The Best Reefs near Cancun & Playa del Carmen to Snorkel or Scuba Dive

Cancun city is famous for its natural beauty, relaxing atmosphere, wildlife, and world-class varieties of coral reefs. Are you wondering about the best reefs near Cancun & Playa to snorkel or scuba dive while aboard your private yacht rental Playa Del Carmen, read on further? The crystal clear waters of the Mexican Caribbean provide an excellent opportunity to view the diverse variety of reef formations.

It’s actually an animal. Deep water levels are considered best for the reefs to grow. The most amazing factor about reefs is that scientists believe that there might be thousands of species more of which are yet to be discovered.

Did you know?“Reefs play a significant part in the formation of the white sandy beaches & protecting coastline erosion!!”

Recreational divers can explore the most complex ecosystem of the underwater world of these destinations, which are home to more than a thousand species of marine flora & fauna. 

When in Cancun, witness the bond of harmony that exists between the wide array of colorful, beautiful & unique species of both aquatic plants and animals. Snorkel or scuba dive these reefs and get an idea of how beautiful the underwater world of the Caribbean Ocean is, and yet so little we know about it.

CANCUN: Manchones and Punta Nizuc are two of the best reefs one can find near Cancun. Manchones is a 12-kilometer long reef, located 10 minutes off the coast of Isla Mujeres while Punta Nizuc reef is located near an isloated beach of Cancun. Right after the Jungle Tour, set out to snorkel in its clear, warm, and shallow water.

PLAYA  DEL CARMAN: Tortuga and Barracuda are two of the best reefs amongst many that can be found in Playa Del Carman. Tortuga is one of the best and most popular dives in Playa del Carmen where you can find corals and sponges and numerous varieties of marine species such as crabs, nurse sharks, angelfish, and sea turtles. Barracuda, which is situated south of Playa del Carmen, a nice reef site located at a depth of 15m. Rich in marine life sich as eels, boxfish, angelfish and flutes.

Cancun's coral reef is home to around 500 varieties of fish, dolphins, turtles, algae and many other types of starfish, squids, sponges, and mollusks that welcome you for an altogether amazing experience of their world. On the other hand, in Playa, you can witness groupers and stingrays, school of fishes, and many crustaceans, turtles, moray eels, scorpion fish, bull sharks, eagle rays, and many other marine animals. The common species of turtle such as the loggerheads, green turtles, and hawksbill can also be found in the reefs of Cancun. 

Cancun and Riviera Maya's Playa del Carmen both are part of the world's second largest barrier reef – Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. It’s no wonder there are 65 documented varieties of coral reef in Cancun and more than 10 reef dive sites in Playa, just waiting for you to enjoy during your diving vacation aboard your own private yacht rental Playa Del Carmen.

Many dive sites of Cancun and Playa Del Carman boast some spectacular fan corals. They are usually bright in color and the shape is just like that of a fan. They attach themselves in the sea bed and grow to several feet high.

Fire coral is usually bright yellow-green and brown in color and only found in Cancun. Due to its “branch” characteristics, it does not look like a common reef formation. A word of caution: Stay away!! As contact with this coral can cause skin irritation and nasty scratches. This coral was used to form the ‘Man on Fire’ in Cancun’s Underwater Museum. Broken branches were taken from the seabed and attached to the life-sized Cancun museum statue. This statue can be seen whilst diving in Cancun.

As the name itself suggests, the polyps within a colony form the head of brain coral and these polyps are identical. It is the finest example of a stony coral and they use their tentacles to catch food at night & to protect themselves during the day. Brain coral also grows to immense sizes and can have a life span of up to 900 years. Certainly, you will come across this formation when diving in Cancun and Playa Del Carmen.

The yacht rental in Playa Del Carmen diving vacation offers a wide range of scuba tours in Playa and Cancun locations. What are you waiting for? Come and explore this whole new dimension! Don't forget to carry your camera with you because these coral reef dive sites are exclusive to these two stunning Mexican cities.