Barcelo Maya Beach

Punta Cancun – This is a popular spot with divers and provides access to several dive sites and some healthy coral reefs. Located at the eastern end of Cancun's hotel zone, the reefs contain colorful coral formations and you can hang out with a diverse array of marine life, including barracuda, rays and sharks. Punta Nizuc – This site is famous for its snorkeling and diving thanks to an offshore reef rife with abundant marine life. Depths average 10 metres/30 feet and great visibility make this a spectacular spot where divers meet lobster, groupers, rays, sergeant majors and a host of other marine life. At Punta Nizuc art meets coral reef conservation and divers can visit a statue of a young girl lying in a coral garden. She’s part of an underwater museum, Museo Subacuático de Arte, that’s well worth exploring. Playa del Carmen, Akumal and Tulum – South of Cancun, Playa del Carmen is a bustling town with a European vibe. Akumal and Tulum, both south of Playa, are seaside villages that offer a glimpse into the Yucatan of yesterday. Generally, the dive sites here are shallow with excellent visibility and boat rides are as short as five minutes. You’re likely to see turtles, barracuda, stingrays, lobsters and nurse sharks. Pared Verde – Sloping rivers of sand divide sections of the wall which is well populated with coral, sponges and myriad macro invertebrates. Depths to 40 metres/130 feet are possible and the current can be a consideration. Larger pelagic species are frequently seen here, given the reef’s location in the middle of a sandy plain. Cenotes – If you want to try something truly special, dive a cenote. These deep, freshwater-filled sinkholes formed when the roofs of limestone caverns collapsed and filled with water. The Yucatan’s elaborate cenotes have intricate cave systems and underground tunnels that draw divers from around the globe. Many cenotes boast pristine turquoise waters and a beautiful array of stalagmites and stalactites formed over millions of years.

Non-divers will find plenty of reasons to enter the water in the Yucatan Peninsula. From shore, you’ll be able to access the region’s best reefs and even dip your head in a cenote. If you happen to be in the area from June to September, make sure to take a day trip to Isla Mujeres in order to snorkel with whale sharks. There are also trips to the deep sea for snorkeling with sailfish that may interest some.

Dolphins and sharks patrol deeper waters, while stunning colorful fish hang out by the reefs. You will see eels and lobsters near overhangs, as well as plenty of eagle rays gliding through the shallows. If you dive in the mangroves you may even run across a manatee!

One of the major attractions to the underwater world of the Riviera Maya are the Bull Sharks that are attracted to the area’s crystalline waters between November and March. There’s also a chance of spotting Green Turtles, Loggerhead Turtles, whale sharks and sailfish during their respective migrations.