Hi
On a french diving forum, I had some discussion with a ex diving instructor living in Playa del carmen. His wife own a dive center.

He allways say NO PROBLEM comming here, nobody need to pay taxe for camera etc...

Heavy discussion over month I give up... and to be honest he didn't post at the forum anymore, probably he is tired fighting the evidences.

Maybe something is happening... Post by a dive operator in Cozumel:

Addressing the recent customs issues that have been reported in Cozumel:

The state tourism secretary and state customs director have just announced a pause on taxing personal dive and photo gear, effective now through September 1st. During this window, customs officials will work directly with dive operators and local commerce chambers to build an official list of items considered personal/recreational equipment, exempt from tax, along with a clear process for declaring gear at the airport.

What this means for you:

- No gear taxation during the pause. If anyone brings it up, you can reference the pause directly.

- A permanent fix is coming. Rather than a one-off workaround, this is the industry and the government sitting down to define the rules clearly, so this doesn't happen again.

- We're at the table. As dive operators, we're part of the group helping shape that list, so we'll make sure it reflects how divers actually travel with their gear.

We'll keep you posted as the list and process take shape. For now: pack your gear, come dive, and don't worry about this one.

Nothing official from customs and nothing about the root of all, Cabo. But maybe something is happening...

Edited July 22Jul 22 by Sokrates

3 minutes ago, Sokrates said:

Maybe something is happening... Post by a dive operator in Cozumel:

Nothing official from customs and nothing about the root of all, Cabo. But maybe something is happening...

The really annoying thing is infos are only coming from dive shops with nothing official to support their claim and a few of them while recognizing there is a problem, have also been good lately at minimizing it offering weak advices on how to pack photo gear, stating that only "professional" equipment is taxed therefore it is better to show up with a gopro where real life experience at the custom gates has been strongly invalidating those advices with people being charged for bringing backup dive computers, TG in polycarbonate housing... Vacation time and good diving equipment are coming from hard-earned money and are not cheap for many people and I don't think many people aware of this are willing to take a bet on getting taxed or not where there are other islands in the Caribbean that provides peace of mind on arrival. It's unacceptable to have to pay additional tax on temporary imported personal equipments.

I would love to go to Cozumel but Mexico in general has been a big NO for years because of all the madness going on with customs.

Edited July 22Jul 22 by eocean-eu

Trust lost is hard to regain. I have not seen anything official looking either and I would not go to Mexico right now until there is an official statement welcoming scuba divers and photo divers. An apology and a refund to those who got robbed would be nice also.

That release and the info being distributed does not appear to be on an official letter or statement, I would not trust that and then get waylaid at customs on your "professional" scuba gear. What this is really an admission of is that gusts have been hassled at customs over their scuba gear.

The latest below, does not sound good.

Reference: Office of the Secretary
Official Letter No.: SEDETUR/DST/22-0005/VII/2026
Subject: Communication to the tourism sector
Chetumal, Quintana Roo, July 22, 2026

“2026: 40th Anniversary of the Creation of the Anthem of the Free and Sovereign State of Quintana Roo.”

To the Diving Tourism Community of the State of Quintana Roo:

I am pleased to inform you that on Monday, July 20, I held a working meeting with General Luis Antonio Balcázar Bustos, Head of Customs in Cancún, along with his team.

General Balcázar Bustos showed a strong willingness to address the needs of this important segment of international tourists. As a first step, work will focus on two areas:

* Informing the diving community and diving service companies about the requirements for the temporary importation of equipment under the ATA Carnet. This is an international customs document that allows the temporary import and export of certain goods in more than 78 countries without paying customs duties or taxes and without the need to file import/export declarations.
* In coordination with diving industry specialists, a proposal will be developed for a list of equipment used in diving activities in order to promote updates to Mexico’s General Foreign Trade Rules.

From the Quintana Roo Ministry of Tourism (SEDETUR), we will continue to follow up on these matters and any others that may arise concerning this issue.

Thank you for your attention, and I send you my cordial regards.

Sincerely,

Lic. Bernardo Cueto Riestra
Secretary of Tourism
State of Quintana Roo

Edited July 23Jul 23 by Nemrod

Here is the document attached. Adios.

So they are basically saying to use ATA carnet. Thanks but no thanks.

Individual cant even get ATA carnet in Finland, only registered companies.

Edited July 23Jul 23 by Sokrates

In Japan, for a Mexico visit an individual would need to make a refundable cash deposit of roughly 50% of the value of the equipment for an ATA Carnet if they do not qualify for JCAA's guarantee scheme criteria 😅

The carnet itself isn't that bad - around €200 for €20,000 worth of equipment - but that would mean a €10,000 refundable deposit!

I think Mexico must be one of the only countries in the world to tax personal diving and imaging equipment brought in by recreational diving tourists in this way. ¡Chingón!

Edited July 23Jul 23 by bghazzal

Wow. This (carnet) resolve does not look good. It is the opposite of relaxing the rules. And more costs to visit Mexico.

Years ago, when I brought camera equipment into Egypt, they wrote brief descriptions in my passport. The intent was that I had to show the gear on exit, or pay a tax. Nobody ever checked the passport when I left (with all my gear).

On 7/22/2026 at 3:15 PM, Nemrod said:

Trust lost is hard to regain. I have not seen anything official looking either and I would not go to Mexico right now until there is an official statement welcoming scuba divers and photo divers. An apology and a refund to those who got robbed would be nice also.

That release and the info being distributed does not appear to be on an official letter or statement, I would not trust that and then get waylaid at customs on your "professional" scuba gear. What this is really an admission of is that gusts have been hassled at customs over their scuba gear.

The latest below, does not sound good.

Reference: Office of the Secretary
Official Letter No.: SEDETUR/DST/22-0005/VII/2026
Subject: Communication to the tourism sector
Chetumal, Quintana Roo, July 22, 2026

“2026: 40th Anniversary of the Creation of the Anthem of the Free and Sovereign State of Quintana Roo.”

To the Diving Tourism Community of the State of Quintana Roo:

I am pleased to inform you that on Monday, July 20, I held a working meeting with General Luis Antonio Balcázar Bustos, Head of Customs in Cancún, along with his team.

General Balcázar Bustos showed a strong willingness to address the needs of this important segment of international tourists. As a first step, work will focus on two areas:

* Informing the diving community and diving service companies about the requirements for the temporary importation of equipment under the ATA Carnet. This is an international customs document that allows the temporary import and export of certain goods in more than 78 countries without paying customs duties or taxes and without the need to file import/export declarations.
* In coordination with diving industry specialists, a proposal will be developed for a list of equipment used in diving activities in order to promote updates to Mexico’s General Foreign Trade Rules.

From the Quintana Roo Ministry of Tourism (SEDETUR), we will continue to follow up on these matters and any others that may arise concerning this issue.

Thank you for your attention, and I send you my cordial regards.

Sincerely,

Lic. Bernardo Cueto Riestra
Secretary of Tourism
State of Quintana Roo

What a joke. They have changed nothing and will likely still rob people entering Mexico.

They will get a lot of people who don't know the rules and will steal their hard earned money. Those informed on the subject are expected to pay hundreds of dollars to get an ATA Carnet, which may or may not have the desired impact of them not charging you tax on items that you have already paid tax on and have no intention of selling in their country.

I imagine they are not that bothered, as it will only affect a small proportion or the tourism and those entering without any dive gear will continue to rent gear and dive.

I will give Mexico a BIG miss.

Ridiculous. This Bernardo Cueto Riestra is either too lazy to grasp the issue and why it is unreasonable, or he just don’t care—which is his job as the secretary of tourism. I cancelled a WS in Socorro earlier this year and went to the Maldives instead to shoot sharks.

I will happily boycott Mexico diving.. plenty of other places to spend $$ and with good diving!

Hi,

I’ve been diving in Mexico several times. Most recently, last October, I dove Cenotes and Baja for 5 weeks. Lucky last year not get ripped off at border in Cancun for my UW rig.

I was planning to go again this October.

CANCELLED............. no more bucks for Mexico from my side

Br Markus

12 minutes ago, waterpixel said:

I will happily boycott Mexico diving.. plenty of other places to spend $$ and with good diving!

Boycotting will NOT work. I agree there are plenty of other dive destinations, although Socorro is firmly on my list but it's only a small proportion of divers that are affected I.e. Photographers and regular divers. Those who request the day boats, dive once every few years will not be affected and Mexico will see very little loss in tourism from us photographers/divers.

It will likely be the owners of the live aboard / crews that will be affected, in my opinion.

I just cannot understand the rationale behind it, other than straight up corruption / theft.

31 minutes ago, Johno1530 said:

Boycotting will NOT work. I agree there are plenty of other dive destinations, although Socorro is firmly on my list but it's only a small proportion of divers that are affected I.e. Photographers and regular divers. Those who request the day boats, dive once every few years will not be affected and Mexico will see very little loss in tourism from us photographers/divers.

It will likely be the owners of the live aboard / crews that will be affected, in my opinion.

I just cannot understand the rationale behind it, other than straight up corruption / theft.

Hi,

If individuell boycotting will not work tell me your solution. I myself do not want to support this current corrupt system.

Br Markus

Riviera Maya News & Events

Quintana Roo Opens Customs Talks After Cozumel Diver Char...

Quintana Roo tourism officials have opened discussions with federal customs authorities following complaints that visiting divers are being charged import taxes on underwater cameras and other equipme

Click the link to open the news article.

Edited Sunday at 02:19 PM2 days by Nemrod

2 hours ago, Muellema said:

Hi,

If individuell boycotting will not work tell me your solution. I myself do not want to support this current corrupt system.

Br Markus

Individual boycotting will protect YOU. I'm already 'Personally' out of pocket to the tune of $1500.

I'm not saying do not do it, I am simply saying it will not affect the corrupt customs officers making money from unsuspecting tourists.

I will personally not be going, but a few hundred less tourists will make zero difference to Mexico.

The only pressure that will have any affect will be IF it comes from someone of importance........ Like government.

The fact that they get away with it at all suggests that this goes a lot higher than the customs officers on the ground. If this was the UK then there would be hell to pay, both from companies and tourists. It simply would not happen without higher government input/acceptance.

12 minutes ago, Nemrod said:

Riviera Maya News & Events

Quintana Roo Opens Customs Talks After Cozumel Diver Char...

Quintana Roo tourism officials have opened discussions with federal customs authorities following complaints that visiting divers are being charged import taxes on underwater cameras and other equipme

They already do not follow the actual customers literature / rules, so I personally would not trust this as far as I could throw a corrupt customs officer.

I hope it works for the sake of us divers, as I would love to go back to Mexico, but, until I hear from people on this or similar forum that it has completely stopped I will be giving it a wide birth.

Corruption really makes me angry.

11 minutes ago, Johno1530 said:

They already do not follow the actual customers literature / rules, so I personally would not trust this as far as I could throw a corrupt customs officer.

I hope it works for the sake of us divers, as I would love to go back to Mexico, but, until I hear from people on this or similar forum that it has completely stopped I will be giving it a wide birth.

Corruption really makes me angry.

The letter from the ”secretary of tourism” unfortunately does not suggest any positive actions for uw-photographers or divers. The ATA documents will significantly increase the cost of bringing your personal equipment into Mexico, so I think it will actually create more incentive for ”enterprenaurial” initiatives by individual customs personnel. Completely detached inmo. Personally I’ve had Socorro on my list too, but will boycott and go to Malpelo, Galapagos or Cocos instead in that side of the world.

Edited Sunday at 02:04 PM3 days by Christian K

4 minutes ago, Christian K said:

The letter from the ”secretary of tourism” unfortunately does not suggest any positive actions for uw-photographers or divers. The ATA documents will significantly increase the cost of bringing your personal equipment into Mexico, so I think it will actually create more incentive for ”enterprenaurial” initiatives by individual customs personnel. Completely detached inmo. Personally I’ve had Socorro on my list too, but will boycott and go to Malpelo, Galapagos or Cocos instead in that side of the world.

I, unfortunately, would have to agree. It will lead to more corruption and simply no ATA Carnet = Tax, Tax and more theft..... I mean tax.