ocean. Highlights of the north are the Islas los Coronados and Sacramento Reef with cauldrons of marine life from giant sea bass and lobsters to big tuna. Further south, the San Benito Islands boosts beautiful dense kelp forests and towards the cape an incredible number of fish is the foundation of the spectacular diving here. South of the Cape big fish like the whale shark and predators are roaming the waters. Off Islas de Revillagigedo, some of the largest gatherings of the manta rays are the No. 1 attraction.
Inside the Bay of California (Sea of Cortez) the diving is affected by the differences in the tide, which becomes less when travelling south. Snorkelling and diving is planned accordingly. Beautiful rock formations, wrecks and colourful fish are found along the coast and a popular area is found off the islands outside Bahía de los Angeles where the Thayer is one of the best wreck dives in the Cortez. From here on the manta rays are frequently seen as the trip brings the diver further south. Santa Rosalía, Mulegé and Loreto offers black coral “forests” and slopes of sea fans and pearl oysters. Towards the cape La Paz Area boost some of the more famous dive sites with sightings of playful sea lions and hammerhead sharks.
In between diving, whale watching is possible along the coast. From early October, grey whales begin a 5,000 mile (8047km) journey from Alaska south to the area of Laguna San Ignacio. It is the longest migration route of any mammal. Return migration to Arctic waters begins in late January although a few mothers and calves remain as late as May or June.
DIVE TRIPS
Diving in Baja is done through one of the professional dive operations or liveaboards. The Islas de Revillagigedo are only reached by live-aboard. Best dive sites are reached by boat, but beach diving is possible in some areas. Inflatable boats are popular for transport - both for divers and for snorkelers. Diving is offered for all levels of certification. However, many dive sites requires experience with drift diving.
Snorkelers will find much to enjoy as most dive sites also have shallow areas with generally good visibility and a dense marine life. Other snorkelling sites have easy beach access. Be aware that mostly snorkelling and diving are done separately.
CONDITIONS
There are definite seasonal aspects to Baja diving and snorkelling. June to September is the high season as the number of pelagics is at its peak and the reefs are alive with colourful fish courting and guarding their eggs. This time is also effected by the tropical hurricanes peaking in August and September. However, tranquil weather is the norm.
September to November is the best time to go and also the most undiscovered months for underwater exploration in Baja. The weather cools down, but the water is still warm, the days long and winter winds still at bay. Whale sharks, Manta rays and schools of hammerheads linger along with many other species soon to disappear in the winter months.
From December to February air temperatures are moderate, but days are short. Occasional cold fronts cause wipe out conditions along the Pacific coast and heavy wind can cover the Cortez with white caps. March to May brings warmer air and less wind, but since water temperatures tend to lack behind air temperatures, the water remains relatively cool.
Visibility varies greatly and depends on the location. “Bad days” can present visibility down to 6-8 m. but average is in the teens. A good day can present visibility into the 40s.
Water temperatures range between 57F (14C) up to 78F (26C) in the high season along The Pacific coast. In the Sea of Cortez the temperatures are higher in the summer but plummets down to the same average as the Pacific in winter time. For insulation a dry suit or a 7mm semi-dry suit with long johns and jacket (giving 14mm on the core body) is recommended with hood, boots and gloves for the colder season, and a 5mm wetsuit for the warmer season.
Yucatán Coast
The Great Maya Barrier Reef stretches 320km (200miles) along the eastern coast from the north tip of the Yucatán peninsula down to the Belize coast and Honduras.
The largest island along the eastern coast is Cozumel. This island is like the other islands in the area the tip of an ancient extinct volcano and together formed by the barrier reef. As an iridescent contrast to the green colours of the inland plantation - Cozumel (Caribbean), Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy (Gulf of Mexico) are all blessed with superb beaches lapped by the crystal clear waters of the western Caribbean offering high quality snorkelling and diving.
Cuzumel is particular popular for night diving with an extraordinary selection of feather stars, sea stars, sleaping turtles and much more. However, the whole barrier reef has an astonishing varied fish life and one of the most famous species is the extraordinary toadfish, which like terrestrial toads are making a croaking sound. High season for turtles is from April until September, although they are spotted frequently out of season too.
Further south as a part of the Great Maya Barrier Reef lays the Chinchorro atoll, which is considered a dive heaven with heaps of beautiful reefs and ridges, coral gardens and sand flats. The keen wreck diver will be thrilled to hear that over the centuries this area has also become the graveyard for more than 140 recorded wrecks. The Chinchorro atoll is best reached by liveaboard.
The east coast of the peninsula it self (along Quintana Roo), is protected by the barrier reef and the beaches between Cancún and Tulum are some of the most beautiful in the world with sand as soft as baby powder. Because of the generally calm conditions, diving in this area is especially recommended for beginners.
For extreme diving - around 50 of the famous cenotes are found along the Akumal-Tulum Corridor, 100 km (62 miles) south of the resort town of Cancún. A cenote is a limpid pool in a limestone cave. Some of the cenotes are entry points of vast networks of underground rivers, huge caves and caverns with colourful stalagmites and stalactites in the incredible formations of the limestone bedrock.
Xcaret has both tumbledown Mayan ruins and a beautiful inlet or caleta, which is filled with tropical marine life and a paradise for snorkelers as well as divers. Here you will also find the thrilling experience of swimming with dolphins.
Further south along the Caribbean coast you will find an underrated dive destination, which in fact boosts less crowded excellent diving and an extraordinary varied marine life.
DIVE TRIPS
Diving is done every day of the year and during windy times it is always possible to find a lee shore where you can dive safely.
Most diving around Cozumel and Cancún is drift diving from a boat, but there are also numerous shore dives. The diver can choose between fast and slow boats depending on hers or his preferences. Diving is offered for all levels of certification. However, many dive sites requires experience with drift diving.
Several dive operators specialise in organising dive trips and instructing disabled divers.
Between November and April liveaboard trips operate daily and overnight with some excursions lasting three to five days.
Snorkelling is possible in some cenotes. Cenote-diving is practicable for all experienced divers as a part on cavern and cave diving instruction received from a handful of qualified dive centers with the highest safety standards - specialising in this area of technical diving.
Cenote diving is dangerous and it is important to make sure that the dive center you choose is indeed a qualified dive center as a few “money-makers” are known to be hovering in the area.
CONDITIONS
If you want to travel around Mexico and dive several areas - the over all best time is in January/February. Here the climate both inland and along the coast is comfortable, visit rates are low and average visibility is highest.
Otherwise, October to May is the most pleasant time to visit since it is fairly dry and still comfortably warm with pleasant average temperatures of 20C (68F). December to February is generally the coolest time. June to September is hot with temperatures averaging 30-40C (86 - 104F), stronger currents, but in this period also the sea is calmest. Easter trade winds bring rain in April/May.
Cozumel is a preferred destination between March and August where surge is a problem in other areas and most of the diving is done along the sheltered western coast. However, the best visibility in Cozumel - with days well over 60m (200ft.) are found between April and October. The end of this time is the recommended time to visit the area apart from excellent visibility also offers a pleasant climate and low visit rates. The average visibility outside this time is 30m (100ft.).
Cancún is the best time to visit from May to August, where visibilities are an average of 25m (80ft) and there are no or very little ocean swell.
For all areas particularly in April/May and September/October visibility can be affected by natural plankton bloom. As a rule the further south you travel - the better is the visibility. However, the southern coastal regions can be quite hot and extremely humid between July and September. Also, conditions in the south are more open, demanding a higher experience grade of the divers.
Water temperatures rarely drops below 27C (80F) and recommended insulation is a skin or a 3mm shorty for the hot months and from 3mm to 5mm full wetsuit for the colder months depending on the natural insulation layer of the diver.
Best time to visit the cenotes are November to March where the water is clearest and reaches visibilities up to 60m (200ft.) Water temperatures are constant 24 C (75F). Variations occur after rains and in cenotes connected with sea. Recommended insulation is 5mm wet suit or a 7mm semi-dry suit with a hood, boots and gloves.
Pacific Ocean Coast
The most popular destinations here are the area around Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco.
Nestled beside the Río Caule between palm-covered mountains and the azure Bahía de las Banderas (Bay of Flags) is the picturesque, cobble-stoned, whitewashed city of Puerto Vallarta with attractions for both the ultra-rich and the shoestring traveller. The city boasts white-sand, palm-fringed beaches, lively bars and restaurants and heaps of galleries and handicrafts. The city has mutated from a sleepy seaside village to an international resort so quickly that it is fashionable to deride its spoilt charms, but it's almost impossible to dislike its quaintness, southern beaches, immense bay and marine life. There are dolphins in the bay year-round, and pilot and grey whales between February and April. Locals insist that if you stand on the seafront in April, you can see giant manta rays leaping into the air during their mating rituals.
Acapulco is the first and most famous of the resort cities on Mexico's Pacific coast. This was once the New World's gateway to the Orient, but today it's a fast-growing city of well over a million inhabitants with a schizophrenic mixture of high-rise hotels, designer shopping plazas and tri-lingual restaurants shielding a hidden city of auto-parts stores, polluted rivers and crowded apartments. The city is definitely not everyone's idea of fun, but most visitors to Acapulco are happy to laze on the city's numerous beaches, which offer equipment for just about every sport that can be done on or under the water
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