Dive Sites in the Eastern Pacific
155 dive sites3 countries85 liveaboard-only sites

Dive Sites in the Eastern Pacific

Hammerhead schools, playful sea lions and volcanic upwellings full of life. This is wild diving at its best — and we'll help you find your moment.

Diving in the Eastern Pacific

The Eastern Pacific covers 3 diving countries and 155 mapped dive sites, from easy reef dives to demanding current and wall diving. Below you find the best dive sites of the region, their conditions, seasons and marine life, plus the countries and liveaboard routes that reach them. Use it to plan when to go, which area suits your level and which boat gets you there.

Countries

Diving countries in the Eastern Pacific region

The Eastern Pacific spans several diving countries, each with its own liveaboard routes and signature sites. Click a country to see every dive site we cover there and the boats that visit them.

74 dive sites
Mexico
43 dive sites
Galápagos
38 dive sites
Costa Rica

Dive by type

Dive sites by type

Wrecks, walls, drift dives, caves and pinnacles in the Eastern Pacific — filter by the kind of diving you prefer. Each type links to a dedicated theme page with the best sites worldwide.

Reef diving79 dive sites
Reef diving
Wall diving41 dive sites
Wall diving
Drift diving36 dive sites
Drift diving
Pinnacle diving29 dive sites
Pinnacle diving
Seamount diving12 dive sites
Seamount diving
Wreck diving6 dive sites
Wreck diving
Cave diving5 dive sites
Cave diving
Channel diving3 dive sites
Channel diving

Marine life

Marine life highlights

The animals that make diving in the Eastern Pacific worth it: sharks, rays, turtles, pelagics and macro highlights logged on these sites. Choose a species to find the dive sites and liveaboards where you are most likely to see it.

67 dive sites
Moray Eel
65 dive sites
Scalloped Hammerhead
57 dive sites
Whale Shark
53 dive sites
Whitetip Reef Shark
51 dive sites
Green Turtle
49 dive sites
Oceanic Manta Ray
49 dive sites
Reef Manta Ray
47 dive sites
Eagle Ray
46 dive sites
Galapagos Shark
46 dive sites
Octopus
38 dive sites
Mobula Ray
34 dive sites
Bottlenose Dolphin

Explore the sites

Dive sites in the Eastern Pacific

Explore 155 dive sites in the Eastern Pacific, from legendary wall dives and drift dives to coral gardens, wrecks and shark cleaning stations. Every site shows depth, current, access, marine life and the liveaboard itineraries that visit it, so you can compare and book the trip that matches your experience level.

155 dive sites

Guadalupe Island

Mexico

Guadalupe Island, a remote volcanic outpost situated approximately 240 kilometers off the Pacific coast of Baja California, was renowned as the world's premier destination for great white shark encounters.

Suitable for
Beginner
Current
Strong
Access
Liveaboard or dayboat
Depth
≤ 15 m
Theme
—

Silverado

Costa Rica

Silverado is a renowned dive site located within the extraordinary marine ecosystem of Cocos Island, approximately 500 kilometers southwest of mainland Costa Rica.

Suitable for
Advanced
Current
Strong
Access
Liveaboard only
Depth
15–40 m
Theme
Seamount

Roca O'Neal

Mexico

Roca O'Neal, also referred to as Hammerhead Central, is a prominent dive site located off Socorro Island in Mexico's Revillagigedo Archipelago.

Suitable for
Advanced
Current
Strong
Access
Liveaboard only
Depth
15–40 m
Theme
Pinnacle

Bajo del Diablo

Costa Rica

Bajo del Diablo, also known as Devil’s Pinnacle, is widely regarded as one of the premier dive sites within Costa Rica's Caño Island Biological Reserve.

Suitable for
Advanced
Current
Strong
Access
Liveaboard only
Depth
10–20 m
Theme
Pinnacle

Conditions & practicalities

Diving in the Eastern Pacific: seasons, conditions and logistics

155 dive sites in the Eastern Pacific — here is what the season data says about the best months, water temperature, visibility and currents, plus how divers usually get there and which fees to budget for.

Best months
Jun–Dec
Water temperature
18–29 °C
Visibility
15–35 m
Currents
Moderate — Expect noticeable water movement on channels, pinnacles and outer reefs. Drift technique, an SMB and a guided descent turn these into easy, relaxed dives.
Getting there
Most divers fly into the nearest international airport and continue by transfer or domestic flight to the departure port; liveaboards usually leave the evening before day one.
Permits & fees
Marine park fees, port taxes and nitrox are rarely included in the trip price — budget a few hundred dollars extra and check the visa rules before booking.

FAQ

Diving in the Eastern Pacific: your questions

When is the best time to dive in the Eastern Pacific?
The season data for in the Eastern Pacific rates Jun–Dec as the strongest window, with water around 18–29 °C. Outside those months diving is still possible at many sites, but expect more wind, plankton or reduced boat schedules.
How good is the visibility in the Eastern Pacific?
Visibility in the Eastern Pacific typically runs 15–35 m, best during the dry, low-plankton months. Plankton-rich weeks cut it back — which is exactly when the big filter feeders show up.
How strong are the currents and which level do I need in the Eastern Pacific?
Currents in the Eastern Pacific are typically Moderate. Sheltered reefs suit newly certified divers, while channels, pinnacles and drift sites are the ones that ask for experience, good buoyancy and often a reef hook.
Do I need a liveaboard to dive in the Eastern Pacific?
About 55% of the dive sites in the Eastern Pacific are only reachable by liveaboard. The rest can be dived from land-based centres, so day boats and a liveaboard leg combine well on longer trips.
How many dive sites are there in the Eastern Pacific and where are they?
We list 155 dive sites in the Eastern Pacific, with Mexico holding the largest share. Every entry links to its own page with depths, level, marine life and the liveaboards that visit it.
Plan your trip

Ready to dive these sites?

Choose a destination or search every available vessel to find the liveaboard that dives the sites you want to see.

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