Wondering about snorkeling in Huatulco?  Do you think Huatulco is all about beaches, mezcal and sunshine? With a coastline dotted with 36 beaches, a wealth of dive sites and extraordinary sea life, taking a Huatulco snorkeling tour is one of the top things to do on Mexico’s southern Pacific Coast.

This detailed Huatulco snorkeling adventure guide offers tips about where to find the best spots — whether you’re looking for a guided  excursion or just planning to snorkel from shore.

Trying to decide on a resort that’s good for snorkeling? Learn more about where to stay in our Hotel Guide to the Best Huatulco Beaches 

Why Go Snorkeling in Huatulco

Huatulco has several snorkeling locations in protected waters where you might see turtles, rays and schools of fish Credit Jeremy Bishop

While the Pacific Coast of Mexico is not as well known for snorkeling as the island of Cozumel in the Caribbean, much of the coast of Oaxaca is protected from development which helps support rich marine life and healthy reefs. Huatulco National Park is one of  the largest protected areas in southern Mexico.

In Huatulco,  you can expect to see sea turtles, parrotfish,  needle fish, grouper, snapper, angelfish as well as manta rays and eagle rays,  It’s even possible to see dolphins and migrating whales as they head south in December and return north in March.

Best Snorkeling in Mexico for Unpolluted Water

When it comes to clean, non-polluted waters, Huatulco offers some of the best snorkeling in Mexico. The beaches in Huatulco  consistently receive high marks for cleanliness by SEMARNAT, the government agency that monitors the water quality of the beaches in Mexico.

Three times a year they  publish  water quality results measuring the enterrococcus fecal bacteria levels. Scores of more than 200 per 100 milliliters of water means swimming is unsafe and the waters are too polluted for human health.

Under its Clean Beaches Program, the agency monitors 15  beaches and 17 sites within the three main tourism areas of Oaxaca and all six beaches in Huatulco reported within the  June 23, 2018 report received clean (APTA) scores. That’s important if you’re planning on spending a lot of time in the water or are looking for the best family beaches in Mexico.

To help keep Huatulco’s waters clean, be sure to pack biodegradable sunscreen and a rashguard shirt with high SPF protection. What else to pack for a snorkeling trip depends on whether you are travelling light and what your skill levels are. Check this complete packing list for ideas on what to pack for a snorkeling trip. 

Choosing the Best Snorkeling Tours in Huatulco Mexico

During my full-day snorkeling tour with Hurricane Divers, the waters were teeming with a fascinating type of sea creature  — sardines! Compared to swimming with dolphins, swimming with sardines probably doesn’t rank high on the lifetime bucket list for most people.

But, as I plunged headfirst into a school of thousands of the graceful acrobats, I discovered that the tiny silver fish has its own special charms. They shape-shifted from a shadowy cloud into a shimmering ribbon of silver that swirled around my body like a wisp of fine silk. Then, moving in unison, they morphed again – this time into a blanket that blocked out the sunlight and threw the coral reef into darkness.

My swimming with sardines experience took place as part of an all-day Snorkel Excursion with a Tour of the Bays with Hurricane Divers.

A trio of snorkellers readies to jump into the waters at San Agustin Bay

Anyone who has read my post the Beginner’s Guide to Snorkeling Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Museum, knows that although I love the ocean, I’m not the most confident swimmer.  When deciding on a snorkeling excursion, it’s extra important for me to choose a safe tour operator.

Hurricane Divers features bilingual guides, modern boats with roofs, life vests, mobile phones, safety equipment, first aid kits and more. They are PADI-certified and only take small groups.

While they do supply snorkeling masks and fins, many people prefer to snorkel with a full-face snorkel mask for comfort, visibility and enhanced protection from water leakages. If you do, then you’ll need to bring your own. If you’re considering purchasing a full face snorkel mask, it’s worth consulting this complete Guide to Buying a Full Face Snorkel Mask comparing different brands.

Where to Snorkel in Huatulco Mexico

Our group of eight snorkelers and three crew members were anchored offshore at San Agustin Beach, a western bay in the Bahías de Huatulco area that has incredible, sapphire-blue waters. It’s definitely one of the best snorkeling locations in Huatulco.

With calm waters and underwater visibility of up to 18 metres, even novices can spot florescent damsel fish, spiny black sea urchins and eels ducking through the crevasses of the coral reef.

A Picnic Lunch at Chachacual Bay

Another of the other attractions of going snorkeling with Hurricane Divers is that their all-day excursion includes a full gourmet lunch.

Beach picnic at Chachacual Bay

Upon arrival at Chachacual Bay — even more untouched than San Agustín  and accessible only by boat–  the crew laid out an al fresco lunch while we floated in shallow waters bursting with blue-spotted coronet fish and yellow-tailed sturgeon.

Refreshed by the clear waters, we planted ourselves on the white sand to enjoy grilled steak arranchera, spicy adobo chicken and fresh papaya salad.

Snorkeling around Cacaluta Island in Cacaluta Bay

Next up  was Cacaluta Bay where a coral plate stretches for 300m at depths of between 2 to 12 metres. The marine life is so abundant and the coral so colourful around Cacaluta Island, it’s known as Las Jardines or the gardens.

Snorkellers enjoy the enticing offshore reef that lies just below water’s surface at Cacaluta Bay

“Watch for strings of gas bubbles escaping from between the rocks on the bottom” said our guide as we anchored in open water. “You may find sea turtles and Nurse Sharks resting in the gaps in the coral.”

Deciding to drip-dry for a few stops, I soaked up the panorama of sun and sea. Manta rays leaped above the water’s surface and plumes of crystal spray shot out of a nearby blowhole.

No other boats were in sight.

“Where is everybody?” I asked.

“Huatulco is out of the way for many people,” he shrugged. “We rarely see other boats.”

Where is Huatulco Mexico?

Located in the southern state of Oaxaca two hours from Puerto Escondido, it’s 185 km south of Acapulco and closer to Guatemala than major Mexican cities. Yet its isolation doesn’t mean roughing it. Much like Cancun, Los Cabos and Ixtapa, Huatulco was identified as a prime site for tourism development by Fonatur, the Mexican government agency.

Looking west at Conejos Bay and Secrets Huatulco

A massive injection of cash created an impressive infrastructure of wide boulevards, luxury marinas, golf courses and a modern sewage treatment system. Yet it remains surrounded by stretches of undisturbed  wilderness.

“They learned from earlier overbuilding mistakes and imposed development restrictions,” said our guide.

With flights to Huatulco increasing, the region’s peaceful seclusion may not last long. But for now, the beaches and clear blue waters are free of crowds.

Unless you count the sardines.

Huatulco Snorkeling from Shore

Ever tried a full face snorkel mask?

While taking a snorkeling tour is the best way to see the most variety of fish in Huatulco, it is possible to experience some rewarding snorkelling from shore in Huatulco. It’s even possible to snorkel right in the bay of Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz marina is also where you book fishing tours for fish like sailfish, marlin and tuna.

When it comes to variety of fish, abundant coral and calm waters, the best place for snorkeling from shore is the Bahia San Agustin. Located an hour by boat and a $15 – 20 USD cab ride from the luxury hotel zone of Tangolunda Beach, San Agustín Beach is relatively deserted, apart from a few seafood palapas (thatched huts).  It flanks Huatulco National Park, a 119 sq. km. ecological reserve  at the base of the Sierra Madre Sur.

It’s also possible to do some snorkeling from the shore at Dreams Resort & Spa and to a lesser extent, Secrets Resort & Spa, where you’ll need to wait for low tide and cross over the rocks at the end of Conejos Bay to find the best snorkeling area.

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