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Explore the diverse marine life and vivid coral in Akumal, Mexico's underwater paradise.
📷 Thomas Judge · Pexels

Chun Chacaaab Reef

3.5 — based on 14 community signals
4.3 12 species 31 contributors

Chun Chacaaab Reef offers year-round diving in Mexico with healthy coral and diverse marine life to explore.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Water temp
24–29°C
Shore entryFamily-friendlyBeginnerPhotoFriendly
+1 more
YearRound

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Water temp
24–29 °C
Best months
Year-round

Top operators here

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Map

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Chun Chacaaab Reef location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
3.5 kn
Wave
0.58 m
Water
30.2°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: E (22%)
Now: NE (39°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.25m

Today: High 05:00 (+0.29m), Low 11:00 (+0.11m)

+0.4 m+0.1 m
▲ 05:00 · +0.29m ▼ 11:00 · +0.11m ▲ 17:00 · +0.26m ▼ 23:00 · +0.14m Now +0.2m
Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24
UV8.25 · very high Air PM2.53 · good 06:35 18:47
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-18 5.2 0.68 8 1mm
09-19 6.2 0.6 8 8mm
09-20 7.6 0.68 8 9mm
09-21 6.8 0.76 8 15mm
09-22 7.2 0.66 8 21mm
09-23 6.2 0.62 8 14mm
09-24 5.4 0.6 7 28mm
🌡 Water temp: Normal for Sep (24–29°C)

About this spot

Chun Chacaaab Reef sits off the Yucatan coast as an accessible dive destination for divers of all experience levels. The reef sits outside a marine protected area, making it open to recreational diving throughout the year. Local conditions remain stable across seasons, so you can plan a trip whenever your schedule allows. The reef supports a healthy coral ecosystem with no signs of bleaching stress. Twelve species observations logged at the site point to solid biodiversity—typical for Mexico's Caribbean reefs. You'll encounter tropical fish, crustaceans, and reef-building corals in their natural state. The site has generated three community videos, giving you a preview of what to expect underwater. Access is straightforward from the Quintana Roo area. Local dive operators run regular trips to the reef. Bring a camera if you want to document the experience; community footage shows why divers keep coming back. The year-round diving window means no seasonal closures or weather-driven cancellations to worry about.

📖 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

Dive types

Reef

Trip essentials

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

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 🤿 Pack: 3/2 mm shorty
  • 📜 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 · 48%
  • 🤿 Wetsuit 3/2 mm shorty
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 8025km · ~1846kg · €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 Chun Chacaaab Reef?

Chun Chacaaab Reef is diveable year-round. There are no seasonal closures or optimal windows—plan your trip whenever suits your schedule.

What is the depth and difficulty level?

Specific depth and difficulty ratings are not documented for this reef. Check with local dive operators before booking to confirm the site matches your experience and certification level.

What marine life will I see?

Twelve species observations confirm diverse marine life at the reef. Expect tropical fish, crustaceans, and healthy coral formations. The reef shows no coral bleaching stress, indicating a robust ecosystem.

Do I need permits or is the site protected?

Chun Chacaaab Reef is not inside a marine protected area, so standard recreational diving applies. No special permits are required—book with a local operator for access.

Operators near this spot

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

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Maracaibo and Chun-Chacaab reef - Cozumel Mexico

Joel Cotton

Chun Chacaab

Leo Saldana

Chun Chacaab, Cozumel, Mexico

Scuba Nuts - diving for fun
wind peaks Mar-Feb-Jan, calmest Oct-Aug-Sep, dry Jan-Dec, water 24-29°C.

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: Jun (100/100) Worst: Jan (0/100) Now: Sep (100/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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