Mexico Underwater Camera "Tax" spread to Cancun

[Johno1530]

Thanks All, it would appear that it's getting worse and when I asked the dive operator for a current update, I got a standard response. 

 

I have decided to cancel my trip to Socorro as I am unwilling to get scammed and think it's better to just forget about Mexico, cut my losses and move on. It's a shame as I was really looking forward to diving there but not enough is being done to stop this practice. 

 

A holiday is supposed to be relaxing and all of this sounds anything but. I don't need the hassle. I will just look for somewhere else to spend my money. 

[EllenS]

I'm contemplating getting the Carnet https://www.atacarnet.com/processing-fees for my April trip to Socorro. I'm wondering how I can get updated pricing on my kit? Should I ask backscatter? Like a vehicle, the lot drive off takes a hunk off the value. Any recommendations welcome!

[Raphael Gatti]

A friend of mine was afraid of the taxes too, he went to Socorro this year, he flew through Mexico City without any problem and then took an internal flight to Cabo San Lucas. He had not issues, there were two guys inspecting the baggages, but I think that is way different from customs inspections.

Talking with another friend that run tours on Baja and Magdalena Bay, the main problem is to arrive on international flights at Cabo San Lucas International airport.

 

I'm planning to go to Magbay this year, and quite interested on the taxes subject.

[Sokrates]

On 2/11/2025 at 6:08 PM, Raphael Gatti said:

A friend of mine was afraid of the taxes too, he went to Socorro this year, he flew through Mexico City without any problem and then took an internal flight to Cabo San Lucas. He had not issues, there were two guys inspecting the baggages, but I think that is way different from customs inspections.

Talking with another friend that run tours on Baja and Magdalena Bay, the main problem is to arrive on international flights at Cabo San Lucas International airport.

 

I'm planning to go to Magbay this year, and quite interested on the taxes subject.

 

Main problem is SJD, but there was reports it happening in MEX also. In this thread or some other.

Of course not as big there, but still.

Edited February 16 by Sokrates

[GaryR]

I am considering a trip to Cozumel, has anyone had to pay going into there.  I only saw one  mention of them in the thread

[atus]

I'm also considering a trip to Baja California, not this year but in 2026. I'm follwing this thread from the begining. What about the airports coming from Europe going to Baja right now ?. I wouldn't like to get scammed at the airport.

[Dave_Hicks]

2 hours ago, atus said:

I'm also considering a trip to Baja California, not this year but in 2026. I'm follwing this thread from the begining. What about the airports coming from Europe going to Baja right now ?. I wouldn't like to get scammed at the airport.

I've been to Cabo airport (SJD) a number of times since they started this Tax scam. I've not been victimized yet - thankfully. Friends on the same trips have been hit for Hundreds of dollars. 

 

My best tip is to pack your camera gear in a standard suitcase that does not scream "scuba" all over it. Pack your dive gear in bags that DO scream scuba. If you are traveling with someone, give all the non-scuba bags (with the camera gear) to one person. The other takes all the !SCUBA! bags through first. The camera-bearing person follows and tries to not look like they are together. 

 

I've skated though several times successfully using this approach. I put my Dive gear in Pelican bags which really draw attention. My wife with the regular suitcases containing the camera gear slipped past unnoticed. 

[atus]

21 hours ago, Dave_Hicks said:

I've been to Cabo airport (SJD) a number of times since they started this Tax scam. I've not been victimized yet - thankfully. Friends on the same trips have been hit for Hundreds of dollars. 

 

My best tip is to pack your camera gear in a standard suitcase that does not scream "scuba" all over it. Pack your dive gear in bags that DO scream scuba. If you are traveling with someone, give all the non-scuba bags (with the camera gear) to one person. The other takes all the !SCUBA! bags through first. The camera-bearing person follows and tries to not look like they are together. 

 

I've skated though several times successfully using this approach. I put my Dive gear in Pelican bags which really draw attention. My wife with the regular suitcases containing the camera gear slipped past unnoticed. 

Thanks for the advice, but I think I'll keep going to Asia. I don't like surprises when it's about money and I don't like to play the mouse and cat game with the customs.

[EllenS]

On 2/7/2025 at 9:08 PM, EllenS said:

I'm contemplating getting the Carnet https://www.atacarnet.com/processing-fees for my April trip to Socorro. I'm wondering how I can get updated pricing on my kit? Should I ask backscatter? Like a vehicle, the lot drive off takes a hunk off the value. Any recommendations welcome!

As this thread is for people who DO want to travel to Socorro, I'll fill everyone in as to my experience. I have the carnet in hand and will travel in a week. I used Boomerang Carnet (ATA) https://www.atacarnet.com/. The service has been very helpful so far.

[Octopixel]

Last week, my SO and I were charged $600 for bringing camera equipment into Cancun en route to Cozumel. I had heard about this tax in Cabo in the past, but was under the false impression that it was only hitting people there, and hadn’t been enforced yet in the Yucatán. My partner carries several lenses for wildlife photography, and they told her they needed to charge her tax for every lens in the bag in addition to her camera. After some confusion and disagreements, the agent threatened to confiscate all of my partner’s equipment or throw us in prison, after finally settling on $600. They also offered to “store the equipment at the airport until we were ready to leave” to reduce the number of equipment we were bringing in, and when we suggested we would leave a lens that wasn’t needed for this leg of the trip, they stated that we needed to leave only the most expensive equipment. I think any reasonable person can read between the lines.

 

I was then separated from her by the airport guards, because I was using my phone to tell our transportation that we would be late, and they said no phones were allowed in the area. I then asked permission to use the phone to notify our transportation only to be scolded by another guard and further separated from my partner. This is interesting, because there is a sign with a QR code to submit complaints or reports of fraud directly in front of the customs area which obviously requires a phone. 

 

We’ve dove in 7 countries and engaged in wildlife tourism trips with camera gear in over 20 countries and never faced any sort of shake down like this. The diving in Cozumel was nice, but it left a very poor first impression to start the trip, we were threatened and reprimanded, and we have no desire to ever return because of this experience. As I understand it, the Mexican tourism industry has tried to lobby the department of tourism in the past, but the situation has obviously become worse, not better. I also observed at least 3 or 4 other people getting swindled into paying hefty penalties to the customs agents. 

 

The short sightedness of it all is incredibly sad. It appears they don’t care that they are severely hurting the tourism industry in these areas, at least for photography enthusiasts/ divers who tend to have a lot of gear.

Edited Monday at 01:52 PM by Octopixel

[Johno1530]

Exactly why I cancelled my trip to Socorro Islands. Guess Mexico is permantly off the holiday destination list. 

[Proteus]

Very interested in the carnet idea and am looking forward to how it goes.

 

I'd hate to take Mexico off the list, but given the stories I'm really worried.

 

Gary