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A white wooden lancha pulled up on pale sand at Mahahual, with clear turquoise shallows and a line of reef breaking on the horizon

Mahahual (Costa Maya) · Mexico · Reef · Coral garden

Simio Bipolar

Coral islands on flat sand between 9 and 15 m

Area photo: Juan Ortega · CC BY 3.0

Simio Bipolar is a group of coral islands on a flat sandy bottom off Mahahual, dived between 9 and 15 m. The shallow profile suits first-time divers and Open Water divers alike, visibility usually runs to more than 20 m, and fish gather thickly on each coral island.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Simio Bipolar: typical dive 9–15 m (30–50 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit9 m15 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

18.7229° N, 87.6972° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The site is a scatter of separate coral islands rising from a flat, sandy bottom. Depths run from 9 m (30 ft) to 15 m (50 ft), and the flat bottom and the narrow depth range keep the profile simple from start to finish.

Visibility here is usually more than 20 m (65 ft), and each coral island holds its own crowd of fish. The shallow range suits both first-time divers and Open Water divers.

Marine life and season

  • Reef fish swarms
Month-by-month season rating for Simio Bipolar
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodGoodGoodGoodGoodPrimePrimePrimeGoodGoodGoodGood

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.

Questions divers ask

How deep is Simio Bipolar in Mahahual?+

The dive runs between 9 m (30 ft) and 15 m (50 ft) over coral islands on a flat sandy bottom.

Is Simio Bipolar suitable for beginners?+

Yes. With a range of 9 to 15 m it suits both first-time divers and Open Water divers.

Sources

  1. Simio Bipolar dive site — Scubago

More dive sites in Mahahual (Costa Maya)

Wall

40 Cañones

Canyons through the reef, five minutes from the fishermen's dock

to 40 mintermediate

Reef

Chinchorrito

Coral bommies from 15 to 24 m, with eagle rays and garden eels

15–24 mintermediate

Reef

Dos Ojos

Reef passages to 17 m with parrotfish, angelfish and the Caguama turtle

to 17 mbeginner

Reef

El Acuario

Reef fish crowd a shallow reef to 13 m, and manatees pass a few times a year

to 13 mbeginner

Wall

Escalones

Reef walls and sandbanks at 14–23 m, known for visibility

14–23 mintermediate

Reef

Punta Tan

Nurse sharks and big stingrays in deep cracks in the reef

to 30 mintermediate

Similar dives elsewhere

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Las Tetas de María

María la Gorda · Cuba

Coral-covered rock heads lined up with two headlands ashore

to 20 mintermediate

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Red Rocks

Antigua · Antigua and Barbuda

Huge barrel sponges among sea fans and sea plumes

11–23 mintermediate

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Boss Reef

Grenada · Grenada

Six miles of sloping coral from the harbour to Point Saline

6–25 mintermediate

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Buck Island

St. Croix · U.S. Virgin Islands

One of only three marked underwater trails in the United States

9–12 mbeginner