Mexico

Palace Reef (★4.6)

Cozumel Palace Hotel is an all inclusive five star hotel, from where you have access to the Palace Reef. Discover the depths of the surrounding waters of Cozumel and stunning marine flora and fauna on this reef.

Dive with Purpose Cozumel, 77675 Cozumel

Palancar Bricks (★4.6)

The southernmost section of the famous Palancar Reef, Palancar Bricks is suitable for divers of all experience levels due to multiple swim throughs are various depths, multi-level diving, and macro photography.

Sandra S. (#3809867)

Playa del Carmen (★4.3)

Turtles site nearby Playa del Carmen, Biosphere protected animal sea area. Plenty of doris, emperors, clownfish, lobster, coral reef, seabass, pufferfish.

SCUBA10, 77710 PLAYA DEL CARMEN

Los Arcos - Playa del Carmen (★4.3)

A place with a lot of current, suitable only for advanced or experienced divers. For this dive site it is ideal to have the NITROX certification to make the most of it. Multiple dives may be required to visit all the corners of this place.

Dive with Purpose Cozumel, 77675 Cozumel

Blackbeard (★4.5)

Dzul Ha is a popular, shallow reef South of El Presidente Intecontinental hotel. The reef begins near the Landmark / Money bar area and is a popuar snorkeling spot. Artificial reefs and natural coral house plenty of fish and crustaceans. Good for night snorkeling too.

Mares

Cedral Wall (★4.5)

The dive starts at around 13 meters (45 feet) and can reach depths up to 27 meters (90 feet). Divers can explore both the reef and the wall, with the latter featuring steep drops and rich coral gardens.

Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Cozumel (★4.5)

Cozumel is one of the most popular dive destinations in the world and caters to divers with many diver-specific hotels year-round. Sitting just off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Cozumel boasts crystal clear, warm waters every day of the year and is home to a wide array of marine life.

Aqualung

Tormentos (★4.5)

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.

Dive with Purpose Cozumel, 77675 Cozumel

San Francisco Wall (★4.4)

One of the most popular dives in Cozumel. You will find a steep dropoff, with potentially strong currents and frequent eagle ray sightings. The water is beautiful with 30m or better visibility. There are big barrel sponges all along the wall. This is a more advanced dive site.

Aqualung

Palancar Caves (★4.7)

Palancar Caves is usually done as a multi-level drift dive, starting out fairly deep, usually hitting the recreational limit, to explore the deeper reef which is full of underwater tunnels and caves to swim through. Then you’ll make your way up the reef to the more shallow area to end your dive.

Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Paradise Reef - Cozumel (★4.5)

One of the most popular dive sites in Cozumel, Paradise Reef is actually three separate patch reefs running parallel to shore and is accessible by both shore and boat. This is one of the few good shore-accessible dive sites on the island. Max depth is 45 feet so this is a good site for beginners and snorkelers.

Get Wet, 77760 Tulum

Akumal Reef (★4.5)

Protected Reef: Part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System—the second-largest reef in the world!Turtle Town: Akumal literally means “Place of the Turtles” in Mayan, and yep, you’re almost guaranteed to see green sea turtles cruising by.Shallow & Clear: Great visibility (up to 30m/100ft)

Dive with Purpose Cozumel, 77675 Cozumel

Cardona (★4.6)

A shallow, colorful reef 200 meters from the shore just South of Punta Tunich, this colar site is a short easy dive, usually visited as the second or third dive of the dive. Also a great snorkeling site.

Aqualung

Cedar Pass (★4.5)

Paseo del Cedral is a favorite Cozumel site among photographers due to the landscape that is covered in tight little coves and crevices for schools of fish to hide. This is a shallow dive with a max depth of 60 feet and great for beginning divers.

Dive with Purpose Cozumel, 77675 Cozumel

San Clemente (★4.5)

San Clemente is a shallow barrier reef located 500 m (0.3 mi) from the shore at the Sunscape/Secrets resort. The dive site is only 30-40 ft deep in at spans a llenght of over 900 m (0.6 mi). With mild currents, this is a perfect dive site for the last dive of the day or a night dive.

Scuba XOC Dive Center, 77675 Cozumel

Palancar Horseshoe (★4.5)

Horseshoe is one of the four awesome sections that make up the famous Palancar Reef in Cozumel, Mexico. This section of the reef is a horseshoe-shaped notch in the wall of Palancar full of beautiful and large coral heads and giant barrel sponges.

DIVEMEX, 77710 Playa del Carmen

Jardines (★4.4)

A great site for beginning divers and snorkelers as this reef is shallow, clear, and has little to no current. One of the most beautiful dives in Playa del Carmen, Jardines reef offers many small caves and shelters for schools of fish to hide. Lots of reef life here to see.

Mares

Chankanaab (★4.4)

Chankanaab is a marine park accessible from shore at the Chankanaab Beach Adventure Park where you can lounge on the beach, swim with dolphins, have lunch at the restaurant, hike around the Mayan ruins, or snorkel and dive the Chankanaab reef right from shore.

Access Scuba, 84770 St. George

Santa Rosa Wall (★4.5)

The Santa Rosa Wall is one of the most famous wall dives in the world. This dive is for advanced divers as the wall drops away to hundreds of feet deep. it is easy to get pretty deep pretty fast so watch your gauges. This dive is also a drift dive but there are also lots of fun swim-throughs to explore as well.

Aqualung

Yucab Reef (★4.5)

Being a shallower reef, Yucab is a very popular second dive for many of the Cozumel dive charters. The reef is very colorful and healthy with lots of hard coral species and huge barrel sponges. There is usually a strong current here so this is always done as a drift dive.

Dive with Purpose Cozumel, 77675 Cozumel

Casa Blanca (★4.4)

Slightly south of the entry point for Cedral Wall, this site is frequently overlooked by local dive operators despite the opportunity for shark & turtle sightings.

Dive with Purpose Cozumel, 77675 Cozumel

Punta Francesa (★4.5)

At the North end of Punta Dalila, a similar shelf reef continues South towards Punta Francesa. A dive profile of 55 ft max depth with a 1-hour bottom time is typical.

Scubapro

Paraiso Reef (★4.6)

This is the first reef when entering the Marine Park. It is a popular second dive and also a popular night dive. The current typically runs from South to North. The dive usually starts across from the entrance of the local marina and drifts north. There are a few coral ridges that parallel the shore line.

Dive with Purpose Cozumel, 77675 Cozumel

Punta Dalila (★4.5)

This is one of the more popular shallow diving sites in Cozumel and is a popular second dive among dive charters. With the reef sitting in about 40-60 feet of water this is a great site for snorkeling and beginning divers. This is a great spot to see nurse sharks and turtles.

Mares

San Juan Reef (★4.6)

Located in the North, this site is usually done as a second dive after Barracuda or Cantrel. This area is dominated by huge finger corals, lettuce coral sand sponges.

Dive with Purpose Cozumel, 77675 Cozumel

Punta Tunich (★4.5)

This dive site is often done as a second dive. The northern end of this reef is the most interesting, but it is best to approach it when there is a south-to-north current running.

A.C.Divers, 77720 Playa del Carmen

Shangri La - Playa del Carmen (★4.5)

Shangri-La dive site is only a short 5-minute boat ride from central Playa del Carmen. The site is easy to navigate as the reef runs parallel to the shore and you can dive it north to south or vice versa depending on what the current is doing that day.

Mares

Colombia Reef (★4.5)

Colombia Reef is well known for its shallow, colorful reef and deeper drop-off. The current is moderate and this site is usually done as a drift dive. There are lots of fun swim-throughs and overhangs to explore.

Dive with Purpose Cozumel, 77675 Cozumel

Villablanca Wall (★4.4)

This is a wall dive which slopes steeply. It can be done from shore, though this is not advised. The swim out from shore takes approximately 15 minutes which makes it a short dive overall.

Mares

San Pedro Island (★4.3)

It is a bit of a boat ride to get out to San Pedro Island but well worth it! You’ll see amazing reef structure, lots of hard and soft corals and tons of sub-tropical fish species, plus possible sightings of larger marine life. Don’t miss diving Las Cascaditas, Lighthouse both north and south, and Pelican Point.

Mares

Colombia Deep (★4.6)

Columbia Deep is renowned for its dramatic underwater topography, featuring towering coral pinnacles, expansive sand chutes, and intricate swim-throughs. The reef begins around 50 feet and plunges into the abyss, offering a sense of vastness and exploration

A.C.Divers, 77720 Playa del Carmen

Chun Zumbul (★4.5)

This is a shallow reef with a great variety of marine life that is easy to dive. Excellent for beginners and experts, this site is fairly close to the coast, making it a short boat trip; ideal for those who get seasick on longer boat rides.

A.C.Divers, 77720 Playa del Carmen

Barracuda - Playa del Carmen (★4.4)

A shallow reef with a strong current and many different coral formations. Like most of the reefs in Playa, it is a long wall, for which you need to be careful with descending, have good buoyance and be comfortable in the water to be able to dive calmly.

A.C.Divers, 77720 Playa del Carmen

Tortugas Reef (★4.3)

Tortugas is one of Playa del Carmen’s most popular reefs, great for both diving and snorkeling due to its shallow depth and clear visibility. This is a great site to see lots of turtles, hence its name.

Mares

Bahia Príncipe (★4.4)

This dive site is near Tulum, Mexico and is a great site for beginners. The water is shallow, warm, and easy to access. It can be done as a shore dive. There are your typical Caribbean reef corals and sponges mixed with a sandy bottom.

Scubapro

Palancar Gardens (★4.6)

One of the most popular dive sites on the island of Cozumel, Palancar Gardens starts over a shallow reef at 33 feet and then drops off as a mini wall to over 130 feet. There are many fun caverns and swim-throughs to explore. The reef is very healthy, the vis is spectacular, and marine life is abundant.

Dive with Purpose Cozumel, 77675 Cozumel

Puerto de Abrigo (★4.5)

Right at the entrance of the Puerto de Abrigo marina, a wall drop off starts at 45 ft/15m of depth. The wall extends over one kilometer North to Cantarel, past the Coral Princess hotel. Frequent strong currents take divers flying over the reef, sometimes finishing the dive in another site.

Dive with Purpose Cozumel, 77675 Cozumel

Las Palmas Reef (★4.4)

As the shelf of Dzul Ha drops off, a gently sloping wall with sandy patches and scattered coral balls offers great night dives and plenty of marine life. This dive starts at the Money bar and can end 700 meters further North at the Presidente Intercontinental hotel.

Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Punta Sur - Isla Mujeres (★4.3)

15 minutes from north of the island. Located right at the southern tip. Great drift dive. The only drift dive of the island where you can see big turtles in May through July.

Scuba XOC Dive Center, 77675 Cozumel

Maracaibo Reef (★4.4)

Maracaibo Reef is the Southernmost dive site on Cozumel’s Eastern shore. It is a deep drop-off with a large arch, one of Cozumel’s famous underwater landmarks.

A.C.Divers, 77720 Playa del Carmen

El Cantil (★4.5)

5 min from the coast by boat just parallel to Playa del Carmen down town we will find El Cantil the amazing deep wall is great for deep diving training.

Dive with Purpose Cozumel, 77675 Cozumel

Punta Sur - Devil’s Throat (★4.6)

Sites in Punta Sur are for advanced level divers due formidable prevailing currents and the typical depths of these sites. Devil’s Throat is a famous passage located on the southernmost end, with an entry point at around 90 feet deep and winds down to 140 feet through a lengthy, narrow downward cavern.

Mares, Janez Kranjc

Santa Rosa Shallows (★4.5)

Santa Rosa Shallows is the counterpart of the famous Santa Rosa Wall. The shallows are a great second dive after exploring the deeper wall. The reef here isn’t any deeper than 60 feet with a mild current; excellent for viewing the buzzing reef activity all along the patchy reef system.

Dive with Purpose Cozumel, 77675 Cozumel

Tormentos Reef (★4.5)

Punta Tormentos is a fringing reef which starts immediately after the end of Yucab. The ref is located 600 meters from a sandy cove at the shore in the south end of the w-shaped Punta Tormentos point. The dive is 650 meters (0.4 mi) long, and navigating 40 course after its end leads directly to the No-name reef.

Dive with Purpose Cozumel, 77675 Cozumel

Santa Rosa Wall (★4.6)

Almost exactly in front of the Occidental Cozumel hotel, this wall offers divers breath-taking views of the abyss under the steep pdrop off as well as many pass-throughs between the deep blue and the safety of a relatively shallow shelf. A few adjacent shallower coral balls offer a suitable spot for a safety stop.

Blue Angel South, 77600 Cozumel

Barracuda - Cozumel (★4.5)

Barracuda has a ripping current most of the time, and sometimes there is down and out current. Lots of sponge and big groups of fish. In the right season, this is a good spot for eagle rays. Advanced certification is recommended to dive here.

Aqualung

Chankanaab Bolones (★4.4)

This reef is in front of Chakanaab Park. Mild currents make this a good dive for novices. The abundance of sea life make this an interesting dive for all levels, although it can be deeper in some areas (average 21m/ 70 feet) so good air consumption is important to maximize bottom time.

Scuba XOC Dive Center, 77675 Cozumel

Colombia Shallows (★4.5)

With a max depth of 25 feet, this is the perfect site for beginner training, new divers, update classes, or divers looking for an abundance of marine life and long bottom times. Endless photography opportunities for experts & novice UW photographers is also a plus!

MAR ADENTRO DIVING, 77976 Mahahual

La Poza, Xcalak (★4.7)

An very nice underwater trench that makes for a beautiful wall dive. Current can sometimes convert it into drift diving. The depth ranges from 5 m/15 ft to 26m/90ft. It is full of alcoves where fish hide and tower-like structures of coral at the end of the dive.

Aqualung

Agua Negra Cozumel (★4.7)

Blackwater Diving is the new “thing“ in Cozumel. Entry point is 3-4 miles off the coast of Cozumel Island over the MesoAmerican Barrier Reef System.

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