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

This detailed 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.

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. 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.

During my full-day snorkeling tour with Hurricane Divers, the waters were teeming with a different 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.

Best Snorkeling Tour in Huatulco

My swimming with sardines experience took place as part of an all-day Snorkel Excursion with a Tour of the Bays with Hurricane Divers.  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 on Mexico’s Pacific Coast that has incredible, sapphire-blue waters.

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.

A Picnic Lunch at Chachacual Bay

I have to admit that one of the other attractions of 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 Cacaluta

Next up  was Cacaluta Island 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, 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.  When it comes to variety of fish, abundant coral and calm waters, the best place for snorkeling in Huatulco 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.

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.

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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