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A scuba diver swims with a fish near a vibrant coral reef in Cozumel, Mexico's clear waters.
📷 Matias Mango · Pexels

Bajo de Molas

3.6 — based on 21 community signals
4.1 12 species 17 contributors

Bajo de Molas is a year-round Mexican dive destination with healthy coral and rich marine life observations.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
PhotoFriendlyHealthyReef

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round
Marine life
Bottlenose dolphin

Top operators here

See all operators ↓

Map

This spot Operators Airport Nearby spots
Bajo de Molas location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
5.2 kn
Wave
0.7 m
Water
30.1°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: ESE (28%)
Now: N (4°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.26m

Today: High 05:00 (+0.18m), Low 11:00 (-0.01m)

+0.3 m0 m-0.0 m
▲ 05:00 · +0.18m ▼ 11:00 · -0.01m ▲ 17:00 · +0.14m ▼ 23:00 · +0.02m Now +0.2m
Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24
UV8.45 · very high Air PM2.53 · good 06:34 18:46
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-18 7.8 0.72 8 1mm
09-19 8.7 0.7 8 6mm
09-20 7.9 0.66 8 8mm
09-21 11.6 0.72 8 14mm
09-22 14.8 0.66 8 21mm
09-23 9.7 0.62 8 12mm
09-24 7.8 0.56 8 11mm

About this spot

Bajo de Molas is a reef system off Mexico's coast that offers consistent diving throughout the year. The site supports a diverse ecosystem with documented observations of 12 distinct marine species, indicating a healthy and active underwater environment. The location sits outside a marine protected area, making it accessible to independent divers and operators seeking to explore Mexico's coastal waters. The reef structure provides habitat for a variety of fish and invertebrate life. Community contributions, including three video records, have documented the site's character and conditions. Coral health at Bajo de Molas shows no signs of bleaching stress, suggesting stable water conditions and a thriving biological community. Divers visiting Bajo de Molas can expect to encounter the typical pelagic and reef-dwelling species found along Mexico's coasts. The year-round availability makes planning straightforward for those interested in exploring this less-documented dive site. Local knowledge and pre-dive research are recommended to confirm current conditions and access details before arrival.

📖 Guide: Diving in Mexico: 51 Sites from Cenotes to Shark Dives

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Marine life

Bottlenose dolphin

Dive types

ReefPelagic / blue water

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type A/B · 127V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 49%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 7979km · ~1835kg · €33

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 96/100
  • Visa: Visa-free · 90 days max
  • Flight: 11h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 1h east · 1 day recovery

FAQ

When is the best time to dive Bajo de Molas?

Bajo de Molas is diveable year-round, so you can plan your trip based on your schedule and personal preferences for weather and travel conditions.

What marine life can I expect to see?

The site has 12 documented species observations. Specific details on target species aren't publicly available, so check with local dive operators or the community videos for recent sightings.

What's the condition of the coral?

Coral at Bajo de Molas shows no bleaching stress, indicating healthy conditions. The reef ecosystem appears stable and intact.

Is Bajo de Molas inside a protected area?

No, Bajo de Molas is not located inside a marine protected area, so standard Mexican diving regulations and permits apply.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

62 records · 46 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Ophiothrix angulata var. atrolineata

Ophiuroidea · Ophiotrichidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 2006
×2records
Depth:
4–6 m

Ophiolepis impressa

Ophiuroidea · Ophiolepididae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 2000
×3records
Depth:
1–18 m

Ophiocomella pumila

Ophiuroidea · Ophiocomidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 2000
×1records
Depth:
18 m

Ophionereis reticulata

Ophiuroidea · Ophionereididae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 2000
×1records
Depth:
18 m

Ophioderma rubicundum

Ophiuroidea · Ophiodermatidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 2000
×1records
Depth:
18 m

Ophioderma cinereum

Ophiuroidea · Ophiodermatidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 2000
×1records
Depth:
18 m

Ophiopsila hartmeyeri

Ophiuroidea · Ophiopsilidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 2000
×1records
Depth:
18 m

Ophiocoma echinata

Ophiuroidea · Ophiocomidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 2000
×1records
Depth:
18 m

Stylaster

Hydrozoa · Stylasteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
15 Mar 1998
×2records
Depth:
174–348 m

Lysidice caribensis

Polychaeta · Eunicidae
OBIS
Last seen:
31 Aug 1997
×1records
Depth:
3 m

Ophiocomella ophiactoides

Ophiuroidea · Ophiocomidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 1997
×1records
Depth:
3 m

Ophiothrix brachyactis

Ophiuroidea · Ophiotrichidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 1997
×1records
Depth:
5 m

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Explore Baja - Scuba Diving in the Sea of Cortez (HD1080)

John Sambogna
💬 3 top comments
  • Brilliant video, thanks so much for sharing with us!

    @dgkiwi1 · 👍 1
  • Such great memories...! Well done "panga pal & dive buddy"! Hope to see you underwater again soon!! "GOT AIR?" ...... the anchor finder... ;)

    @seastarson · 👍 2
  • 4:32 dude almost got his face biten off

    @workhardplayhard3206 · 👍 0

Top 10 Best Cenotes in Mexico’s Yucatan - Travel Video 2023

Travel Insights
💬 3 top comments
  • What are the incredible water bodies 😮😮

    @chandankeshri1420 · 👍 1
  • México is beautiful, extraordinary, unmatched.

    @AuroraR295 · 👍 5
  • 👌

    @esperanzamelo3118 · 👍 1

The Most Dangerous Dive Site in New Mexico

Scary Interesting
💬 3 top comments
  • Hey everyone! I hope you have a great Sunday, and thanks to everyone who sent in a story suggestion or feedback in the recent post!

    @ScaryInteresting · 👍 1100
  • The best thing about caving, scuba diving, and cave diving, is that you don't have to do any of them.

    @LordMarcus · 👍 12000
  • things I learned from this video: 1. Always follow the plan 2. Don't panic 3. Never dive, ever.

    @Atomic_Mousetrap · 👍 1300
wind peaks Jan-Mar-Feb, calmest Jul-Aug-Sep, dry Jan-Dec.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: Mar (100/100) Worst: Jan (0/100) Now: Sep (32/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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