Diving in Tulum is a unique mix of cenotes and reefs, with easy access to inland and open sea dives. For ocean diving in Tulum, a short speedboat ride from town will grant you access to mind-blowing reefs.
Step off the ladder into a world of cobalt water, elkhorn coral and a lively circus of marine life. Turtles, manta rays, lobsters, eels, reef fish and the occasional whale shark can be sighted in Tulum's underwater realm.
To experience Tulum's cenote diving, hop in a 4x4 truck and head inland - some of the best cenotes are just a few minutes outside of town. Tulum's extensive subterranean waterways are ideal for experimenting with cavern diving. Underwater photographers from all over the world descend into these cool blue waters seeking fossils and secret rooms lit by sunrays.
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There is no bad time for diving in Tulum as water temperatures remain constant year-round (82°F/28°C) and cool only slightly in winter (78°F/25°C). In Tulum diving is possible 300 days of the year - even more for sheltered cenotes which are always warm and calm with 100m visibility.
For uncrowded sites and top visibility book your Tulum dive vacation between May-November. This is when the most gorgeous light streams into the cenotes, so underwater photographers dive then for striking images.
For whale sharks, June-September is best. Green, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles arrive in summer to lay eggs on the protected, white sand beaches. From November to March, get up close and personal with bull sharks as they arrive en-masse to breed.
Located on the East Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Tulum was originally an ancient walled city inhabited by the Mayans. Cancun International Airport is the closest port of entry and the main gateway for diving in Tulum. Cancun is well-connected internationally, welcoming direct flights from London (10h 30m), Paris (10h 45m), Frankfurt (11h 30m) and Miami (1h 40m).
From Cancun Airport, the most relaxed way to reach Tulum is by rental car. The drive takes just under 2h and you'll have your own transport to explore Mayan ruins and jungles on non-diving days. If you don't rent a car you can still go diving in Tulum by taking two buses from Cancun Airport. Even better, arrange a private transfer so you can get straight to diving.
Once in Tulum use shared vans, taxis or bicycles to get around town. 4x4 trucks whisk you off to the cenotes while open water dive sites are reached by speedboat.
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