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I think any time.. they do not disappear at any time of year! Still not sure how easy they are to see these days!
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Shore Day Trip Live Aboard
Country: Mexico Area: Mexico
Water Temp: 22 - 28°C (72 - 82°F)
Visibility: 30 - 30m (98 - 98 ft)
Depth Range: 5 - 35m (16 - 115 ft)
Book A Diving Trip OnlineTulum is famed for its beaches, ocean-side archeological sites and collection of cenotes. It's popular with divers, families and travelers alike.
Divers visit the area for the cenotes, with visiblity of over 100 meters. Underground rivers and caverns are filled with stalacites, stalagmites and a variety of fresh water fish.
The Caribbean is famous for its turquoise waters, white sand and coral reefs. Ocean dive sites off Tulum are located on the world’s second largest barrier reef, and offer opportunities for open water dives, advanced dives, caverns and cave diving, and night dives.
Sea Turtle, Credit
Tulum also has a well-preserved Mayan history and a jungle reserve.
Mostly sunny with blue skies. The rain and hurricane season is from September - December. Temperatures are between 25C to 35C for most of the year. Humidity is mostly 100%.
Beautiful beaches below El Castlio, Tulum, Credit
Tulum falls within the protected area of the Tulum Archeological Zone, the biosphere of Sian Ka’an and a natural marine reserve. There are a number of ongoing conservation and research projects, run by local and international organizations, as well as local businesses. Currently, much focus is on marine turtles.
Volunteering opportunities are available with marine-based conservation programs such as GVI and Go Eco.
Information support & photos, unless otherwise stated, thanks to: Koox Diving
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Most dive sites have a few shore dives suited to beginner divers and learners, but the majority of sites are reached by boat (or car).
The majority of ocean dive sites are within 15 minutes' boat ride from the shore. Soft and hard corals with a rich marine life. All sites are located along the world’s second largest coral reef barrier, which stretches from Mexico down to Honduras. Turtles, manta rays, lobsters, eels, countless species of fish and the occasional whale shark can be sighted here. The depths vary from 60m to 300m, depending on preferences and level of experience.
Diving in Tulum, Credit
The cenotes are fresh water caverns a few minutes' drive from most lodges. Cavern diving certifications are not required, but additional training is an option.
Diving Grand Cenote, Tulum, Credit
Liveaboards around the Yucutan peninsula focus on the islands offshore more than the dive sites around Tulum.
Turtle in Tulum, Credit
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Cancun is the nearest international airport. It takes approx. 2 hours from there to Tulum.
Diving Tulum's Cenotes, Credit
There are a number of options when traveling from Cancun to Tulum. Cars, taxis or private transfers are most comfortable but expensive. Taking a bus of a colectivo is cheaper but slower and less comfortable.
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Tulum is a Mexican international town. People visit throughout the year from around the world. Many restaurants serve variety of flavors. There are a number of Mexican restaurants as well as some from Argentina, Italy, India and Spain, vegetarian options and seafood.
Relaxing Seats in Jashita, Soliman Bay, Tulum, Credit
For fish and something quick, El Camello is a roadside stall run by a local fisherman's cooperative. For something more upscale, the Mexican restaurant Cetli is run by a chef from Mexico City and serves local specialities.
There are also a good number of bars on the beach. Anywhere from Papaya Playa (design hotels) to tiny local bars is filled with travelers. Papaya Playa frequently hosts parties and events featuring local talent.
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Around Tulum is a wide variety of activities suitable for most interests and budgets.
The Mayan ruins of Cobá are very close to Tulum, and day trips there are possible. They are located on cliffs overlooking the ocean, and are among the best preserved coastal Maya sites in the country. They are also the third most visited archeological site in Mexico.
The Reserva Biosfera Sian Ka’an is another day trip destination, for those keen on exploring the natural beauty on land.
Exploring El Castillo, Tulum, Credit
A full-day kayak tour is one option for those who prefer to stay in town and explore the ocean and shore. Sailing, fishing, snorkeling and kite surfing are also available. Some visitors prefer to spend their days relaxing along the shoreline and going swimming.
The Gran Cenote is only 3km from Tulum, and accessible by bicycle or taxi. Snorkeling the cenote reveals a number of small fish and underwater caverns. There are also a few smaller cenotes nearby.
If traveling with children a few dive shops and resorts offer diving in the open water and cenotes for children and beginners.
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Diving the Cenotes is a MUST in Tulum (cavern or cave diving are best left to experts in the field).
Taxis charge a lot more than regular prices.
Ask a concierge for further information including prices.
Iguana in Tulum, Credit
There are not many scams - people in town are very friendly.
Don't lose sight of personal belongings. Hotel names may look and sound similar. Understand that Tulum is in Tulum and not the Riviera Maya. Even though they are connected they are not the same.
The nearest hyperbaric chamber is in Cancun, 131km north of Tulum by road. The drive takes just under 2 hours.
Hi. We will be in Tulum in June. I have seen a lot of comments about Cenote diving in the area but not many regarding reef diving. I presume that is because the Cenote diving is so unique to this area of Mexico and not for lack of good reef diving. Comments?
Thanks
Bruce
WE are renting a house "Casa Dena" just north of Tulsayab. Wondering if the water in the 2 bays right there is good for shore dives?
Thanks
Could you tell me please, what is the best time to see manatees in Sian Ka'an? Thank you.
I think any time.. they do not disappear at any time of year! Still not sure how easy they are to see these days!
Stayed in GBPT in Riviera Maya Mexico for a two week holiday with my girlfriend. I knew this was the time of year Whale Sharks are around Holbox, Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy and so I booked to swim with them. Not only did we see these in Mexico we saw a Flying Gurnard at our resort reef which was beautiful, we saw Southern Stingray and Green Sea Turtles at Akumal and also a great Barracuda which was enormous! The other thing I saw was what I think was a Lesser Electric Ray (Carribean Ray) also at our hotels reef. I definitley reccomend Mexico for its snorkelling and diving!
I want to dive here next June, are there whale shark there then? Or will it be too early?
We snorkeled with about 50 whale sharks and 5 mantas on June 22 this year. They said the day before there were only about 7 or 8 sharks so it is a bit dependent on luck.
We have dived three cenotes as part of a dive trip in the Cozumel/Playa del Carmen area. Dos Ojos, Carwash and Gran Cenote.
This whole part of Mexico has this huge network of underground rivers called cenotes and a large number can be dived without needing a cave diving qualification. Although you can go from Playa del Carmen, Tulum is better because there is no ocean diving to speak of so all the dive operators in town specialise in cenote diving, and many of the good ones are only a few minutes drive away.
A quick look on Google images will give you a good idea of what to expect. Provided you are OK with confined spaces, although some of the caverns are huge and you have good buoyancy, I would recommend this to everyone. Even poor air-consumers are fine because the dives are relatively shallow (rarely more than 15 metres) and the water is still, the dives are really gentle. Strict rules apply to those that lead the dives, which are actually treated as cave dives in terms of redundant gear, even though they are not. For non cave divers you will always be able to see the surface even though it may be up to 60 metres away. Visibility, subject to the amount of available light is to all practical purposes, unlimited.
Because the dives are shallow there is little in the way of surface interval, so by the time you have driven from one cenote to the next and kitted up, you are ready to go again.
One other thing; because the water is so clean (it's effectively spring water that has filtered through the limestone) your kit will be cleaner at the end than at the beginning and will be ready-rinsed.
It is the wet season between August and November and it can be very wet apparently. We're here in June which is off season but that is all plusses for us, it's quite (we were the only divers with the guide today - they are allowed a maximum of four divers) yet apart from the occasional shower it's been continuous sun. But this is proper heat 38 degrees C.
Yes but as each leader is limited to four divers and the one we had was very safety conscious it's not hugely important
This diving sounds really fun! The divers with 5 tanks.. that sort of cave diving just scares me!
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Claudia Kane
You see a lot of Cenote´s diving because it´s a unique thing to do, but the reefs in that part of the Caribbean are awesome. If you drive 45 minutes from Tulum to Playa del Carmen, you can take a boat to Cozumel that has the secondbiggest
Claudia Kane
You see a lot of Cenote´s diving because it´s a unique thing to do, but the reefs in that part of the Caribbean are awesome. If you drive 45 minutes from Tulum to Playa del Carmen, you can take a boat to Cozumel that has the secondbiggest
Claudia Kane
You see a lot of Cenote´s diving because it´s a unique thing to do, but the reefs in that part of the Caribbean are awesome. If you drive 45 minutes from Tulum to Playa del Carmen, you can take a boat to Cozumel that has the secondbiggest