Squalo Divers

Squalo Divers is a long-established PADI 5-Star IDC Center operating in the heart of the Mexican Caribbean. With more than 25 years of experience, this family-run operation has built a reputation for technical precision and personalised service, serving divers from the local reefs of Puerto Morelos to the deep wrecks and cenotes of the region.

The centre operates from two main locations: a primary base in Cancún near the bullring and a second office in Puerto Morelos. While most daily dives depart from the Cancún base with transport provided to the sites, the centre’s reach is global, organising annual expeditions to world-class diving destinations such as the Galapagos, Socorro, and the Red Sea.

As an IDC center, the team is highly qualified, with a Course Director available on-site to oversee training and dive operations. This ensures that whether you are completing your first Open Water Diver course or progressing through professional levels, the instruction meets the highest PADI standards.

The staff is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish, and is known for an organised, professional approach to dive management. They maintain a focus on small groups, ensuring that the diver-to-guide ratio allows for attentive supervision and a tailored experience.

Beyond recreational diving, the team possesses the expertise required for advanced technical training. They are equipped to lead divers through complex environments, including cavern, cave, and deep wreck penetrations, as well as technical decompression diving.

The training programme is extensive, covering the entire PADI spectrum from beginner levels to professional instructor training. You can complete your Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, or Rescue Diver courses here, or progress toward becoming a Divemaster through their IDC programme.

For those looking to expand their technical repertoire, Squalo Divers offers a robust selection of specialties. This includes PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy, Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, and Cavern Diver. They also provide specialised training for technical divers, such as PADI TEC 40, 45, and 50, as well as Trimix and sidemount configurations.

Advanced explorers can pursue more intensive certifications, including the TDI Full Cave Diver and PADI Complete Cave Diver courses. They also offer specialised instruction for DPV (Diver Propulsion Vehicle) operations.

The centre provides a full range of rental kit for divers who prefer not to carry their own equipment. This includes regulators, BCDs, and exposure suits, allowing you to arrive at the site ready to dive.

On-site facilities include a dedicated Diving Lodge and a Beach Club, which features a heated indoor swimming pool specifically for diver training. For those looking to refine their skills before heading into the ocean, the pool offers a controlled environment to practice buoyancy and skill drills.

The reefs around Puerto Morelos and Cozumel are vibrant, characterised by extensive coral formations and a high density of colourful fish. You will frequently encounter green sea turtles, large barracuda, and lionfish patrolling the reef structures.

Pelagic encounters vary depending on the season. From June to September, whale sharks are present in the region, while bull sharks can be spotted between November and February. For those heading to Guadalupe Island between July and November, the primary draw is the presence of great white sharks.

Macro life and smaller inhabitants are abundant throughout the reefs and cenotes. Divers can observe various species of sharks, including manta rays and stingrays, alongside a diverse array of reef fish and corals that provide the backdrop for every dive.

Diving in the Riviera Maya involves a variety of environments, from the calm, sheltered waters of the cenotes to the more active drift dives of Cozumel. The cenote environments like Maravilla and Kin-Ha offer a different set of conditions, with darker, more enclosed spaces compared to the open ocean.

In the open sea, particularly around Cozumel and the Puerto Morelos reef, divers should be prepared for drift diving. These sites often utilise currents to move divers along the reef or wall, which is a standard part of the local diving experience.