Is Scuba Diving In Akumal Worth It? Epic Or Not? Find Out Here

Is scuba diving in Akumal worth it? Is it the fabulous place to dive you've heard about, or is it an over-rated, over-priced, unsafe, and crowded tourist haven with beaches covered in Sargassum year-round? Find out below if diving in Akumal is the real deal.

So, let's begin with the potential negatives.

The best and most authentic way to decide if scuba diving in Akumal is over-rated is to ask divers. There are two dive shops at Akumal Bay. On TripAdvisor, one is rated 5/5, and the other is rated 4.5/5. Pretty darn stellar. And that's from nearly 2,000 reviewers! Some of the most popular mentions in these reviews are

A snorkeling tour of Akumal Bay costs $40 USD per person. And this includes the use of the dive center facilities, your equipment, a boat ride out into the bay, and a guided tour. Seems pretty reasonable, considering that Akumal snorkeling is the best place to swim with sea turtles in Mexico.

A 4-5 day PADI Open Water Dive certification program costs $450 USD. This includes all the necessary equipment, books, instruction from Master Divers, 5 theory sessions, 5 sessions on confined water skills, 4 open water dives, tanks for your scuba diving in Akumal, and everything you need for your certification. And if you get a diving vacation package, you receive discounts and free transportation from your accommodation. To find out more, contact us.

For a single dive, scuba diving in Akumal costs 960 pesos (~$55 USD). But if you buy packages of dives, you can get them for as low as 720 pesos (~ $40 USD) each. Pretty reasonable, some would say relatively inexpensive.

Over-priced? No.

However, not all beaches receive the same amount of Sargassum seaweed. Some receive much more significant amounts, while others receive much less. Akumal Bay is one of the beaches that receives less Sargassum than other beaches along the coast. For instance, the coastline south of Playa Del Carmen and past Akumal can sometimes be reported to have high levels of seaweed. Yet, beaches such as Akumal Bay often have much less seaweed. Also, even in extreme times, Akumal Bay has sections with little seaweed. This is in part because of the curvature of the bay and the protection offered by the barrier reef.

In addition, in recent years, local authorities have installed seaweed barriers that redirect the seaweed elsewhere. And local businesses also organize beach clean-up activities and remove any seaweed daily.

Year-Round Smelly Sargassum Covered Beach? You might experience some Sargassum seaweed if you visit between the end of April and September. However, with the natural contours of the bay, the protection offered by the barrier reef, the measures taken to prevent its arrival, and the daily clean-up – it's not likely to impact your visit very much. And if you're scuba diving in Akumal, there's lots of ocean and excellent dive sites where you won't experience any Sargassum. Also, you can go Akumal cenote diving (see below), where there isn't any Sargassum at any time of the year.

Set on the former site of a coconut plantation, Akumal is a quaint Mexican beachfront town. It was first founded in 1958 by Pablo Bush Romero. Because of the exotic coral reef surrounding the bay, it was set up as a community for scuba divers, and it soon became known as a local mecca for diving in Akumal.

One of the reasons that the Riviera Maya is such an excellent place for scuba diving is the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the variety of fish species, excellent facilities, experienced divemasters, and Akumal cenote diving.

Diving in Mexico is well-established and has a strong network of qualified and experienced divers. People who can guide or assist you in the planning and execution of dives. For example, the Akumal Dive Center, established in 1975, is the oldest in the Akumal area. Since 1975 they have overseen and guided over 1,000,000 dives!

"Absolutely one of the best places I have stayed while on a Diving trip in 10 years! The accommodations are "top notch" and very modern. The location is perfect for the area and the pool and jacuzzi at the condominium are beautiful and relaxing. Also, having a Washer/Dryer in the unit is exceptionally convenient. Also, you will have all the information you need for a smooth check-in, as almost all questions are answered before you even arrive. And, if you have any questions, the are immediately answered by either the owner or the very helpful staff. I will ABSOLUTELY be staying here again!" Tony, former US Navy Diver who stayed with us while diving in Akumal.

If You Needed More Reasons For Diving In Akumal

Ok, before we get into the details on the fantastic ocean diving sites and Akumal cenote diving sites, below are four more reasons (if you need them) why diving in Akumal is epic.

• Warm waters - The tropical temperatures allow you to continue enjoying the warm weather, even underwater, for longer dives.
• Visibility – The clear crystal waters of the Caribbean Sea offer divers a better visual experience with plenty of sunlight for excellent visibility.
• Less gear – Diving is much more fun when not wearing heavy dry suits and carrying additional equipment during immersion.
• Low stress – Let's be clear: scuba diving is a technical sport with a higher risk level than most activities. That said, diving in the calm waters of the Meso-American Reef is one of the less stressful diving adventures you'll find beside your local swimming pool.

This is the main reef for diving in Akumal. It is directly in front of Akumal Bay, with three different ranges of coral reef separated by transversal sand channels. The first coral reef starts at 30ft (10 m). This has a high diversity of marine species with an abundance of smaller fishes grouped in banks or large schools. The visibility is 35 ft (11 m). There is a large number of stony coral species, including Elkhorn (Acropora palmata), Deer Horn (Acropora cervicornix), and Lettuce (lobophytum).

This site was named after Old Dick. At 40′ to 50′, this is the most topographically diverse dive site in Akumal, with coral structures that reach 20′ from the bottom to interspersed islands of coral in the sand. For advanced divers, ask your divemaster to take you through the channels that cut under and through the reef. These short tunnels can sometimes bring encounters with sleeping nurse sharks and hunting barracuda.

Situated directly in front of Yal-ku Lagoon. While popular for snorkeling, this is also excellent for diving in Akumal. It is a shallow dive site (20′-50′) and the most famous feeding site due to its constant flow of nutrients in and out of the lagoon. Under the extensive and climbing Elkhorn coral structures, there are various tunnels to swim through. Don't be surprised to see more lobster here than you can count.

This 80′-90′ site has colorful reef fingers home to various fish of all shapes & sizes. Occasionally, a large jawfish or grouper will check you out while you're admiring the profuse sponges that cover this reef. Don't forget to download our marine sightings guide to discover the best months to see grouper and other species while diving in Akumal.

Trigger Fish is a unique site that is a local residents' favorite deep dive (60-100 ft. ). Widely separated coral patches make homes for many tropical fish not found at most other sites. The white sandy background brilliantly brings out the colors of the coral patches.

Only a 4-minute boat ride directly in front of Akumal Bay, this site (60-80 ft. ) is decorated by large, vivid reef fingers. You will see Hawksbill, Green, and Loggerhead turtles here feeding, playing, and checking out the visiting divers.

This 60-90 ft. dive site, located about 15 minutes north of the bay, is an exceptional dive. Reef fingers reach up to 30 feet from the sea floor. Turtles, nurse sharks, rays, and a bright spectrum of fish are common sightings here. As well you can plan a surface interval at Yalkuito's calm lagoon.

"Everything was as good or better than we thought it would be. The condo is well equipped 2 bedrooms with comfortable king sized beds, and well equipped kitchen. There is a balcony overlooking the road and jungle, great spot for morning coffee, or an evening cocktail. Nice pool and patio area out back, and the rooftop terrace with sun loungers and 2 hottubs was a great spot to get some morning sun with a great view." Dave

Dos Ojos is one of the most famous cenotes in the area and is known for its two connected sinkholes, resembling two eyes. It offers various dive routes with stunning rock formations and incredible visibility. This is the most popular Akumal cenote diving location.

Car Wash is a shallow cenote, making it suitable for snorkelers and novice divers. It gets its name because local taxi drivers used to wash their cars here, but now it's a popular dive site with a wide variety of aquatic life.

Tajma-Ha is another cenote offering excellent diving experiences with its intricate cave formations and large underwater chambers. It's suitable for divers of various skill levels in Akumal cenote diving. Its name was inspired by the famous mausoleum in India.

Akumal cenote diving doesn't get much better than this. Cenote Dreamgate is one of the most famous sinkholes in Mexico. Because of its stunningly decorative stalagmites and stalactites, Dreamgate was featured in the BBC documentary "Planet Earth."

The Pit is a deep cenote with a maximum depth of around 40 meters (130 feet). It's famous for its eerie halocline, where freshwater meets saltwater, creating a mesmerizing visual effect. A fantastic place for diving in Akumal (see below right).

This cenote is known for its beautiful sunlight filtering through the water, creating mesmerizing underwater landscapes. It's great for both novice and experienced divers.

Also known as the "Temple of Doom," it features three different holes or entrances, allowing divers to explore its unique formations and underwater tunnels.

Recently opened to the public, Tak Be Lum is hidden in the jungle and is an authentic introduction to cave diving. Its entrance is spectacular. Tak Be Lum is known for its formations, which can only be admired here, of particular form. It seems that the cave walls are made of plastic, and large fires have raged in some places. Nobody knows where these bubble-like formations come from. Due to its proximity to the surface and the amount of organic matter, it provides enough food for the curious blind fish, which can be seen here on almost every dive. Another Akumal cenote diving gem.

For those of you hooked and ready to experience ocean diving in Akumal and/or Akumal cenote diving, below is more info on your trip.

Akumal is between Playa Del Carmen and Tulum on the Mayan Riviera of Mexico. Driving 30 minutes south of Playa Del Carmen or 20 minutes north of Tulum along Highway 307, you'll arrive in Akumal. On the ocean side is the beach town, and across the highway is Akumal Pueblo. Getting to Akumal Beach is pretty straightforward. Collectivos (the white vans that travel up and down Highway 307) will drop you off at, or opposite, the entrance to Akumal Bay. It's about a 5-10 minute walk from the road to the beach.

If you're driving south from Playa Del Carmen, take the retorno and return north, turning right to head into the bay. As you enter from the highway towards the beach, there are several parking lots. Each one costs about 20 pesos an hour to park.

There is no bad time for scuba diving in Akumal. In fact, the water temperatures remain constant year-round and cool only slightly during the winter months.

December to April is considered the best time to visit Mexico and, therefore, the most popular time to dive in the Caribbean. Because the winter months constitute high season, you should book as early as possible to secure the best rate. On average, Akumal's water temperatures vary between 78 and 82ºF (25 and 28ºC).

The best time for Akumal cenote diving is between May and September. These months bring the best light to the caves, resulting in better photographs. From May to September, green and loggerhead turtles arrive to lay their eggs on the area's beaches.

"Cleanliness 10/10; Staff 10/10; Location 10/10; Facilities 10/10; Comfort 10/10; Value for money 10/10. El lugar es muy comodo y limpio. La anfitriona siempre dispuesta auxiliarnos y hacer la estancia muy agradable" (The place is very comfortable and clean. The host always willing to help us and make the stay very pleasant), Dalia

As well as the dive sites described above there are plenty of other diving opportunities. Including diving with Bull sharks, night dives, snorkeling with Whale sharks and much more.

Contact us for more information on scuba diving in Akumal. Or to book a dive along with your accommodation. We will happily provide a no-obligation quote.