Tulum is one of my favorite diving destinations in the world because it offers both ocean diving and cenote diving! This Tulum diving guide gives you the best diving months, resorts, shops, tours, and sites.

The Ultimate Tulum Travel Guide

This post focuses on cenotes and dive sites that only require an Open Water Diver certification. Tulum is one of the few places in the world where you can go cenote diving, so don’t miss out on this unique experience!

Get ready to explore the underwater world with this Tulum Diving Guide!

When To Dive

Tulum is an excellent year-round diving destination. Water temperatures in the Spring, Summer, and Fall average 82°F/28°C. The winter is only slightly cooler, with water temperatures averaging 78°F/25°C.

This part of the Yucatan Peninsula can have strong winds and currents. Three of the five dive days I had planned for my trip were cancelled because of the wind. Thankfully, Tulum also has cenote diving, which isn’t affected by wind or currents any time of the year.

For uncrowded sites and maximum visibility, book your Tulum dive vacation between May and November. This is Tulum’s off-season, when crowds and prices will be lower.

In the summer, green, loggerhead, and hawksbill turtles arrive to lay eggs on the white sand beaches. For whale sharks, June-September is best. From November to March, see bull sharks as they arrive en masse for breeding season.

Dive Resorts and Shops

Tulum only has one hotel with an on-site dive shop, Catalonia Hotel Tulum. This adults-only resort hosts Pro Dive International, which offers cenote, reef, bull shark, whale shark, and wreck dives. The dive center is equipped for both beginners and advanced divers, offering Nitrox and equipment rental.

Your best bet in Tulum is to choose the hotel or vacation home you want, then book dives through local dive shops. Dive shops I recommend are INFINITY2 Diving, Tulum Diving Center, Flying Fish Tulum, and Mexidivers.

Dive Tours

Ocean Dive Sites

Cuevitas. This reef site is shallow, with a maximum depth of 36 feet/11 meters. There are open areas of coral and small arches you can swim through. You’ll be able to see lots of reef fish, and lobsters and blowfish are common sightings.

Coquitos. This is a reef and sandy bottom dive that goes to a maximum depth of 39 feet/12 meters. There are small caves to explore, and common marine life sightings include angelfish, stingray, moray eel, sea urchin, lobster, sea anemone, flamingo tongue, triggerfish, shrimp, grunts, crabs, and spider crabs.

More Dive Guides

Ballena. A reef and sandy bottom dive with a maximum depth of 39 feet/12 meters. There are natural channels you can swim through, and you have a high chance of seeing parrotfish, angelfish, trumpetfish/pipefish, nurse sharks, sea turtles, moray eel, brain coral, gorgonian fan, sergeant major, drum fish, crabs, monecomb ell, and stingray.

Piscina. This reef diving site is in front of the Tulum ruins. It’s part of the Great Meso American Reef, so you can expect a multitude of tropical fish, corals, and marine life. The coral structures are relatively large here, and you can swim through channels in between coral formations. The maximum dive depth is 39 feet/12 meters.

Best Cenotes for Diving

First on the list is Dos Ojos, located in the Tulum area. This cenote is known for its unique topography, which includes two separate caves connected by a large cavern. You can expect to see stalactites, stalagmites, and bat colonies.

Next up is Tajma Ha Cenote, which offers a more challenging dive experience because of its deeper depths and tighter spaces. However, the rewards are worth it – you can admire beautiful rock formations, swim-throughs, and marine life.

Gran Cenote is the perfect choice for those seeking a more serene experience. This cenote has crystal clear waters and plenty of natural light, allowing for stunning views of the underwater landscape. It’s also home to a variety of fish species and turtles.

Last but not least, Chac Mool is a cenote offering beautiful underwater scenery and a unique cultural experience. The cenote is adjacent to a pre-Columbian temple, adding a layer of history and significance to the dive.

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This Tulum diving guide is not a sponsored post, and the thoughts and opinions expressed in this Tulum diving guide are entirely my own. Some of the links in this Tulum diving guide are affiliate links, and at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission from this Tulum diving guide.