The Spectacular Dive Sites of Cozumel!
Every dive in Cozumel is different, but they are all breath-taking. It only took five days of me diving on these reefs before I knew I only wanted to be here. Three years later, I live here and get to dive these smashing reefs every day. Check out some of the best below
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Diving at Punta Sur is like stepping into a colorful underwater world filled with some of the most beautiful reefs on the island, but this isn’t a site for beginners. Average depth of the dive is 30m, so good air consumption and buoyancy is mandatory.
Available via request, and subject to approval.
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Palancar Gardens, or any of the Palanacar sites, are a must see. One of the most unique sites anywhere, this site features towering rock formations 20-30m tall, situated next to a long drop off. These formations are completely covered in coral and sponge and marine life, and is a true sight to behold.
For the beginners, this is a perfect place to start your trip. This is the site with the lowest current, and plenty to see at even shallow depths. Swim between the formations, and end the dive on top of them, this a great site for turtles and all the fish.
For more advanced divers, there are lots of swim-throughs, and plenty of depth to the west.
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The Palancar Horseshoe is a stunning dive site, known for its vibrant coral and rich marine life. Shaped like a horseshoe, it’s perfect for both beginner and experienced divers, featuring unique canyons, swim-throughs, and steep coral walls with fish, turtles, and sometimes nurse sharks. The clear waters offer amazing visibility, highlighting a lively underwater ecosystem. Diving at the Palancar Horseshoe is an exciting way to connect with nature that leaves a memorable impression!
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Palancar Caves is a diver's dream, where the clear waters invite you to explore a mesmerizing underwater labyrinth. Swim through the natural tunnels and between towering formations, all adorned with colorful coral and sponges, and all the fish you could see. As you navigate these stunning swim-throughs, keep your eyes peeled for graceful yet ridiculous eagle rays gliding effortlessly past. The thrill of encountering these gentle giants amidst the vibrant marine life creates an unforgettable experience, reminding you why scuba diving is such a wonderfully adventurous pursuit.
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Diving at Palancar Bricks is like exploring an underwater paradise filled with colorful coral and lively marine life. As you glide over the huge coral blocks, you’ll spot friendly parrotfish munching on the reef and calm nurse sharks resting nearby. The clear waters give great visibility, letting you forget the time (but do check your computer!) as you admire the beautiful underwater scene. Every corner hides shy Blackcap Basslets, curious turtles, and darting schools of Creole Wrasse, transforming each moment into an exciting treasure hunt for ocean lovers.
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Diving at Columbia in Cozumel is like entering an underwater paradise. Still part of the huge Palancar reef system, Columbia features lots of swim throughs through huge formations. You'll see beautiful coral, clear waters, and lots of tropical fish, sea turtles, and sometimes stingrays or Eagle Rays. The gentle currents create an exciting adventure for all divers, leading you to explore hidden spots and lively coral gardens. As you float along, stunning views won’t disappoint, letting you experience the ocean's magic first hand.
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Diving Paso del Cedral, you aren’t likely to pass the same place twice. This site is enormous, featuring broad plateaus, strip reefs, and a wall, all in one place. Depending on your level of experience, we’ll customise the dive to fit your requirements. The current can be a bit stronger here, but not to worry, I’ll brief you on the best techniques before we get in.
This is the best site to find all three kinds of turtles, 7ft long Green Morays out for a swim, plus nurse sharks and so many fish. This site is a must see!
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Diving at Punta Delila in Cozumel is a different kind of site again, being a split-level reef. Along the top, loads of coral and fish, but underneath there are plenty of alcoves and cavelets where all kinds of creatures can hide. Watch for sea turtles and discover hidden treasures in the coral! Each dive brings new surprises; this is actually where I saw the best thing I’ve ever seen on a dive, my favourite and very rare fish the Blue Parrotfish. I can’t guarantee he’ll be there, but I can promise you a great dive.
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Yucab might be favourite dive site of all, as this is the place that by far as the most fish. This site is a long strip reef, max depth of 18m/60ft, giving us lots of options of where to dive. The most important of all, this is the best place to see the ridiculous endemic Splendid Toadfish. They only exist in maybe 5km of reef in the whole world, and I’ll never tire of seeing that silly face peering out from their little coves.
Splendid Toadfish isn’t all you’ll see, there are also tons of Angelfish, Triggerfish, Filefish, wrasse, Parrotfish as well as just huge Lobsters and even swimming nurse sharks. Can’t be beaten, and a definite must-see.
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Yucab is the first section of the long strip reef, Tormentos is the second. Like Yucab, this is a long strip reef covered in corals, and features so much marine life, you’ll never see it all. This is also a good place to look for Splendid Toadfish, the endemic and bananas looking fish of Cozumel. The current is a little more calm here, providing an excellent chance to look for tiny fish like blennies and gobies, as well as the bigger fish. Look out for the beautiful Fairy Wrasse hiding under overhangs. A beautiful site, also worth seeing.
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The C-53 is definitely a different kind of dive than the rest of the dive sites. The C-53 is, of all things, a WW2 ship, used to patrol the coastal line until 2002, when it was sunk to create an artificial reef and awesome dive site. The ship is huge, 184ft long and 44ft tall. One extra point is that because of the number of entry and exit points, it’s classed as a training wreck and therefore allows divers to enter, when lead by an Instructor.
The way I like to dive this site is to descend on the line attached to the bow, then all the way down to the sea floor where we’ll do a lap of the base, peering in the blast holes and admiring the huge propellors. Then, we go inside, if you want to. We’ll check out the engine room with the resident Green Moray, then wend our way through the corridors and up and down between floors before coming up to the main deck. We’ll circle around the deck, then up to the wheelhouse, and then up to do our safety stop.
This site does need to be requested in advance, so please advise if you want to do this site.
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An excellent site for beginners, this is the most northern dive site in the marine park, and a lovely calm dive with a max depth of 12m/40ft. Spread out over a broad plateau, this is the perfect place to look for tiny creatures like Nudibranchs (colourful sea slugs), gobies and blennies, particularly the Sailfin Blenny. Then again, while you’re looking down for small, an Eagle Ray can still surprise you. Relax, drift along on the current and watch the fish swim by, it’s a nice time.
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