Xcalak Diving

Discover Banco Chinchorro Atoll’s vibrant coral reefs and impressive shipwrecks or enjoy drift, wall and reef diving opportunities at Xcalak; a small and perfectly situated Mexican dive destination. Canyon reef formations with huge nesting groupers and majestic chambers lit by sunlight from above will take your breath away.
 

 

Diving in Xcalak

Xcalak (pronounced “ish-ka-lak”) is a small village on the east coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula that is about 50km south of Mahahual in the state of Quintana Roo. It is only 10km north from the border with neighbouring country Belize. A section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System is located just offshore from Xcalak and is protected by its designation as a Mexican National Marine Reef Park – Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak.

Just north of the marine park is Banco Chinchorro, an atoll that is part of the protected Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. For many divers, Banco Chinchorro, located just 30km offshore, is the main attraction. It is known for its vibrant coral reefs and many shipwrecks. Xcalak itself only has a few dive shops and one dive resort, but they have the correct permits for diving in the marine park and run daily trips. These dive shops also offer certification courses for beginners. Liveaboard dive boats are not common in this area since all dive sites are a short boat ride away.

Best time to dive

Xcalak is a popular dive destination year-round. Surface water temperatures are consistently warm and only cool slightly during the winter months. Temperatures can range from 25°C (78°F) in the winter to 28°C (82°F) in the summertime. For great visibility, May through November is the best time to visit. Keep in mind, though, that this overlaps with the hurricane season in this region. If you want to increase your chances of coming across pelagic species, make sure to visit Xcalak in the winter.

Types of diving

Xcalak has reef-diving, drift-diving, wall-diving, and wreck-diving opportunities at offshore sites both in the Xcalak Reef National Marine Park and Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Most dive sites are beginner-friendly, though there are a few deep dives in areas with swift currents that are recommended for advanced divers only.

What to see

As part of a protected area, the dive sites near Xcalak consist of healthy coral reefs and vibrant flora and fauna. Divers can expect to see lobsters, stingrays, groupers, angelfish, damselfish, and hundreds of other fish. Green, Hawksbill, and Loggerhead turtles are also frequently spotted in this area. If you’re lucky, you may come across a manatee hanging out around the mangrove roots at Banco Chinchorro atoll. 

Best places to dive

Xcalak boasts a diverse set of dive sites. Banco Chinchorro has pristine coral reefs, abundant wildlife, and many shipwrecks-turned-artificial reefs to explore. The conditions at Banco Chinchorro (and the recommended diver experience level) can vary greatly depending on which side of the atoll you dive.

At “La Poza”, otherwise known as “The Tarpon Hole”, manatees and large schools of Tarpon fish are frequent visitors. Depending on the day’s conditions, a dive at this site can vary from a reef dive to a drift dive. With a range of depth from 10-25m, this dive can be tailored for beginner or advanced divers.

“La Chimenea” is a deeper dive site, with a maximum depth of about 35m. This site consists of a vibrant coral garden and a wall that descends to a large chamber called “The Cathedral”. This majestic chamber has an opening at the top, which allows natural sunlight to stream through with stunning beams. The wall dive then continues to the vertical “Chimney”, which spits out divers at the top of the reef.  

“Hob Na” is known as the “Grouper Hangout”, since this is where groupers nest. Like other nearby dive sites, “Hob Na” consists of tall canyon reef formations, and some have large tunnels between them. Novice divers can stay shallow by diving along the tops of the reef ridges; advanced divers can go deeper and explore the tunnels.

The “Santa Julia” dive site has various reef formations separated by wide canyons and is home to large barrel sponges. Since the current at this site flows to the north, divers usually end up at the “Punta Gavilan” site to see the schools of Atlantic Spadefish and Snapper.