The first time I learned that I was going to go wing diving, I didn’t really know what to expect. However, now having done wing diving in Isla Mujeres, I can confidently say that it’ll be an experience to remember for the rest of your life. Most likely, it will also be one of the highlights of your trip.
Below, I’ve done my best to outline my experience with this activity in Isla Mujeres. We’ll look at what the experience looks like from beginning to end, what it costs, when you should do it, and whether it’s worth it. Let’s wing dive right in!
What Is Wing Diving
I’m not going to dive into the nitty-gritty of wing diving here. However, to give you an idea of how this works: you hold onto a board (the ‘wing’) that’s extended from two lines from the boat.
The boat will start driving, and you’ll be holding onto this wing in the water. The wing actually consists of two wings that rotate separately. If you push both down at the same time, you’ll dive; if you aim both up at the same time, you’ll go up.
If you push one of the wings up and the other one down, you’ll spin left or right depending on which wing is up and which one is down.
There are a lot of cool videos online about people who do a bunch of cool tricks with these wings (like surfing them). Trust me, the first time, this is all you’ll do. Ooh yeah, it’s cool as fuck.
My Experience Wing Diving Isla Mujeres
Going wing diving was a surprise for my birthday. Therefore, I didn’t know we were going to do this until we arrived at the meeting point. When the concept was first explained to me by my girlfriend, it sounded awesome and a little crazy. Turns out it was incredibly awesome and definitely crazy.
When you arrive at the meeting point (more about that in a moment), you’ll be greeted by the tour hosts. In our case, the owners of the company were going to do the tour. It’s a nice Dutch couple that has lived on the island for years already.
Instructions
First, they give you a 15-minute instruction on what to expect. Many people who go wing diving have never done it before (me included), and it does require some careful instructions. Here are the main points they told us:
- We’ll start off driving the boat slowly. That way, you can get used to the feel of the ‘wing’ and the speed.
- After that, we’ll speed it up a little. We’ll see how that goes
- Finally, we’ll go as quickly as we’re allowed to go (of course, in a safe manner).
- If you go down, remember water pressure changes. This may hurt your ears. You’ll need to equalize from time to time (pinch your nose and blow out from your nose, or swallow)
- When we get out to the wing diving spot, you’ll be in the water with an instructor first. After that, you can get the hang of it yourself.
The Actual Experience
From there, we got onto the boat. It takes around 15 minutes to get to the wing diving spot. Isla Mujeres is a great spot for wing diving because it’s quite shallow (in most cases up to 27 feet/9 meters), which means you’re never too far from the surface.
When I first got into the water, I still didn’t know what to expect. However, as soon as that boat starts going, it’s a combination of excitement and fear that hits you at the same time. Here’s the thing: as a human, you’re not used to going 10mph (15km/h) in the water. The strong current against your face, while simultaneously diving deep and going up quickly again, really makes you feel like a dolphin.
The first stint lasts about five minutes. At that point, they slow down and do a wellness check (“everything alright?”). If everything is fine, they’ll do a second stint, which goes a bit quicker (if that’s what you want), and a third stint (which is the quickest they’re allowed to go with beginners).
By the time you’re into your second stint, you’ll get the hang of it, and you’ll probably try to spin as well. Spinning is a weird sensation and quite disorienting at first. Personally, I loved diving as deep as I could, before rapidly coming up again, the most.
In total, you’ll do 2 x 25-minute stints per person, and the whole experience lasts 3-3,5 hours depending on the size of the group.
Where Can You Wing Dive In Isla Mujeres?
There’s only one company on Isla Mujeres (that I know of) that organizes wing diving. The company is literally called Wing Diving Isla Mujeres, so it’s not that hard to find. For the tour itself, you’ll meet up at Skull’s Landing. That used to be a hotel but is now permanently closed. This is the exact location.
If you’re staying in the north of the island, you can get here in a couple of ways. The quickest is probably to take a taxi if you don’t have private transportation. The ride is only going to be about 5 minutes. Expect to pay anywhere between $60 – $100 pesos.
Normally, I don’t recommend walking to get anywhere on Isla Mujeres. However, this location is so close that you could. From the ferry terminal to the meet-up place is only an 18-minute walk (0.8 miles, 1.3km). You’ll have a sidewalk all the way there.
What Does Wing Diving Cost?
If you’re going to do the wing diving, that will cost you $75 USD per person, which is about 30% cheaper than scuba diving on Isla Mujeres. That price includes the experience as described above, as well as the gear needed to do it, water (and a beer on the return trip). It also includes boat passenger insurance and the dock fee. T
If you want to join the boat, but don’t want to do the wing diving yourself, that will cost $30 USD.
Video footage isn’t included, but can be made. The package costs $95 USD in total. It includes 10 underwater pictures, each for 1-4 people. If you have a GoPro yourself, you can rent a mount that fits the wing for $5 per mount.
There’s also the option of making it a private sunset trip, which means the boat will be anchored after the wing diving, and there’ll be more snacks and (non-)alcoholic drinks. That costs an extra $200 USD on top of the previous total.
When Can You Wing Dive On Isla Mujeres?
You can go wing diving on Isla Mujeres throughout the year if the weather allows it. If you’re wondering what the best months would be, I would say January – June are the best. During this period, the weather is dry and warm, and there are not a lot of stormy days. Since you need calm water to go wing diving, this is the best period.
From July to December, the weather becomes windier and more unpredictable. Especially from September onwards, since this is the start of hurricane season. The severity of hurricane season differs per year, but it’s definitely a more unpredictable period of the year.
Who Should Go Wing Diving In Isla Mujeres?
Active people who enjoy water activities and a good thrill should definitely go wing diving in Isla Mujeres. One thing I noticed while doing the activity is how physically tiring it can be. You’re basically holding on for dear life while being dragged through the water for 2×25 minutes.
Of course, the crew adjusts the speed of the boat based on your feedback, but still having some form of physical fitness won’t hurt.
It’s also a great activity if you’re not really into the standard activities on Isla Mujeres that you’d normally do, such as hanging around at a beach club and visiting Punta Sur. I still think this is one of the coolest things we’ve done on this little island.
FAQ – Wing Diving Isla Mujeres
Do I need a diving certification to try wing diving in Isla Mujeres?
No, you don’t need a diving certification to try wing diving in Isla Mujeres. Instead of a certification, you’ll receive a short 15-minute training on shore, as well as some practice runs in the water, to prepare you for wing diving.
Is wing diving safe for beginners?
Yes, wing diving is safe for beginners. Complete beginners receive instructions on land before wing diving. On top of that, the crew continuously monitors your situation and asks for feedback so you won’t feel uncomfortable during the experience.
How deep do you go during a wing diving experience?
Waters around Isla Mujeres are quite shallow. Therefore, you’ll only go to a maximum of 27 feet (9 meters) before you hit the bottom.
What marine life can you see while wing diving in Isla Mujeres?
In the wing diving area in Isla Mujeres, you’ll see tropical fish and maybe some turtles or eagle rays. For practical reasons, there are no reefs nearby since you could hit those and injure yourself.
If you want to see more marine life in Isla Mujeres and love doing unique activities, check out this guide on whale shark season in Isla Mujeres.
What should I bring or prepare before a wing diving tour?
There’s water on the boat. However, bring some extra water for yourself to make sure you’re staying hydrated. Also, bring sunscreen for when you’re done with the wing diving. Finally, bring a towel.
