Xcalak & Banco Chinchorro · Mexico · Wall · Drift
La Poza
Schools of large tarpon along the wall just past the swim-through
Area photo: Juan Ortega · CC BY 3.0
La Poza is an underwater trench just inside Xcalak's protected reef, reached by a short boat ride from the dock to a mooring. The dive follows a coral wall from 5 m down to 24 m (80 ft) and finishes at the Copa del Mundo rock. It suits beginners and advanced divers alike, and schools of large tarpon gather along the wall.
Also known as La Posa, The Tarpon Hole.
Where it is and how deep
18.2629° N, 87.8249° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The boat ties onto a mooring just inside the reef, and the dive drops into the trench, which runs from 5 m (15 ft) down to 26 m (90 ft). The route leads through a swim-through, and immediately after it schools of large tarpon congregate along the coral wall, together with schools of jacks and snapper.
Depending on conditions, the dive ranges from a relaxed reef dive to a drift along the wall. With a favourable current it ends at the Copa del Mundo, or World Cup, a large rock formation that rises from the bottom to about 5 m (15 ft) below the surface, where the safety stop is made over coral and a variety of fish.
Marine life and season
- Trevally & jacks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Xcalak & Banco Chinchorro: Summer brings the calmest seas and near-daily Chinchorro trips. Hurricane Dean came ashore near Mahahual one August.
Know before you go
- Current can sometimes turn the dive into a drift along the wall; stay with the guide and the group.
Dive videos
Tarpon Scuba Dive at La Poza in Xcalak, Mexico with Diving Xcalak - 4K 🎵 Barbés - Teenage Mutant · The Dive Planner on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is La Poza in Xcalak?+
The trench runs from 5 m (15 ft) to 26 m (90 ft), with the dive itself reaching 24 m (80 ft). The dive ends at the Copa del Mundo rock, which tops out about 5 m (15 ft) below the surface.
Is La Poza suitable for beginners?+
Yes. La Poza is dived by beginners and advanced divers alike, from a mooring just inside Xcalak's protected reef a short boat ride from the dock.
Sources
- La Poza, Xcalak — Scubago
- Dive Sites — Diving Xcalak
- XTC Dive Center: recreational diving — XTC Dive Center
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