10 Reasons to Scuba Dive Riviera Maya, Mexico

Mexico offers a diverse dive-site portfolio for scuba divers, from big-animal encounters to western Caribbean coral reefs. Riviera Maya is probably one of the most popular tourist destinations on earth. Parallel to the coast you find the Mesoamerican Reef the largest in the Northern Hemisphere and after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia the longest of the planet. With the island of Cozumel at a stone’s throw you can just about imagine what a great dive destination Riviera Maya is! Here you have 10 reasons to consider Riviera Maya for your next dive adventures!
1. Reef Diving
The reefs of the Riviera Maya are in an excellent condition. Over 20 different dive sites provide you with enough possibilities to stay wet during your stay. Do not forget to grab the ferry and dive Cozumel. The island is considered among the top 10 dive destinations of the world and is absolutely worth a visit.
2. Deep Dives
The warm and clear waters of Riviera Maya provide you with the perfect location either in the ocean or in the cenotes to experience deep, technical diving. Qualified instructors will provide you with all necessary equipment and necessary training to prepare you for this amazing adventure. So if you ever wanted to try mixed gases, a rebreather or a planned decompression then this is your opportunity!
3. Wall Diving
In front of Puerto Aventuras there are 3 main reef systems. The outer reef is a wall starting at 30 – 40 meters (100 – 135 feet) and it drops way past the limits for even the most advanced technical diver. In addition, nearby Cozumel has spectacular walls and dramatic drops into the big blue.

4. Night Diving
A difference of day to night really applies to night diving in Riviera Maya. The ocean looks completely different at night and you will find many creatures and fish that are normally only active at night. Also the use of flashlights will bring out the many different and beautiful colors of the various coral formations. An experience you truly do not want to miss!
5. Diving with Sharks
Bull sharks are found in warm, shallow waters. A female shark can grow up to 2.4 meters (7.9 feet). Between November and March they are present at only a 5-minute boat ride from Playa del Carmen. So if you ever wanted to be present at a shark feed, then Riviera Maya fulfills your dreams. This is an action-packed adventure!
6. Cave & Cavern Diving
Diving in the cenotes of Riviera Maya is a unique experience that attracts divers from around the world. The cenotes are flooded underground rivers and cave systems — believed by the ancient Maya to be the entrance to the underworld — which offer an exciting option for certified open water divers who possess good buoyancy and who are comfortable under water. Under the supervision of a trained and certified cenotes dive guide, you will penetrate not more that 200 feet into the cavern system, and you will always see natural daylight. It’s an amazing dive you’ll want to experience at least once in your life.
7. Diving with Sea Turtles
The sea turtles have been swimming the oceans for millions of years. The coastline of Riviera Maya is an important nesting area for the green turtle and the loggerhead turtle that from May until September come up shore to lay an average of 120 eggs per nest on the beaches of the destinations. Due to this fact there is a fair chance to encounter several of these endangered animals.
8. Snorkeling with the Whale Sharks
These giants of the sea migrate every year to the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula where they feed & breed. The season starts in May and ends in September. Just imagine swimming with the largest living non mammalian vertebrates than can grow up over 40 ft long. A unique experience you do not want to miss!
9. Snorkeling with Sailfish
Every year in the winter season the Mexican Caribbean becomes the home of the fastest fish in the ocean: the sailfish. They can reach a speed of 120 km (75 mph). They get their name from their spectacular dorsal fin that is almost as long but a lot higher than their body. Thanks to the abundance of sardines that swim in enormous groups, the sailfish is found in this area. At Riviera Maya you have the unique opportunity to swim with them and watch them chase the sardines.
10. Fun and Entertaining Activities for Non-Divers
Many times a diver does not do all the diving he or she wants to do during their stay due to the fact that often they travel with non-divers and they do not want their travel partners to be bored while they are having fun underwater. In Riviera Maya that is not really the case as there are many fun and exciting activities for those who do not dive. Ziplines, rapel, ATV tours, underground walks into caves and in semi-flooded underground rivers, theme parks and archaeological sites are just a few of the many excursion options Riviera Maya offers. So no worries about your non-diving partners — they will have a great time while you are diving.
Do you need more reasons to consider Riviera Maya for your next vacation?
For more information visit:
www.rivieramaya.coms

Eduardo from All About Playa

Eduardo from All About Playa

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