When people think about traveling to Mexico, a few things usually come to mind. Tacos are almost always at the top of the list. For my clients, however, it’s all about the ocean, the beaches, and especially the cenotes, since most of them are divers.

Trip Preparation

Planning a trip doesn’t start when you pack your suitcase. It begins much earlier, with choosing your hotel, booking your flights, and deciding which airport to fly into. If you’re visiting the Riviera Maya, with Playa del Carmen as your base, Cancún International Airport (CUN) is still the most convenient choice, especially for travelers coming from Europe. For visitors arriving from the United States, Canada, Central America, or South America, Cozumel (CZM) and Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport (TQO)—often mistakenly referred to as the “Tulum Airport”—can also be attractive options. Airfare may be cheaper, but getting from either airport to Playa del Carmen or the surrounding area is usually more expensive and less convenient, so it’s worth factoring that into your travel plans.

The Lists

Once your flights are booked and you’ve decided whether your trip is focused on recreational diving, technical diving, or dive training, it’s time to start packing. I’ve put together a packing list that I’m happy to send to anyone who wants it. It includes both a complete cave diving equipment checklist and a general travel checklist.

To help you avoid unnecessary issues when entering Mexico or going through customs, I’ve put together the recommendations below. Unfortunately, this has become necessary because, as of July 2026, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have been flooded with dramatic stories about travelers experiencing customs problems in Mexico.

Those of us who live and work here are well aware of the situation. Several respected members of the diving community are actively working with government officials and customs authorities to clear up misunderstandings and encourage more consistent enforcement of the regulations.

The Complete Facts

Under current Mexican law, travelers do not need to declare or pay import duties on their personal belongings, provided they remain within the legal allowances established for international travelers.

For example, this applies to cash within the legal limits as well as electronic devices. The legal basis is found in **Article 61, Section VI of Mexico’s Customs Law (Ley Aduanera)**
Article 61, No foreign trade taxes shall be levied on the following goods when they are imported into or exported from the national territory:
VI. The personal baggage of passengers traveling on international journeys.

As with the laws of any democratic country, the Customs Law is intentionally written in broad terms so it remains valid over time. Rather than listing every item that qualifies as personal baggage, the law refers to additional regulations that define exactly what travelers may bring into Mexico duty-free. Those details are contained in **Article 98 of the Regulations to the Customs Law (Reglamento de la Ley Aduanera)**, updated on February 23, 2026. This regulation authorizes Mexico’s Tax Administration Service (SAT) to establish, through official rules, exactly which items are considered personal baggage for international travelers. SAT publishes these rules in the **General Foreign Trade Rules (Reglas Generales de Comercio Exterior – RGCE)**. The current applicable provision is **Rule 3.2.3**, dated December 27, 2025. The authority responsible for enforcing these regulations is **ANAM (Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México)**, Mexico’s National Customs Agency.

**Legal framework at a glance:**

1. Ley Aduanera, Art. 61, Frac. VI → General principle: Personal baggage is exempt from customs duties and import taxes.
2. Customs Law Regulations, Article 98 → The SAT defines the details through its official rules.
3. RGCE 2026, Rule 3.2.3 → Specific list of items that qualify as personal baggage.
4. ANAM → National Customs Agency of Mexico.

I’ve linked all of the official documents that were current at the time this article was published (August 2026). If you come across a broken link, please let me know so I can update it.

Why am I publishing such a detailed explanation?

Unfortunately, we’ve learned that some travelers have been required to pay customs fees they should not have been charged. To the best of my knowledge, this has been happening for several years, particularly at airports serving popular diving destinations on both Mexico’s Pacific coast and here in the Riviera Maya. I also want to make it clear that there are certainly situations where import duties are legally required. However, if the average tourist stays within the permitted allowances, there is no requirement to declare or pay duties on personal belongings.

For divers, the areas of greatest concern are sports equipment, cameras, and other electronic devices.
Below I’ve included the two most relevant sections from the official regulations (the complete list can be found using the links above), followed by my recommendations on how to handle a customs inspection if you’re selected.

Personal Baggage Allowances for Travelers

B) Two still cameras or video cameras; photographic equipment; three portable mobile telephones or devices for other wireless networks; one Global Positioning System (GPS) device; one electronic organizer; two electronic tablets; two portable computers of the laptop, notebook, omnibook, or similar type; one portable copying machine or portable printer; one portable burner; and one portable projector, together with their accessories.


C) Two sets of personal sports equipment; four fishing rods; three gliders, with or without sails, and their accessories; and trophies or awards, provided they can ordinarily and normally be transported by the passenger.

What is one Scuba Gear Set? What is one Camera Set including Accessories?

We recommend that every traveler prepare a simple inventory of their dive equipment with the heading: “One Complete Scuba Diving Equipment Set Consisting of” Then list everything you are bringing, from your mask to your spare parts kit. If possible, include serial numbers and photos. Photographers should prepare a similar inventory with the heading: “One Complete Camera System Consisting of” Include everything in your photography kit, such as the camera, underwater housing, interchangeable lenses, spare O-rings, strobes, lights, and any other accessories. Again, include serial numbers and photos whenever possible.

When you arrive in Mexico, you’ll normally collect your luggage and proceed through the “Nothing to Declare” customs lane. At most airports, you’ll then press the customs button or pass through the screening system. Travelers are selected at random for a visual inspection of their luggage.

We’ve heard that at some airports, travelers carrying hard protective cases, especially Pelican cases, are more likely to be selected for inspection. If possible, I personally recommend packing your camera equipment and other electronics in regular, non-descript hard-shell suitcases instead of specialized equipment cases. Likewise, if you use dedicated dive luggage, choosing bags without large diving logos on the outside may help avoid unnecessary attention.

What should you do if you are still selected for inspection?

If a customs officer asks about your equipment, explain that everything you’re carrying is within the legal allowance and show the inventory list you prepared. Avoid arguing. Instead, politely explain that you are traveling with one complete set of scuba equipment, even if that would include 6 regulators, 1 underwater scooter, and 4 dive lights, which is not unusual for an advanced cave diver.

Be confident and refer to the official regulations mentioned above if necessary.

Make it clear that you are visiting Mexico as a tourist and not for work. You are a regular tourist

Remain patient and courteous throughout the inspection. If there is a language barrier, the customs officer is responsible for providing assistance or interpretation.

For the sake of completeness, I would also like to include a blog post published in 2022 by a U.S.-based tour operator. The issue is not new and is not limited to the Riviera Maya and Cozumel. If the customs officer insists on payment, you have the right to make an audio recording of the entire conversation and pay under protest. They also provide a document in Spanish that you can download. However, neither I nor my colleagues here have any personal experience as to whether this is effective in practice.

Based on what we’ve learned, most reports of questionable customs charges have involved travelers arriving from the United States or Canada. After speaking with colleagues and contacts in the diving community, it appears that, so far, relatively few travelers from Europe or Asia have reported similar experiences.

What else can you do?

Before your trip, download the Guest Assist app. You can find it at guestassist.mx or download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play. The app is available in several languages and allows travelers to request legal assistance directly if needed.

Familiarize yourself with local laws and cultural norms as well as the laws and regulations of the country that will host you.

We are in direct contact with the relevant authorities and are engaged in ongoing discussions with government representatives and customs officials. We hope these efforts will lead to clearer guidelines and more consistent training, ensuring that the existing laws are applied more uniformly in practice.

While we were initially pleased to see the first online posts drawing attention to an existing issue, many more have since appeared that seem to be driven primarily by the goal of generating clicks rather than providing objective and accurate information.

I am available to my guests by phone both during the travel planning process and after they arrive in Mexico. We have already exchanged contact details before their trip, so they can reach me whenever needed.
Don’t let the noise on social media discourage you. Mexico—and especially the cenotes—remains an outstanding destination. Whether you’re diving in the ocean or exploring the cenotes with Diving Caves, you can look forward to a relaxed, enjoyable, and memorable vacation.