If you’re one of the lucky thousands that gets to go on a dive vacation in Mexico, you are in for a treat! Mexico boasts some of the world’s premiere dive destinations, including the Riviera Maya, Revillagigedo Islands, the Sea of Cortez, and many havens along the country’s Pacific shore. No matter where in Mexico you’re going, we’ve assembled a comprehensive packing list that we think will cover your most basic needs while you’re there.
Scuba Gear
There are many dive operators throughout the country’s multiple locations that offer rental equipment, but you may wish to take your own gear on your dive vacation in Mexico.
- Exposure protection – A wetsuit will be necessary in Mexico, even in the most tropical locations like Cancun and Cozumel. Always keep in mind that your body loses heat up to 26 times faster underwater than in air of the same temperature, so even a dive skin will go further to keeping you warm on your dive than a swimsuit. Experience has taught us that at least 5mm of neoprene is a good baseline for ocean or cenote diving.
- BCD – If you have a travel or otherwise low-profile BCD, why not bring it? Besides wetsuits, BCDs are often the most beat-up pieces of rental equipment in Mexico. Backplate and wing configurations are especially ideal for travel.
- Fins – Those who dive frequently and are used to the performance of their own fins will definitely want to bring them on a dive vacation in Mexico. Rental fins are often full foot versions that are better suited to snorkeling than diving.
- Mask – Rental quality of masks in Mexico can be very questionable; leaks and fogging are common. Always bring your own mask and any solution you use to defog.
- Computers, Lights, and Accessories – Absolutely bring your own dive computer, lights, and any other accessories you like to dive with. These options will be limited and well-worn, if available at all as rental equipment. Never assume a dive shop in Mexico will carry everything a dive shop in your home country would!
- Save-a-Dive Kit – This cannot be understated! Make your own, or pick one up before your trip. Combine it with a basic first aid kit (including vinegar for jellyfish stings) to really cover your bases.
Creature Comforts
Now that you know which equipment is important to bring, we’ll cover what will likely be important to you during the rest of your dive vacation in Mexico when you’re not diving.
- Sun protection – Many people underestimate the power of the sun when you’re closer to the equator. There’s only so much wearing sunblock can do. It is vital that you pack a hat, sun shirt, sunblock, and more than one pair of sunglasses, as they inevitably seem to get lost, crushed, or sunk at some point.
- Travel towel – Travel towels are designed specifically to dry quickly and pack down into tiny packages, making them ideal when traditional towels are not available. Many places in Mexico will charge extra for towels or will simply not have them available, so be one step ahead and don’t forget to bring a towel!
- Toilet tissue – A lot of places throughout Mexico do not have the same infrastructure that you do back home, particularly when it comes to plumbing. You’ll encounter signs everywhere that instruct you to put your used toilet paper in the waste bin, not flushed down the toilet. But don’t expect there to be toilet paper in your stall — and be prepared to purchase it from an attendant outside the bathroom in some places! Bring your own pocket pack and avoid these issues.
- Water filtration or treatment – While many places sell bottled water in all sizes, it never hurts to be prepared for the event that there will not be potable water. Iodine tablets are a little outdated but still viable. There are a number of portable and even pocket-sized water filtration devices on the market that can deliver drinkable water from virtually any source.
- Batteries – You may have grown quite accustomed to having batteries available as impulse purchases in the checkout stands in your country, but you are in for quite a shock if you expect this to be status quo on your dive vacation in Mexico. Bring extra batteries for any device you have that requires them. Extra charging cables and wall outlets may come in very handy if you lose or damage your primary source.
- Cash – Cash is king in Mexico. While you may be able to use your debit and credit cards at more and more places throughout Mexico, these systems are plagued with scammers. Cards are good to have as backup, but you’ll want to withdraw cash from an ATM when you arrive at your destination. Research ahead of time (blogs and forums for your destination are often full of real-time advice from locals, expats, and repeat visitors) which ATMs are the most trustworthy to date. If you are headed to a particularly small or desolate area, withdraw your cash at the airport, and choose pesos whenever possible. It is easy to exchange pesos back home if you have some left over at the end of your dive vacation in Mexico.
