Mexico Caribbean
Best Time to Dive in Isla Mujeres
21.40°N 86.60°W
Go June to August for whale shark. Conditions are easier February to May, but the animals are not there then.
- Best time
- Jun–Aug
- Water
- 27–30 °C
- Visibility
- 20–35 m
- Dived from
- day boat and snorkelling
- Tidal range
- 0.1–0.3 m
- Species logged
- 9
Where it is
111 km across · coastline from Natural Earth 10m
Diving in Isla Mujeres — monthly breakdown
A year of scuba diving conditions at a glance. Hover a month to isolate it.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| Water temp (°C) | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 |
| Visibility (m) | 20–30 | 20–30 | 25–35 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 |
| Marine life | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Peak | Peak | Peak | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady |
| Best time | Peak | Peak | Peak |
Excellent Good Moderate PoorPeak season Jun–Aug
Long-term averages, 2016–2025. Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a. Water temperature is the surface mean; it is cooler at depth.
The Isla Mujeres diving season
June to August · Peak season
3 monthsJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 29–29 °C
- Visibility
- 20–30 m
- Rain
- 12 days a month
Diving conditionsThe wind eases. The sea is calmer.
Marine lifeWhale shark (near-guaranteed) peaks at Isla Mujeres in these months.
September to May · Off season
9 monthsJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 27–30 °C
- Visibility
- 20–30 m
- Rain
- 10 days a month
Diving conditionsThe wind is up. The sea is rougher.
- Water temperature is satellite sea-surface temperature, so expect it cooler below the thermocline.
- Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a.
Isla Mujeres water temperature and weather
766 underwater observation records · 29 surveyed years of ocean data · 10 years of sea temperature
Water & weather
Isla Mujeres water temperature by month
The dashed line is the monthly average. Eight days in ten fall inside the band.
10th to 90th percentile rangemonthly mean
8
rough days a month
Seas top 1.5 m on 26% of days. Enough to cancel a day boat
2
blowy days a month
Gusts over 40 km/h, about where a day boat stays in port
11
wet days a month
2 of them bring heavy rain
| Month | Swell | Gusts over 40 km/h | Wet days | Heavy rain | Air | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2.1 m | 19% | 13 | 2 | 26 °C | 10.8 h |
| February | 1.9 m | 10% | 7 | 1 | 26 °C | 11.3 h |
| March | 2.0 m | 10% | 3 | 0 | 26 °C | 11.9 h |
| April | 1.9 m | 8% | 4 | 1 | 27 °C | 12.5 h |
| May | 1.5 m | 3% | 8 | 2 | 28 °C | 13.0 h |
| June | 1.8 m | 7% | 14 | 4 | 29 °C | 13.3 h |
| July | 1.3 m | 0% | 9 | 1 | 29 °C | 13.2 h |
| August | 1.1 m | 2% | 13 | 2 | 29 °C | 12.7 h |
| September | 1.3 m | 1% | 16 | 2 | 29 °C | 12.1 h |
| October | 1.9 m | 7% | 18 | 4 | 29 °C | 11.5 h |
| November | 2.1 m | 9% | 12 | 4 | 27 °C | 11.0 h |
| December | 2.2 m | 8% | 12 | 2 | 27 °C | 10.7 h |
Swell is the rough end of the month: nine days in ten come in under it. Sea temperature covers 10 years, waves 4.
Pick your week
48 weeks from the daily record. Darker is better, against this site's own year. Pick a month for the detail.
| Week 1 | January week 1: Poor | February week 1: Poor | March week 1: Poor | April week 1: Poor | May week 1: Poor | June week 1: Good | July week 1: Good | August week 1: Excellent | September week 1: Poor | October week 1: Poor | November week 1: Poor | December week 1: Moderate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 2 | January week 2: Poor | February week 2: Poor | March week 2: Poor | April week 2: Moderate | May week 2: Poor | June week 2: Good | July week 2: Good | August week 2: Good | September week 2: Poor | October week 2: Poor | November week 2: Poor | December week 2: Poor |
| Week 3 | January week 3: Poor | February week 3: Poor | March week 3: Poor | April week 3: Poor | May week 3: Poor | June week 3: Good | July week 3: Good | August week 3: Good | September week 3: Poor | October week 3: Poor | November week 3: Moderate | December week 3: Poor |
| Week 4 | January week 4: Poor | February week 4: Poor | March week 4: Poor | April week 4: Poor | May week 4: Poor | June week 4: Good | July week 4: Good | August week 4: Good | September week 4: Moderate | October week 4: Poor | November week 4: Poor | December week 4: Moderate |
Excellent Good Moderate PoorBest week to go: first of August
January, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 27 °C | 1.8 m | 32 km/h | 44% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 27 °C | 1.9 m | 32 km/h | 43% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 27 °C | 2.3 m | 33 km/h | 42% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 27 °C | 2.3 m | 32 km/h | 36% |
February, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 27 °C | 2.0 m | 30 km/h | 28% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 27 °C | 2.0 m | 31 km/h | 27% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 27 °C | 1.9 m | 31 km/h | 25% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 27 °C | 1.9 m | 30 km/h | 18% |
March, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 27 °C | 1.6 m | 29 km/h | 15% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 27 °C | 1.9 m | 31 km/h | 13% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 27 °C | 2.0 m | 31 km/h | 10% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 27 °C | 2.0 m | 31 km/h | 9% |
April, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 27 °C | 2.1 m | 30 km/h | 9% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 27 °C | 1.9 m | 29 km/h | 10% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 27 °C | 1.8 m | 29 km/h | 14% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 27 °C | 1.8 m | 28 km/h | 13% |
May, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 28 °C | 1.6 m | 28 km/h | 12% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 28 °C | 1.5 m | 27 km/h | 24% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 28 °C | 1.7 m | 28 km/h | 32% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 28 °C | 1.7 m | 27 km/h | 35% |
June, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 28 °C | 1.6 m | 27 km/h | 44% |
| Week 2 | Good | 29 °C | 1.6 m | 27 km/h | 51% |
| Week 3 | Good | 29 °C | 1.9 m | 27 km/h | 48% |
| Week 4 | Good | 29 °C | 2.0 m | 25 km/h | 36% |
July, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 29 °C | 1.7 m | 22 km/h | 27% |
| Week 2 | Good | 29 °C | 1.2 m | 22 km/h | 22% |
| Week 3 | Good | 29 °C | 1.1 m | 22 km/h | 30% |
| Week 4 | Good | 29 °C | 1.3 m | 22 km/h | 36% |
August, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 29 °C | 1.3 m | 22 km/h | 38% |
| Week 2 | Good | 29 °C | 1.1 m | 22 km/h | 40% |
| Week 3 | Good | 29 °C | 1.1 m | 21 km/h | 41% |
| Week 4 | Good | 29 °C | 1.3 m | 23 km/h | 50% |
September, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.3 m | 23 km/h | 52% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.1 m | 22 km/h | 49% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 30 °C | 1.1 m | 21 km/h | 53% |
| Week 4 | Moderate | 30 °C | 1.9 m | 23 km/h | 61% |
October, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 29 °C | 2.0 m | 24 km/h | 65% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.8 m | 25 km/h | 62% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 29 °C | 2.1 m | 26 km/h | 55% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 29 °C | 2.1 m | 28 km/h | 49% |
November, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 29 °C | 2.1 m | 28 km/h | 47% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 29 °C | 2.2 m | 27 km/h | 47% |
| Week 3 | Moderate | 28 °C | 2.0 m | 27 km/h | 39% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 28 °C | 2.0 m | 27 km/h | 29% |
December, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Moderate | 28 °C | 2.1 m | 28 km/h | 31% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 28 °C | 2.2 m | 29 km/h | 37% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 27 °C | 2.3 m | 30 km/h | 38% |
| Week 4 | Moderate | 27 °C | 2.1 m | 31 km/h | 39% |
10 years of daily records, averaged into weeks.
Gear & storms
What to wear
Off the coldest water of each month, not the average — that is what the suit has to cope with.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suit | January: 3 mm | February: 3 mm | March: 3 mm | April: 3 mm | May: skin | June: skin | July: skin | August: skin | September: skin | October: skin | November: skin | December: 3 mm |
- Dec–Apr3 mm full suit
- May–Novskin or 3 mm shorty
Swell through the year
The rough end of each month — nine days in ten come in under it.
Amber is over 1.5 m.
Tides
Tropical storms
9 of the last 30 Octobers saw a tropical storm pass within 250 km. Anything has been recorded May–Nov.
Share of the last 30 years with a storm that month.
- NOAASea surface temperature, from OISST and MUR
- ERA5Wind, waves, rain and air temperature, via Open-Meteo
- OBISMarine species records within 60 km
- IBTrACSTropical cyclone tracks, 1996 to 2025
Isla Mujeres marine life — what you'll see diving
| Species | When | Observed window | Reliability | Evidence | Records |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whale shark | Jun–Aug | Near-guaranteed | 376 | ||
| Green turtle | All year | Near-guaranteed | 186 | ||
| Southern stingray | All year | Near-guaranteed | 30 | ||
| Nurse shark | All year | Likely | 31 | ||
| Hawksbill turtle | All year | Likely | 42 | ||
| Spotted eagle ray | Feb–Mar, Dec | Likely | 28 | ||
| Loggerhead turtle | Jul–Aug | Likely | 17 | ||
| Bottlenose dolphin | May, Jul–Sep | Likely | 16 | ||
| Silky shark | Jan, Apr | Hit-or-miss | 10 |
Peak Present
- Observed window
- Months with records. Peak is where most of them fall.
- Reliability
- Near-guaranteed in 60% of surveyed years or more
- Likely 30% to 60%
- Hit-or-miss under 30%
- Evidence
- Years it was seen, out of the years anyone surveyed.
- Records
- OBIS sightings within 60 km.
These are sightings people logged, not a full survey of the reef. A species missing from a month may just mean nobody recorded one.
Diving Isla Mujeres — common questions
- When is the best time to dive Isla Mujeres?
- Go June to August for whale shark. Conditions are easier February to May, but the animals are not there then.
- When is the diving season in Isla Mujeres?
- Conditions are good February to May, but most divers come June to August for the marine life.
- Is the diving in Isla Mujeres good for beginners?
- Yes. It suits Open Water divers, so it works for a first trip after certification.
- How warm is the water in Isla Mujeres?
- Between 27 and 30 °C at the surface across the year, coldest in February and warmest in September. It runs cooler below the thermocline.
- What wetsuit do I need in Isla Mujeres?
- A 3 mm full suit covers the coldest water of the year. In the warmest months a skin or 3 mm shorty is enough.
- What is the visibility like in Isla Mujeres?
- Roughly 20 to 35 m depending on the month. That is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a rather than measured in the water.
- What will I see diving Isla Mujeres?
- The most consistently recorded species are Whale shark (near-guaranteed), Green turtle (near-guaranteed) and Southern stingray (near-guaranteed), from 766 records within 60 km.
- Does Isla Mujeres get tropical storms?
- Yes. Over 30 years of records a storm passed within 250 km in May–Nov, most often in October at 9 of 30 years.
- Is there current in Isla Mujeres?
- The tide rises and falls 0.3 m around the full and new moon, against 0.1 m in between. How much of that becomes current depends on the shape of the channel.
- When should I avoid Isla Mujeres?
- September–May are the weakest months for conditions.
- How do you dive Isla Mujeres?
- Mostly from day boats and the surface. Trips run through the season, Feb–May.