Spend two hours learning to scuba dive in Chankanaab Park with a PADI/SSI instructor, exploring coral gardens, statues, and shallow caves to a maximum depth of 8 meters. Ideal for first-time divers aged 10 and up, the experience pairs a 20-minute classroom with an hour-long guided dive and included park entry.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
The water at Chankanaab holds a quiet kind of confidence: clear, warm, and patient as a group of beginners gathers on the sandy shallows. Instructors run through buoyancy and signals under a thatch awning, the occasional gull calling from the palapa roofs while the reef beyond bobs with parrotfish and angelfish. Twenty minutes of instruction later, each student slips beneath the surface and finds a calm world where colors pop and statues—Christ and the Virgin—keep silent watch.
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
2 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for people in reasonable health with basic swimming comfort; not strenuous but requires mobility to enter and exit the water.
Wildlife
History
Chankanaab began as a public marine and botanical park intended to showcase coastal ecology and provide controlled access to the island’s reefs, supporting both education and tourism.
Conservation
The park operates within protected-area guidelines to limit diver impact and encourage reef restoration; use reef-safe products and avoid touching coral to help preserve the habitat.
Reserve your spot on the Discovering Diving in Chankanaab Park today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Bring reef-safe sunscreen
Apply biodegradable sunscreen before arrival and reapply after your dive to protect coral and avoid irritating skin when snorkeling afterward.
Hydrate and eat light
Drink water before the dive and avoid heavy meals—small snacks help maintain energy without causing discomfort underwater.
Practice equalizing
If you’re prone to ear pressure, practice Valsalva equalization during the briefing to make the descent to 8 m comfortable.
Arrive early to redeem tickets
Meet at local #6 inside Chankanaab Park and bring your mobile voucher; allow extra time for park entry lines during cruise ship arrivals.
Swimsuit and quick-dry layers
Comfortable clothing for getting wet and changing before/after the dive.
Reef-safe sunscreen
Protects skin and the reef; required in many marine parks.
summer
Water bottle
Staying hydrated before and after diving helps prevent fatigue and decompression issues.
Light reef booties or water shoes
Useful for walking rocky areas and entering beach-based dive sites.
spring