Many people are familiar with Cozumel and its beautiful reef structures. What makes Akumal more appealing is that it is part of the same barrier reef, but offers so much more than only the open water diving found in Cozumel. Many divers bring their family and Akumal is a quaint little town with many villas and condos for rent with all sorts of activities for the entire family.
There are also nearby cenotes, which are underground river systems. Unlike cave diving, there is no special certification required and you are led by a guide with access to openings no more than 120 feet away. This means that while ocean conditions may not be conducive to diving on a particular day, the cenote dive is always available and unaffected by weather conditions.
Diving in cenotes offers fresh water, stalactite formations and amazing visual experiences as you swim with a flashlight to explore this amazing underwater world. As you approach an opening, the sunlight and trees can often be seen from below offering a truly out of this world experience.
Finally, the area around Akumal has many ruins that can be explored after diving. Tulum is 20 minutes away, Coba is a 45 minute drive and Chichen Itza is only a few hours within the interior of the Yucatan. Playa Del Carmen and its famous shops on 5th Avenue is only 30 minutes north, while areas like Holbox, Rio Lagartos and El Cuyo are only a few hours drive.
There are also many local adventure parks where you can zip line, snorkel in the most pristine reefs and enjoy the many things that the flora and fauna of the Yucatan have to offer.
When you are diving with us in Akumal, we’d be happy to give you information on the best places to visit when not diving. Contact us for more information.