A Guide To Bull Shark Diving In Playa Del Carmen
A bull shark dive is probably on most scuba divers' bucket lists. Observing these majestic creatures at such close range is a rare privilege. Seeing them glide above you is a euphoric feeling that is hard to recapture.
From November to March, in Playa del Carmen on Mexico's Riviera Maya, groups of pregnant female bull sharks arrive in the shallow coastal waters to give birth to live pups in the nearby mangroves.
On a recent holiday in Mexico, my two adult sons, both qualified PADI divers, had the opportunity to dive with bull sharks. In this post, my son, Jamie, offers advice to other divers who wish to go bull shark diving in Playa del Carmen.
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When can you dive with bull sharks in Mexico?
Head to Playa del Carmen in Mexico between November and March to dive with bull sharks.
You aren’t necessarily guaranteed to see them, though, as they are wild animals, so keep that in mind when booking a trip.
Ask the on-site dive shop at your resort or the company that will take you diving if there have been regular sightings.
Why do bull sharks return to Playa del Carmen each year?
Female bull sharks return to Playa del Carmen to give birth to their pups at their breeding ground.
It’s doubtful that a male bull shark will be sighted during the dive.
What qualification do you need to dive with bull sharks?
This deep dive is 20-30 metres, so you must be an advanced scuba diver. Before booking this dive, you can get your advanced certification through a recognised body like PADI.
What depth do you go down?
You’ll descend to 24m (78.7 feet).
How long did the complete dive last?
The complete dive lasts around 45 minutes from entry to exit.
How long do you spend with the sharks?
You’ll spend around 30 minutes in the main breeding ground, where the sharks surround you.
Do you swim around the sharks or stay in one position?
Nearing the end of the dive, you’ll have a free swim in the open as you make your way up for a safety stop.
For the main part of the dive, you will be given a rope to hold on to. This will help you remain as close to the seabed as possible. This provides stability, allowing you to enjoy the experience of observing the bull sharks with minimal silt disturbance from divers' fins.
A safety stop is required so divers’ lungs can adapt to the change in pressure from being underwater at depth for a considerable time. This lasts around 3 minutes, during which time the bull sharks slowly circle beneath you.
How many divers and instructors are in each group?
My shark dive group had eight divers and three instructors. This was great because it didn't feel crowded, and it allowed the instructors to ensure all divers were safe while with the bull sharks.
Did you see many bull sharks?
On our dive, we saw 18 bull sharks, which was fantastic!
There was a constant flow of sharks from every angle, and they got so close you could feel their bellies rub past your head.
How big is a bull shark?
They can measure almost 9 feet and weigh up to 550 pounds.
How long do bull sharks live?
20-30 years is the expected lifespan of a bull shark.
Do you get to take part in bull shark feeding?
No, we didn’t feed the sharks; however, the instructors did, as they wore special divers' chainmail designed to prevent severe damage from a shark bite.
Watching them being fed was terrific as I saw all their teeth up close and witnessed the power of their bite.
There were times when the sharks attempted to enter the feeding tube, but the instructors, with their expertise, knew how to handle the situation safely.
Can you take a camera down with you?
If you are an avid underwater photographer or want to take a GoPro down to record your bull shark experience, you are welcome to do so.
The advice is to keep everything close to your chest so you don’t extend your limbs out too much.
The instructors also film the experience, so you can buy the footage if you aren’t comfortable filming yourself but want to relive the experience when you are home.
What photographic equipment did you use for these shots and videos?
To film my experience, I used my iPhone 12 Pro and a Divevolk Seatouch 4 Pro housing, which I highly recommend.
It's one of the few phone housings that lets you still use your touchscreen and supports wireless charging, which is excellent if you are doing multiple dives and don’t want to remove your phone from the housing to prevent leaks.
You can also buy different lenses, attachments, and filters, and I recommend investing in a red filter to capture the best underwater imagery and video.
The red filter adds red back into the video because, when you dive deep, the colour red vanishes and everything starts to turn blue. This is because the colour red has a shorter wavelength that can’t penetrate deeply into the ocean, so it's essential to have this filter.
What scuba gear do you use?
I have been diving with the same equipment for 15 years and recommend each item for its durability.
Imprex Fins by TUSA – With assisted thrust technology, these fins have a flexible mid-section. This makes swimming easier without getting worn out and allows you to glide further.
Mask by TUSA – The model I have is old, so the closest comparable TUSA mask now is the Freedom Tri-Quest, which offers clear underwater vision.
Snorkel by TUSA – Again, like the mask, this snorkel is an older model. TUSA's newest comparable model is the Platina II Hyperdry, which features a splashproof shield to keep water out when snorkelling on the surface of the waves.
Cressi Anti-Fog is a must-have for divers and snorkellers to ensure the best experience. The spray creates a thin film on the mask lenses, preventing fog from building up and providing a crystal-clear diving experience.
Keenso Divers Slate – I like to take these on most dives to jot down notes of what I’ve seen. If you’re struggling to identify a type of fish or coral, your instructor can hopefully write the answer to your question on the slate.
Which company did you dive with?
The company I used for my bull shark dive was AquaWorld, which had an outlet in my hotel, Excellence Riviera Cancun.
How much does it cost to dive with the bull sharks?
The bull shark dive costs around $200.00 and includes transfers, the dive, and scuba equipment hire.
Where did you have to go to catch the dive boat?
The hotel's transportation dropped us off at the shore in Playa del Carmen, from where we took a boat to the dive site.
How long was the boat ride to the dive point?
Once on the boat, it was a quick 5-8 minute ride to the dive site, making it great for those who tend to get seasick. It was surprising to find out how close the bull sharks are to Playa del Carmen's shore.
How do you reach the seabed?
To enter the water, you roll backwards off the side of the boat and grab hold of the rope, which you pull yourself along until you reach the anchor buoy. You then make a controlled descent down to the sea floor.
What safety tips do you get before the dive?
Before getting in the water, the dive instructors brief you on what you can and can't do when diving with the sharks.
Much of the information given is the knowledge you should already know as an advanced or higher-qualified diver. The instructors make it very clear: keep together, don't separate, and keep your limbs still and close to you so you don’t become a shark snack!
What is it like to dive with bull sharks in Mexico?
During my dive, I was surrounded not just by one but by 18 bull sharks, which was an incredible experience. Bull sharks are so graceful when they swim, and it is a privilege to have watched them in the ocean.
As these gentle creatures brushed past me, I felt totally at ease and, at the same time, extremely excited.
I have cage-dived with Great White Sharks in South Africa, but this was so much more hands-on (well, not literally, for obvious reasons!).
Many believe that sharks are vicious animals whose main objective is to attack you, but that could not be further from the truth. On several occasions, the sharks swam straight towards me and over my head, utterly uninterested in me.
However, bull sharks are dangerous, predatory animals and can be more aggressive than great white sharks. Had I been waving my hands around, the sharks may have acted entirely differently. However, by adhering to the strict safety briefing the instructors gave, my limbs always stayed close to my torso, and I didn't become shark bait!
Final Thoughts on Bull Shark Diving in Mexico
My favourite part of my dive with the bull sharks was when I swam alongside them with my brother, and they all followed us as if to say goodbye.
Diving with bull sharks is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but having said that, I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Thank you to Jamie Price for this interview. Jamie loves to be underwater in his free time, but in his everyday life, he is a graphic designer at JNPCreative.
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Angela Price: is an accomplished travel writer bringing extensive expertise and passion to the world of travel.
With over 40 years of globetrotting adventures under her belt and with a keen eye for unique experiences, she has established herself as an authoritative voice in travel, offering invaluable insights for fellow adventurers seeking to uncover the delights of worldwide destinations.
Her motto is “live life wandering not wondering”. Read more about Angie.