Planning to dive in Cozumel? Cozumel is world-famous for drift diving along its dramatic walls and coral formations. post on the best dive sites in Cozumel will help you pick the best dive places for your need and experience.
1. Paradise Reef
One of Cozumel’s most popular dive sites, Paradise Reef (Paraíso Reef) is famous for its clear water, diverse coral structures, and teeming schools of colorful fish. Here you can spot large sea species such as eels, rays, and nurse sharks in addition to smaller creatures such as seahorses, boxfish, and delicate pipefish.
The majority of dives in Cozumel take place in Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park, a protected area that begins south of the main town of San Miguel de Cozumel, on the western side of the island, and extends past Punta Sur, the southern tip of the island.
2. Tormentors
Tormentos is a very popular second dive among Cozumel dive charters due to its shallow depth (averaging around 65 feet) and little to no current. The reef is very healthy and full of life; a photographer’s dream.
Wildlife encounters include spotted eagle rays, nurse sharks, turtles, stingrays, moray eels, tons of reef fish, and the endemic Splendid toadfish, only found in Cozumel.
3. Santa Rosa Wall
Santa Rosa Wall is one of the most popular deep dive sites. The wall begins at around 15 meters and extends deeper into the blue Caribbean abyss. Santa Rosa Wall has so much to offer divers including, enormous sponges, caves, swim-through tunnels, and overhangs of stony coral. If you are looking for stunning marine life, sea turtles, eagle rays, and large grouper have been seen there on a regular basis. This dive site is more for intermediate level divers, as the currents can be strong.
4. Columbia Wall
If you are a newbie to diving and have set off on your first diving holiday, then Palancar Reef is the perfect first dive site for individuals not totally confident in their skill set. It can also be an enjoyable ‘easy’ dive for those experienced divers out there too.
5.Palancar Reef
Palancar Reef stretches for over 3.5 miles and is home to huge coral clusters where there are thousands of different coral species, all of which are interspersed with purple and orange sponges. The sea surrounding this reef is calm and can provide a number of gorgeous photo opportunities. Found in Palancar Reef are a number of deep crevices, which are great to hover over and observe the life hiding within. This spot provides a great feeling of adventure with new things to see, hiding within the deep gaps throughout the coral structure.
6.Palancar Horseshoe
Named after its U-shaped protrusion on the wall, this site is home to stunning tunnels and swim-throughs, which have been carved into the reef, meaning that you can explore this reef from the inside out. Its tall heads of a star, sheet, and brain coral come together to form a ‘city skyline’ effect. On this dive, you should expect to see alcoves filled with blue and brown Chromis, as well as schools of glassy sweepers shimmering throughout the blue waters. This site is a definite ‘MUST-SEE’ for all levels of scuba divers visiting Cozumel.
7. Punta Tunich
If you’re looking for swift currents and drift dives, then Punta Tunich is the site for you. Diving in this location starts at around 20 meters where the beautiful white sandy bottom introduces long extended ridges of coral, which rise between 12 -18 meters from the sand dunes. Stunning sea fans, gorgonians, and whips are in abundance at this dive site. Beneath the coral overhangs, you will find sponges and resident fish including grunt and snapper. This incredible dive site should not be missed.
8.Barracuda Reef
Barracuda Reef is really the stuff that myths are made from. With its crazy currents and magnificent marine life, which includes Hammerheads, black-tip reef sharks, eagle rays and of course barracuda, this is definitely a dive site not to be missed. This is certainly a dive for advanced divers and finding a reputable dive center that will be willing to take you out to this northern dive site might not be an easy feat, however it is well worth some research and some asking around.
9.Paradise Beach
10.Aerolito de Paraiso
Aerolito de Paraiso is one of the three Cenotes (sacred sinkholes) in the Cueva Aerolito system found on the island of Cozumel. In a previous post, we spoke about how many incredible cenotes and cavern systems that are found on the main island of Mexico, however not many people know about the three found on Cozumel itself. Aerolito de Paraiso (Paradise Crater) is only 5 minutes south of the main town and is home to some amazing marine life including juvenile barracuda, sea stars and lobster. You enter this cenote via an emerald lagoon and slide through a small crack to explore the sun-filled passageways. This cenote can be enjoyed by divers and cavers alike, as there is so much to see and explore.
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