East Coast (Q. Roo), Mexico

Quintana Roo is a Mexican state along the Caribbean coast. It is the most touristic state on the East Coast with vacationers visiting hotspots like Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres, Holbox, Mahahual, Xcalak, and of course a diver's paradise, Cozumel. 

Here you can find something for everyone: backpacker to budget to luxury and all-inclusive resorts, beautiful beaches with crystal clear waters, Mayan ruins, cenotes, a plethora of great restaurants, an up-all-night party scene, adventure parks, and fantastic diving on the Meso-American Reef. 

Scuba diving in Quintana Roo, Mexico, offers a wealth of underwater wonders, including vibrant coral reefs, diverse marine life, and unique cenotes (natural sinkholes). Here are some of the sights you can expect to see while diving in Quintana Roo, along with the best times to visit:

• Cozumel:
  • Best Time to Go: Year-round, but April to August is popular for calmer seas.
  • Marine Life: Cozumel is renowned for its healthy coral reefs and abundant marine biodiversity. You can expect encounters with colorful reef fish, turtles, eagle rays, nurse sharks, and splendid toadfish. The drift diving in Cozumel is exceptional, allowing you to glide along the reefs with the currents.
• Isla Mujeres & Holbox Islands:
  • Best Time to Go: Year-round, but April to August is popular for calmer seas.
  • Marine Life: June - early September is the best time to snorkel with whale sharks, especially around a full moon when they feed on plankton drawn to the surface. They are harmless to humans and snorkeling with them is considered safe when done responsibly and under proper guidance. To snorkel with whale sharks, it is recommended to book a guided tour with a reputable operator. These tours are led by experienced guides who are knowledgeable about the behavior of whale sharks and can ensure a safe and respectful interaction with these magnificent creatures.
• Playa del Carmen:
  • Best Time to Go: Year-round, but April to August is popular for calmer seas.
  • Marine Life: Playa del Carmen offers a mix of reef diving and thrilling drift dives along the famous Cozumel Wall. You can encounter sea turtles, nurse sharks, eagle rays, moray eels, and a variety of tropical fish. Additionally, you may have the chance to witness bull sharks during the annual mating season (November to March) at certain dive sites.
• Cancun:
  • Best Time to Go: Year-round, but April to August is popular for calmer seas.
  • Marine Life: Cancun has a mix of reef diving and wreck diving. You can explore the Cancun Underwater Museum (MUSA), which features submerged sculptures. The reefs are home to colorful fish, turtles, stingrays, and occasional sightings of nurse sharks and eagle rays.
• Cenotes:
  • Best Time to Go: Year-round, but dry season (November to May) is popular.
  • Marine Life: The cenotes of Quintana Roo offer a unique diving experience in freshwater sinkholes. You'll witness stunning geological formations, crystal-clear waters, and the opportunity to explore underground caverns. While marine life is not as abundant in cenotes compared to coral reefs, you may see small fish, turtles, and interesting cave formations.
• Mahahual & Xcalak:
  • Best Time to Go: Year-round, but April to August is popular for calmer seas.
  • Marine Life: Mahahual (also known as Costa Maya), is at the southernmost end of the state, followed by Xcalak on the Belize border. These small towns are very laid back and budget-friendly. All dive sites are less than 10 minutes by boat, and you can see a lot of marine life along the reef including schools of fish, turtles, tarpons, eels, and sometimes eagle rays. If you trek to Chinchorro Banks, you can snorkel with crocodiles!

Quintana Roo is fantastic to vacation all year. High season runs from December - April. Summers are hot and wet and winters are warm and dry due to the sub-tropical climate. The rainy season runs from June to mid-October and can be quite intense. As in many other places in Central America, Yucátan and Quintana Roo also have a hurricane season, which lasts from September through December.

Many major US airports have direct flights to Cancun (CUN) multiple times per day. 

Once arriving, you can rent a car, hire a taxi or shuttle service, or take the ADO bus between towns (ADO services nearly all of Mexico). 

To get to Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, or Holbox, you will need to take a ferry. 

As little as a passport and a bathing suit! There are plenty of reputable dive and tour companies that can provide everything else you need.

I've spent an extensive amount of time here and am happy to help plan your vacation!

Mexico does often make headlines for crime, which can't be ignored. It is important to be weary of your surroundings when out at night, and I don't recommend carrying a lot of money or valuables on your person. In regards to diving, always go with a reputable dive company that emphasizes safety in the water and around marine animals (whale sharks especially). An easy way to tell this is if they are rated as a PADI 5 Star Dive Shop. Note that the closest decompression chamber is in Playa del Carmen.