Mahahual (Costa Maya) · Mexico · Reef · Sand slope
El Acuario
Reef fish crowd a shallow reef to 13 m, and manatees pass a few times a year
Area photo: Juan Ortega · CC BY 3.0
El Acuario is a shallow reef off Mahahual where patches of reef sit among sandbanks, with a maximum depth of 13 m. It is an easy dive packed with reef fish, and manatees are seen here, though only two or three times a year.
Also known as Acuario.
Where it is and how deep
18.7198° N, 87.7003° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The boat moors over a mix of sandy areas and reef, and nothing here goes deeper than 13 m (43 ft). The dive moves between the reef and the sand, and the large sandy area by the mooring line makes the site well suited to Open Water course dives. With a shallow profile and the mild currents usual on this coast, the dive suits newly certified divers.
The site takes its name from the number of reef fish living on the reef, and most of the dive is spent watching them. Manatees have been seen here too, but only two or three times a year, so a sighting is a matter of luck rather than something to plan around.
Marine life and season
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Mahahual (Costa Maya): Diving runs all year. The sea is calmest from June to early September; on rough days the port closes and boats stay in.
Dive videos
Buceo Scuba en el "Arrecife Acuario" - Mahahual · Ivan Pacussich on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is El Acuario in Mahahual?+
El Acuario is a shallow reef with a maximum depth of 13 m (43 ft), on a mix of reef and sandy areas.
Can manatees be seen at El Acuario?+
Yes, but rarely: manatees pass the site only two or three times a year, so they are a lucky extra rather than a reason to book the dive.
Sources
- Acuario dive site — Scubago
- Diving in Mahahual — Pepe Dive Mahahual
More dive sites in Mahahual (Costa Maya)
Wall
Canyons through the reef, five minutes from the fishermen's dock
Reef
Coral bommies from 15 to 24 m, with eagle rays and garden eels
Reef
Reef passages to 17 m with parrotfish, angelfish and the Caguama turtle
Wall
Reef walls and sandbanks at 14–23 m, known for visibility
Reef
Nurse sharks and big stingrays in deep cracks in the reef
Reef
Coral islands on flat sand between 9 and 15 m
Similar dives elsewhere
Taganga's main training ground, with a deeper wall close by
A flat coral plateau at 12 m (40 ft) that drops sharply to 120
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A gentle terrace of coral and sand at Klein Bonaire's west end
Jawfish and blennies in the rubble off Klein Bonaire