Bull shark diving in Playa del Carmen
Every winter, female bull sharks gather off the coast of Playa del Carmen, many of them pregnant. The official season runs from November 1 to March 31, and it is the only time of year the dive takes place. You need some experience to join. At Feel The Diving we ask for the PADI Advanced Open Water certification and dive in groups of four people at most.
Here is what you should know before booking, based on official sources and on what we see from our scuba diving center in Playa del Carmen.
When is bull shark season in Playa del Carmen?
The season runs from November 1 to March 31. Those are the dates in the technical study the State of Quintana Roo filed in 2026 to protect the "Playa del Carmen Bull Shark" as a geographical indication, published in Mexico's Official Gazette. The same document notes that the sharks can be seen roughly from November to April.
The sharks don't arrive on the same dates every year, and they don't always stay as long. Before you confirm your booking, we'll tell you how the season is going that month.
Why bull sharks come to Playa del Carmen
The sharks that arrive are females. According to the same study, many of them are pregnant and spend the winter near the local coastal lagoons and mangroves, where they give birth.
In 2023 a team of researchers confirmed it underwater with a submersible ultrasound. At a dive site in Playa del Carmen they found embryos in three females over 2 meters (6.5 ft) long, without taking them out of the water. The study was published in Frontiers in Marine Science.
The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. That's why we dive with them respectfully and give them their space.
Where the dive takes place
Bull shark diving happens in the Bull Shark Public Use Subzone, inside the Mexican Caribbean Biosphere Reserve. It covers about 10 hectares (25 acres) off the coast of Playa del Carmen, and divers know it as Bull Shark Point.
The activity has two recognized formats. In the observation format, the sharks show up on their own. In the attraction format, specialized divers use a small amount of bait as a scent to draw them in.
What the dive is like with Feel The Diving
We love diving with sharks, always in the most natural, respectful and safe way, for them and for us. The day starts with a theory session where we go over the dive plan and the rules for being around the sharks. Then we head out to the site.
We dive in small groups of up to four people, so the guide can keep an eye on every diver. Briefings are in English, Spanish or French.
Want to know which days we're diving this winter? Message us on WhatsApp and we'll send you dates and availability.
Which certification you need
We ask for the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification. It's a deeper dive than beginner dives, with big animals around you, so you need to be comfortable with your gear and have good buoyancy control.
If you don't have it yet, you can get it with us. In the PADI Advanced Open Water course you make five adventure dives, and from November to February one of them can be the shark dive, for an extra fee. If you're not certified at all, start with the Open Water course in Playa del Carmen.
Is bull shark diving dangerous?
The bull shark is a large predator and has to be treated like one. That's why the activity is regulated, only happens in a specific area during a fixed season, and why we ask every diver for experience.
What helps most is following the guide's instructions, holding your position and never trying to touch or chase the sharks.
What else you can dive in winter
On the deeper reefs of Playa del Carmen, winter is also the time for spotted eagle rays, along with giant moray eels and crabs. If you want to plan more dives, our guide to Playa del Carmen dive sites sorts the reefs by level.
Frequently asked questions
Can I dive with bull sharks with an Open Water certification?
We ask for Advanced Open Water. If you're Open Water certified, you can take the Advanced course with us and choose the shark dive as one of the five course dives, from November to February.
Are there bull sharks in Playa del Carmen all year?
The season for diving with them runs from November to March. Outside those months the dive doesn't run.
What language is the briefing in?
English, Spanish or French, whichever you prefer.
Book your bull shark dive
Send us your dates and your certification level and we'll let you know if there's space.
