Akumal Reef - Yucatán Cenotes
Akumal Reef, just a stone's throw from the Akumal Bay crowds, often gets overlooked for the cenotes. That’s a mistake, we think. This isn't a deep dive, peaking at about 17 metres, but what it lacks in depth it makes up for in sheer visibility and that classic Caribbean vibe. We love the feeling of drifting over the sandy patches, knowing a green sea turtle or a hawksbill is probably just around the corner, munching on seagrass. The reef itself is a pretty healthy example of the Mesoamerican system. You’ll find some respectable brain corals and those big, plate-like starlet corals. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too; we've spotted some brilliant Roughhead Triplefins tucked into crevices and the occasional Shy Brotula peeking out. Current here is usually mild, making it a very relaxed dive. It’s perfect for divers who want easy entry, predictable conditions, and a strong chance of hanging out with some very chill turtles.
- Location
- Yucatán Cenotes, Mexico, North America
- Coordinates
- 20.386400, -87.312400
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Playa Tortuguera X'cacel-X'cacelito
Nearby Dive Sites in Yucatán Cenotes
- Acuario (reef)
- Acuario (reef)
- Akumal Reef (wreck)
- Angelita Cenote - 30-60m (cenote)
- Bahia Príncipe (reef)
- Bahia Príncipe (wreck)
- Blue Ha Reef (reef)
- Casa Cenote (reef)
- Cenote Angelita (cenote)
- Cenote Angelita (reef)
- Cenote Angelita (cenote)
- Cenote Azul - 5-15m (cenote)
- Cenote Calavera (cenote)
- Cenote Carwash (cenote)
- Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha) (cave)
Nearest Dive Centres to Akumal Reef
- Dive Life SCUBA
- MAR ADENTRO DIVING - PADI, SSI
Marine Life in Yucatán Cenotes
Home to 425 recorded species including 340 reef fish, 30 hard corals, 14 other, 13 sharks & rays, 6 crabs & lobsters, 4 sea snails & nudibranchs.
Notable Species
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
- Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals
- French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Bluestriped Grunt (Haemulon sciurus) - Reef Fish
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Coney (Cephalopholis fulva) - Reef Fish
- Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Spiny Brittle Star (Ophiocoma echinata)