This is the moment a plane used by tourists sank after it nosedived into the Caribbean Sea.

The Cessna P206D Super Skylane stalled while it was making its final descent to land at the beachside airstrip on Cozumel, a paradise holiday resort off the country's eastern coast on July 13.

It dropped into the sea and began sinking off the coast of the Mexican island.

Footage shows the aircraft, operated by Rivair, with its tail in the air as it disappears slowly under the waves, 150 meters from the shore.

Divers later began inspecting the wreck, which was upside down with its wheels in the air 30 feet down on the seabed, looking for a cause of the crash.

Samuel Menache Contreras, the pilot, was reportedly flying without passengers and was retrieved unharmed from the sea after the crash.

Local media reported that he suffered a 'nervous breakdown'.

It is currently unclear what caused the plane's crash, but police and air safety officials are investigating.

RivAir is an air taxi company with more than 30 years of experience, according to the company's website. They operate in the Caribbean.