Cozumel

Although you can dive off the coast of Cancún, some of the best regional diving is a day trip away in Cozumel. You can either hire a diving company in Cancún to take you from your resort to the diving waters off Cozumel, or take a water taxi to Cozumel and work with a local diving company. In the depths, you’ll see an elaborate reef system harboring schools of barracuda, stingrays up to five feet across at the wings, whale sharks, nurse sharks, blowfish, and more. Snorkeling is also an option.

Read more: Cozumel on a Budget: What to Skip and What to Do Instead