Tulum and Majahaul

[penguinpete]

I am considering Tulum or Majahaul for a dive trip this year or next. Just wondering if anyone has dove either place and what they thought.

 

[ednedfred]

Never dove Majahaul, however have had numerous dives in Tulum. Overall the ocean dives in Tulum are less spectacular than Cozumel or Tulum. There is also not as much 'drift' as in either location. Animal life is good, saw the largest turtle ever in Tulum in 2005, reefs are smaller. The best thing about Tulum is the close proximity to the Cenotes. From the Tulum ruins, you can get to many cenotes in a few minutes. Last visit, I did equal dives between ocean and cenotes. Tulum is nice, however is has grown over the past decade or so. Dreams Tulum is nice.

 

[freedc]

Dove Majahual off a cruise ship last year and it was my worst Caribbean dive ever. Maybe we didn't ride out far enough because the water was very rough. We took the lancha about 5 minutes past the breakers off shore, but the reef was nonexistent. It was a 40 minute rubble tour. THis was not arranged through the ship. We just went into Majahual and found a guy on the beach. I would not recommend going that route. Try Tulum and find a dive op here on scubaboard.

I just got back from Akumal which is right in the middle of the cenotes. I didn't even dive in the ocean, just cenotes. Only snorkeled in the ocean, which was fine for looking at the pretty turtles and stingrays.

Also, Majahual is a depressing town with nothing to offer except boatloads (literally) of tourists who come when their cruise docks in port. Tulum has ruins and access to more ruins in Coba 45 mins away and has been there for longer.

Tulum also gets you closer to eco-parks and things up the coast towards Playa del Carmen.