Diving with large crocodilians is one of the more audacious things a recreational diver can do, and a handful of operators have made it surprisingly reliable. Banco Chinchorro off the Yucatán coast of Mexico runs snorkel and shallow-dive encounters with American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) in clear mangrove-edged lagoons. Gardens of the Queen in southern Cuba offers similar encounters. True saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) of the Indo-Pacific are far more aggressive and not generally dived with. As with any large predator, operator selection and respect for the animal's space matters more than any other safety factor.
The year at a glance
Global aggregated reliability — at any given month, how reliably can you find this species somewhere in the world?
Where to see them in April
Sorted by April reliability and species status.
- 01
5/5
Full season breakdown
Peak Present Rare