ISLA MUJERES 
SCUBA DIVING

Casetas is part of the Chairel, a car ferry deliberately sunk in the year 2000 to create an artificial reef. What should have been a straightforward sinking didn’t quite go as planned. The ferry encountered weather issues during its descent, capsized, and landed upside down on the seabed.

Manchones 1 is ideal for snorkelers, divers, and photographers. Its shallow depths and clear turquoise waters offer rich marine life and exploration opportunities. The warm currents provide a comfortable diving experience. Its name reflects its stain-like appearance "manchas" from above.

Manchones 2 offers little to no current, excellent sunlight, great visibility, and coarse white sand, making it an ideal spot for snorkelers. It is suitable for both recreational and educational dives.

C-55 USS (AM283), renamed ARM Lieutenant Juan de la Barrera C-55, was sunk in the year 2000 for diving purposes. Today, it is home to thousands of inhabitants of an ever-developing ecosystem.

The shipwreck C-58, was intentionally sunk to create an artificial reef. She now rests at a depth of 26 meters (85 feet). This deep dive site is home to a vibrant underwater ecosystem and attracts eagle rays from December to late March, making it a favorite among experienced divers.

Its long overhang and gentle currents maintain a healthy ecosystem, making it ideal for photographers and offering a relaxing drift diving experience. Divers can easily follow the coral-covered edge while encountering vibrant marine life in the clear waters.

Grampin, named for its reef shape, means "anchor" in Mexican Spanish. This dive site features mild to moderate currents and offers drift diving opportunities suitable for divers of all experience levels. It includes swim-throughs and shallow valleys filled with corals and sponges.

The Chairel started as a car ferry between Isla Mujeres and Cancun in the late 1980s. It was intentionally sunk on October 18, 2000, to create an artificial reef but capsized due to bad weather. Despite being upside down, it has become an exciting dive site, attracting marine life and divers.

Ultrafreeze, or El Frio, is a 61 mt/200 ft former cargo ship sunk as an artificial reef off the Caribbean coast. Named for the cooler waters near it, the ship was sunk in 1979 after a fire. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 split the hull, exposing the interior and making it a popular destination

Banderas Reef is a dive site known for its light current and rich biodiversity. Although it is a bit farther from Manchones Reef, it is part of Punta Cancun. This greater distance means fewer dive operations use the site, making it less crowded and more popular among experienced divers.

A stunning dive site that features a small shipwreck abundant with marine life. A gentle current will guide you over reef balls that were placed there in 2005 to enhance the reef system, providing crucial habitat for fish. The dive concludes at the vibrant Manchones reef.

This unique dive site is part of MUSA. It features a variety of sculptures by international artists, including underwater houses, grenades, a time bomb, and a Seascape that resembles a portal to another dimension. Be sure to look for a hidden space invader created by a famous urban street artist!

Just south of Manchones Reef stands a cross protecting local fishermen. Mexican diver Ramón Bravo initiated the project in 1993. He conceived the idea of submerging a religious symbol to divert tourists and reduce disturbances to marine life.

This reef dive site is situated at the base of Manchones 1. With minimal current, this reef provides a relaxed and easy diving experience, making it perfect for recreational divers, photographers, and those looking to start or continue their diver education.

Isla Mujeres is home to many species of sea turtles, inc: Green turtles, Hawksbill turtles, and Loggerhead turtles. The island is situated in the middle of the migration path, meaning visitors can witness them in their masses, coming to feed, mate, and nest during certain times of the year

Each year from late October until early March the shipwrecks surrounding Isla Mujeres turn into a virtual "fly zone" for huge groups of spotted eagle rays. Gliding effortlessly, eagle rays are the sentries that patrol enormous territories each day in search of food, mates, and amusement.

The No Name Reef has a coral wall rising 2-3 meters (6-10 feet) on one side and an algae plain on the other, forming a half-moon shape. It’s a popular drift dive site known for moderate currents where divers often see pelagic marine life, including large eels and sometimes blacktip sharks.

Swimming with whale sharks is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is both exhilarating and awe-inspiring. It is a chance to connect with nature and witness the beauty of these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

Sleeping Shark Cave, about a 30-minute boat ride from Isla Mujeres, is a fascinating site where sharks appear to sleep in caves, first discovered by local fisherman "La Valvula." This unique dive location has drawn visitors for decades and was documented by Jacques Cousteau and Ramon Bravo in 1970.

Set off into the infamous Isla Mujeres sunset and descend down under the wave as the stars begin to shine. Night dives are a unique and unforgettable experience that brings ocean creatures to life.