About La Poza
La Poza is a remarkable dive site located in Xcalak, a serene fishing village situated on Mexico's Caribbean coast, near the Belize border. This site is part of the Xcalak Reef National Park, which forms a segment of the extensive Mesoamerican Reef system. It stands out due to its unique topographical features, including trenches that cut through the barrier reef and cavern-like formations within the reef walls, providing diverse underwater landscapes to explore. The site is characterized by impressive formations and offers ample opportunities for swim-throughs, where sunlight can illuminate clouds of silver sides fish. Divers can also explore deep walls, making it suitable for various skill levels. La Poza is particularly famous for a large, resident school of tarpon, making it a truly distinctive experience in the region. Marine life encounters at La Poza are exceptional, with a notable congregation of 250 to 350 large tarpon, typically measuring between 5 to 7 feet in length. Beyond these impressive fish, divers frequently encounter schools of dog snapper, jacks, and goliath grouper. Eagle rays are also commonly sighted in the area. The healthy coral reefs contribute to a vibrant ecosystem, supporting a wide variety of marine creatures. La Poza can be enjoyed by divers of all skill levels, from those newly certified to advanced technical divers, thanks to its varied topography and depths. The site offers a rich experience for those looking to engage with substantial marine fauna within a unique reef environment.
Highlights
Resident school of large tarponGoliath grouper sightingsLarge dog snapper schoolsExtensive swim-through formationsDeep reef wallsEagle ray encountersTrenches through barrier reef
Dive site facts: La Poza
- Depth
- 20–25 m
- Current
- Mild
- Entry
- Shore / dayboat
- Level
- Advanced
- Dive type
- Reef, Reef
- Region / port
- Mexico
- Coordinates
- 18.7226° N, 87.6806° W
Conditions & Currents
Currents are usually mild, which makes this a relaxed dive suitable for most certified divers. Dive profiles here run between roughly 20 and 25 metres, so plan your gas and no-decompression limits around the deeper part of the site. It is usually briefed as a dive for advanced divers. Entry is from shore, so plan the swim out and back around the surface conditions of the day. Tide, wind and season all shift the picture from day to day, so the crew's briefing on the boat always overrides any general description.
Why dive La Poza from a liveaboard?
La Poza is one of Mexico's signature dive sites. A liveaboard sleeps you on the water and puts you in the water for three to four guided dives per day, including dawn and night dives that day-boat operators rarely offer. You skip the daily commute back to port and reach quieter, less-crowded sites in the same region on a single trip.
Below are the liveaboards that include La Poza on their Mexico itineraries.
Liveaboards diving La Poza
These liveaboards may visit La Poza on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.
Nautilus Explorer
Mexico
25 guests44.8 m
$230/day
Valentina
Mexico
20 guests38.1 m
$430/day
Rocio del Mar
Mexico
20 guests33.5 m
$392/day
Nautilus Under Sea
Mexico
19 guests32 m
$261/day
Nautilus Belle Amie
Mexico
32 guests44.8 m
$299/day
Quino del Mar
Mexico
20 guests36 m
$392/day
Nautilus Gallant Lady
Mexico
12 guests35.36 m
$332/day
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- Current
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