Photo by Craig Grobler

Whether you’re an experienced diver or wanting to learn the art, Akumal provides the perfect ecological setting to view amazing specimens of natural beauty underwater.  Akumal is a tourist resort community located 62 miles south of Cancun, between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, with a small local population of 1,198.

The name “Akumal” means “place of the turtles” in Mayan language.  Surrounding bodies of water and fine, white sandy beaches provide the perfect setting for many sea turtles’ breeding grounds.

Akumal was founded in 1958 specifically as a community for scuba divers to experience the many species and types of turtles which call the area “home”.  Akumal Bay and Half Moon Bay provide optimal opportunities to survey the land and underwater life via diving tours and expeditions.

For experienced divers, local dive shops offer a variety of exciting diving trips to the 30 reef sites which include shipwrecks, cenotes and caverns and a breathtaking amount of marine life that you can see. The dive shop makes all the arrangements and you can rent a tank, mask, flippers and anything else you need. You can book an all day diving excursion or if you are more adventurous, you can dive the caves, caverns and cenotes that make Akumal famous. People from all over the world come to explore the cenotes and caves of Akumal and this small village is truly a diver’s paradise.

Dive shops also teach courses so you can get certified to dive in open water. They teach at all levels from resort course to advanced cave diving.  And what better place to learn to dive than Akumal, one of the best places in the world to go diving? These PADI Certified Instructors will guide you through the process of certification so you can enjoy exploring the wonders of the reef that awaits you in Akumal.

Cavern and cave diving is a popular activity for tourists.  These caves are called “cenote”, which means “sacred well” in Mayan.  Dive packages offer several destinations and different depths of diving, group packages, equipment rental and instruction to fit varying diver needs.

One of the shallow diving sites which are very popular is Cuevas de Tiburones.  This site features reef overhangs which provide an optimum sleeping spot for nurse sharks.  Las Redes offers an abundance of marine life, schools of fish, barracudas, stingrays, lobsters and sea turtles.  Yal-ku is a popular feeding site chock full of Elkhorn coral structures, tunnels and lobster.

Other shallow dives are found at Dick’s Reef and Motorcycle Reef.  Motorcycle Reef is named so for the 15-year-old motorcycle which is now covered with live coral and plankton that nourishes local ocean life.

Deep divers enjoy an afternoon at Tzimin-Ha, which features ruins from a 20-foot fishing boat wreck.  Dives up to 100’ deep are found at Trigger Fish, which is a favorite deep dive spot for locals.  Here, widespread patches of coral contrast with the sandy white beaches among various forms of tropical fish for a colorful array of rare surroundings.

Xaar Beach and Gonzalo’s Reef offer various types of feeding grounds for several different species of sea turtles for a once-in-a-lifetime diving experience.  Xaar features reef fingers reaching 30’ up from the ocean floor, as well as turtles, nurse sharks and stingrays.  Gonzalo’s Reef is famous for its large and vivid reef fingers; visitors are virtually guaranteed a view of Hawksbill, Green, or Loggerhead turtles which use the area for feeding and play time.

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Akumal Bay is known for its various species of sea turtles which use the grounds for breeding, feeding and rearing their young.  This provides an optimal opportunity to experience the animals in their natural habitat, including the many colorful species of fish and plant life.

Snorkeling and scuba diving are perhaps the most popular activities to pursue during a visit to Akumal, but snorkeling offers a less physical demanding and technical option.  With a short instruction course and the ideal site choice, snorkeling is quite easy for even first-time novices.

One popular area for snorkeling in Akumal is the Yal-ku lagoon.  This area is an extremely rare environment where fresh water coincides with salt water from the ocean.  The combination of the two types of water is called a “halocline” effect.

Only very specific species can survive and prosper in this halocline lagoon, and the mixture of salt and fresh water supplies creates an altered appearance of the water itself.  Many species found in this area are not found anywhere else in the world, and have been featured on many travel channel specials in recent years.

Casa Cenote is a lagoon featuring mangroves and colorful fish displays.  Interested snorkelers find the fossils in Cenote at Dosojos quite interesting for a day of exploration.  Many of the fossils seen at Dosojos date back to Mayan civilizations that once inhabited the area.

Snorkel lessons are always a good idea for first-timers prior to traveling to one of these sites.  Although the activity is not difficult, some find that they are uncomfortable with the equipment or unsure how to best view the underwater life while safely using it.

A popular activity for locals and tourists alike is night snorkeling.  Typically, a flashlight is used in conjunction with traditional snorkeling equipment for this activity.

Many species which are not seen during daylight hours can be viewed when snorkeling at night.  This is typically because they are night-feeders or resting during the day.

The octopus is a perfect example of this phenomenon.  Octopuses only come out to feed at nighttime, and change color when a flashlight beam is focused on them.  Virtually all of the life seen at night is safe for swimmers, so night snorkeling is a family-friendly activity as well.

Plant life and some types of fish are also luminescent at night.  This creates greenish lights shining either continuously or flashing after daylight hours – quite a show for someone who is only accustomed to snorkeling during the day!

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Divers throughout the world know that the small village of Akumal offers some of the best diving opportunities in the world. Located just of the coast of Akumal is the world’s second largest reef which offers a diverse range of diving experiences ranging from ship wreck diving to cave diving and snorkeling excursions.

This village is located 65 miles south of Cancun and just 50 miles from the airport, so getting there is convenient. There are a variety of lodging choices to make your stay more comfortable. Then there are the dive shops. Akumal has many dive shops which not only offer equipment rental and tours, but they also offer the novice the opportunity to get their PADI certification.

Akumal is small and unobtrusive and offers the diver an alternative to the often crowded resorts of Cancun and the rest of the Mexican Caribbean. For the causal snorkeling, Yalku Lagoon offers the perfect place to snorkel the day away. There are two very tranquil bays that are perfect for snorkeling and observing marine life.

For serious divers, area dive shops offer a variety of exciting diving excursions to the 30 reef sites which include shipwrecks, cenotes and caverns and a breathtaking array of marine life that you can experience. The dive shop makes all the arrangements for you; you can rent a tank, mask, flippers and anything else you need. You can arrange an all day diving excursion or if you are more adventurous, you can explore the caves, caverns and cenotes that Akumal is famous for. Divers from all over the world come to explore the cenotes and caves of Akumal and that is what makes this small village a diver’s mecca.

Dive shops can also help the aspiring diver gain their certification so they can dive in open water. They have courses at all levels from resort course to advanced and what better place to learn to dive than in one of the best places to go diving in the world. There are qualified instructors who will guide you through the process of certification so you can enjoy the wonders of the ocean that await you off the coast of Akumal.

There are so many excursions from Akumal for the diver to enjoy. There is a day long diving excursion to Cozumel Island, or you can explore the lagoons and reefs that are teeming with tropical fish and colorful coral that are bound to hook even the most seasoned diver. Akumal may be a small village, but it offers big opportunities for divers and snorkelers who want to experience all the beauty that this region of the Yucatan has to offer. For more information on where to stay while in Akumal, visit HotelsCombined.com.

When traveling to Akumal Mexico one nearly passes this small quiet village by without realizing that it is actually one of the Caribbean coast’s best locations for diving and snorkeling on the Yucatan Peninsula. Akumal is located a mere 65 miles to the south of the Cancun resort area and 50 miles from the Mexican airport. It may be small but it is the ideal vacation get away for families or divers who wish to escape the daily rush of Mexico’s often crowded beaches. Located in Akumal are two very tranquil bays as well as the Yalku Lagoon which is perfect for family swimming or snorkeling. The area boasts of 30 beautiful reef sites that are ideal for diving while the beautiful white sandy beaches invite one to enjoy the relaxing Mexican sun.

There is an abundance of accommodations in Akumal, five different restaurants which offer local and European Fare, several grocery stores, a few boutiques or gift shops plus an excellent Dive Shop. Most of these attractions are within a 15 minute walk of one and other. The best part of this small village is that should you be interested in snorkeling, diving, fishing or merely relaxing in the warm Mexican sun you will find you can walk to the various locations although buses and taxis are readily available should you desire them.

The temperatures in Akumal range around 80 degree during September to April and during the rest of the year you can expect 90 degree temperatures. The area receives a gentle sea breeze from the nearby Caribbean and during the winter season you may require a sweater in the evenings.

The local dive shop will setup your equipment and have it ready for your dive when you arrive at the dock. They have all the necessary diving equipment you will need at reasonable rental rates. You will be provided with an 80 cu. Ft aluminum tank which is filled to approximately 3000 psi. You will board one of the 28 foot open panga boats docked nearby. The dives are generally limited to eight people plus the dive master and the ships captain. Should you happen to be part of a larger group you can easily make special arrangements for all members to dive.

Most of the arranged dives are drift dives which take place over very stunning and colorful coral reefs. The typically currents are weak in this area and water temperature hover around 82 degree. The underwater visibility in the area can reach 50 feet up to 150 feet depending upon the weather. A light wet suit is recommended during the winter season.

If you are seeking a pristine location with clear water and an abundance of undersea life to view during your next dive adventure then Akumal Mexico is the place you just may be looking for.

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