Punta Zicatela – Oaxaca Coast

Site Overview

Punta Zicatela is Puerto Escondido's premier advanced dive site where strong Pacific currents create exciting drift diving conditions along rocky walls that attract dolphins, sea turtles, seasonal whale sharks, and large schools of pelagic fish in one of the most dynamic diving environments on the Oaxaca coast. The rocky point formation extends underwater creating walls and channels that channel the Pacific currents, providing drift diving experiences where divers are carried along the rock face observing marine life concentrated by the nutrient-rich flow. Dolphins regularly accompany dives, swimming alongside the current-swept walls with playful curiosity that creates extraordinary marine mammal encounters at moderate depths. Sea turtles glide along the walls during the warmer months, feeding on the invertebrate communities that thrive in the current. Seasonal whale sharks visit from June through October, following plankton blooms that concentrate near the point formation. Schools of jacks, tuna, and other pelagic species patrol the mid-water column in impressive numbers attracted by the nutrient upwellings created by the rocky underwater topography. The drift diving format means dives are planned around current direction and strength, with boat pickup at the end of the drift requiring good surface skills and DSMB deployment. The exposed Pacific location means surface conditions can be challenging, with ocean swell affecting entry and exit procedures. Despite the challenging conditions, Punta Zicatela rewards experienced divers with genuine pelagic encounters and the excitement of drift diving in a wild Pacific environment that contrasts dramatically with the calm bay diving available at nearby Huatulco. The surf-town atmosphere of Puerto Escondido adds cultural appeal to the diving experience, making this a destination for adventurous divers who combine underwater exploration with Mexico's vibrant Pacific coast culture.