Akumal and Cozumel are among the wonderful places where we offer diving tours to discover underwater worlds.
Why so popular? The Riviera Maya is a place known for being an all-year-round diving destination. So, when the question of, “when is the best time to travel to the Riviera Maya?” Comes up, just remember that with temperatures ranging from 26°C/79°F in January, to 31°C/86°F in August it's always a great time to dive here!
The Riviera Maya is a place for every member of your family to enjoy any time of the year, as we have a large resident population of turtles, not just in the breeding season, but all year round. Even if the weather turns against us, we still have the magical Mexican Cenotes, which are just a few minutes away and offer a truly spectacular alternative for those seeking a new diving adventure.
For some marine creatures, the weather has more of an impact on their arrival. Bull Shark and whale shark season offer yet another special experience here on the Riviera Maya, look out for the months in which these creatures come out. Pair all of this with wonderful white sand beaches and crystal clear Caribbean waters and this destination becomes a divers' paradise 365 days of the year! Winter, spring, summer and autumn offer a lot of possibilities in the Riviera Maya to make your diving experience something to remember and to bring you back to these great destinations time and time again.
Diving in the ocean around Akumal, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, or the Mexican Cenotes can be done all year round, there are no seasons applicable , this because the Riviera Maya has an unbeatable climate throughout the year with long sunshine hours and comfortable water temperatures all year round. Thus, for example, the months from January to May have temperatures of 25 °C/77 °F with relatively low humidity, hence a low population of mosquitoes. It is often possible to get great deals on package holiday prices. The "wet" season brings an increase in daily temperatures and humidity, often with very clear skies in the mornings and then short but heavy rain showers in the late afternoon/early evening. Even this does not prevent us from experiencing great diving conditions.
However, travelers are, on occasion, “put off” from traveling to the Riviera Maya between June and September due to “Hurricane Season”. The good news is that we are almost at the southern end of this area and are rarely affected. The last hurricanes to have any real impact on the Riviera Maya were “Gilberto” in 1988 and “Wilma” in 2005. Both of these were hurricanes that affected large areas of the Caribbean, not just the Riviera Maya. It is possible that we can be affected by the edge of some of the tropical storms, causing the ports to be closed for 2 or 3 days, but even so we can still dive the Cenotes as these are not affected by bad weather.
As we've mentioned, all year round is a great time to visit the Riviera Maya and dive into its breathtaking oceans and cenotes. The seasons depend on what you want to witness while you're in this Caribbean Paradise.
In general terms, January is the coldest month and July is the hottest. For those wishing to "escape" the cooler conditions back home, Spring Break offers nice long sunny days with low humidity and great sea conditions. The great news is that Akumal is still "quiet" due to the lack of bars and clubs for the younger generation. Still a great time to travel here and take advantage of wonderful conditions both in and out of the water.
Akumal, place of turtles
Akumal means Place of Turtles. The name is, of course, justified, as this is not only one of the most important nesting beaches in the region, but it is also one of the biggest natural homes to juvenile sea turtles in the area. The bay is a popular feeding area for Green Sea Turtles due to the abundance of seagrass, their main diet. The bay and surrounding areas have been designated a National Marine Park in an effort to protect these important feeding grounds for the turtles. You can expect to find wonderful Green Sea Turtles in your dives at the beaches of Akumal, they're usually around all year long. We can also witness Hawksbill and Loggerhead turtles that come to breed in these waters and nest on the local beaches. One local beach alone recorded 321 nests during the 2019 season!
For anyone that doesn't have their diving certification yet, remember that these amazing creatures can be seen just by snorkeling too! Although we do recommend getting your certification, so you'll be able to witness even more marine life!
Experience Whale Sharks near Cancún
Whale Shark season runs from early June to mid-September. The best time for snorkeling with the biggest fish in the world is June, July, and August, when the temperature can reach 35 °C, you may well encounter some "tropical showers" late afternoon or early evening. Do not let this put you off though, the weather remains warm! Each year the Whale Shark, which is the largest of the fish species, begin to arrive on their annual migration to the warm waters of the Mexican-Caribbean Sea near Isla Holbox at the northern end of the Riviera Maya. This gentle fish can grow around 40 feet in length, weigh 11 tons, and poses no threat to humans! Snorkeling with them is a "must-do" experience.
Swimming with whale sharks is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that combines adventure and the opportunity to observe one of the world's largest and most magnificent creatures up close. During a tour, visitors can snorkel in open waters and observe the gentle giants as they gracefully glide through the ocean. Whale sharks are known to be friendly and harmless to humans. The tour guides are knowledgeable and experienced, ensuring a safe and unforgettable experience. The best time to see whale sharks is usually during the warmer months when they come to feed on the abundant plankton in the area. Overall, a tour swimming with whale sharks is an unforgettable experience that offers an intimate encounter with one of the ocean's most magnificent creatures.
Dive with Bull Sharks in Playa del Carmen
Bull Shark Season occurs every year from November to March when pregnant female bull sharks return to shallow waters in front of the coast of Playa del Carmen in Mexico, where they are in their natural habitat. Located only a few minutes off the shore, the dive site is on a 24 m/72 ft, sandy bottom. These magnificent sharks can be seen in two ways.
A Bull Shark "feeding dive", which is strictly controlled with extra dive masters and an experienced marine biologist feeding them sparingly, or on a "viewing dive". A detailed briefing, including information about the life cycle of the sharks, safety, and protocols to be observed will allow you to dive with these Bull Sharks and have an unforgettable experience. The feeding dive is a square profile with a dive time of just 35 minutes due to depth and air consumption whereas the viewing dive is actually 2 dives with slightly longer dive times. On both tours, you are almost guaranteed a close encounter with these majestic sharks!
Bull shark tours offer a thrilling underwater adventure for divers. The crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea provide an ideal environment for these predatory creatures to thrive, making Playa del Carmen a popular destination for bull shark encounters. We'll observe the bull sharks up close in their natural habitat, learning about their behavior and unique adaptations.
Other Diving Tours
Our diving tours in the great waters of Akumal and on the wonderful reefs of Cozumel Island offer you great diving all year round. We can't let you leave without visiting the magical Mexican cenotes, these huge underground sacred caves and river system where we assure you’ll have a magical experience. And, of course, the marvelous wreck dive of the C56 at Puerto Morelos, this astonishing 184-foot-long USS Knave (AM-256) was purposefully sunk to be served as a new Riviera Maya attraction for divers and home to many marine species such as Morays, Groupers, and flights of Eagle Rays amongst others!
The Riviera Maya really is Open for diving all year round. A must-visit destination for anyone who wants to experience the beauty and diversity of the underwater world. It's because of all of these reasons that we invite you to come and enjoy the marvelous experiences that exist in the waters of Riviera Maya.
