Explore Palancar Reef

Palancar Reef is made up of shallow (7km) to deep (up to 40km) dive sites due to its variety of underwater landscapes, such as crevasses, ravines, caves, and swim-through tunnels. This unique landscape thus makes for many distinct dive sites that can be enjoyed. Aside from underwater features, the marine flora and fauna is spectacular. This rich ecosystem is even home to some endemic species, such as the Splendid Toadfish. In general, diving around Cozumel Island is known for its spectacular visibility, with an average of more than 40m.

Upcoming Events

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Trippy DIvers

Perfect Buoyancy

Contact the Center for more information.

The SSI Perfect Buoyancy specialty is the best way to improve your buoyancy and get the most from every dive. Buoyancy is an essential dive skill, but any diver will tell you it takes time to perfect. The Perfect Buoyancy specialty will teach you advanced buoyancy skills and techniques, so you can master your buoyancy more quickly and enjoy more relaxed dive adventures. In this fascinating program, you will also learn new skills that protect the environment and work in every diving situation. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Perfect Buoyancy Specialty certification. With better buoyancy skills, you will soon be able to hover with ease and take the underwater photographs you dream of!

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Trippy DIvers

Scuba Diver

14 Nov 2025

Using online learning, confined and open water dives, the SSI Scuba Diver program is a perfect foundation to become a confident and safe diver. You will learn all you need to scuba dive in open water up to 12 meters deep with an SSI Professional. In this program, you will complete almost half of the Open Water Diver course training and can upgrade your certification easily. You just need to complete the remaining academic and confined water sessions, plus two open water training dives.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Trippy DIvers

Advanced Open Water Diver

14 Nov 2025

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! You will try Deep Diving and Navigation plus a variety of 3 more specialty areas of choice before committing to full specialty training. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Open Water Diver Program, you will experience 5 different specialties by completing one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. By taking this program you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full Specialty trainings any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

Instructor Evaluation

Pura Vida Diving Playa del Carmen

Instructor Evaluation - IE

20 Nov 2025

Start today - You need to be a Divemaster or equivalent to join SSI´s 3-Step Instructor Training Approach. The training process starts with joining the Assistant Instructor / Instructor Training Course combination accompanied with Digital Learning. After successful completion of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) you will enroll in an Instructor Evaluation (IE) to qualify as an SSI Open Water Instructor. This 10 day training program entitles you to teach various key SSI programs independently like Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress & Rescue and Dive Guide.

For those who want to take more time to learn and to gain valuable teaching experience between the training programs the 3 parts can also be taken as single steps - Assistant Instructor, Instructor Training Course (ITC) and Instructor Evaluation (IE) one after the other at own pace and with a flexible schedule.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

BE DIVING COZUMEL

Assistant Instructor

22 Nov 2025

The Assistant Instructor rating is the next step after becoming a Divemaster along the scuba instructor pathway. It allows you to collect valuable teaching experience, practice briefings, teach academics, and conduct in-water training. If you want to further your career as a dive professional, you can finish the Instructor Training Course, pass the Instructor Evaluation, and become an Open Water Diving Instructor.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Trippy DIvers

Cave Diving

01 Dec 2025

Explore further than ever before and learn how to dive in the most demanding underwater environments. The SSI Cave Diving program teaches adventure seekers the correct procedures and protocols to conduct cave penetration dives with a single navigational choice. Depending on your certifications, you can use either a sidemount, twinset, or rebreather configuration during your training. The SSI Cave Diving specialty is an excellent progression of training into the fascinating world of caves. As a certified cave diver, you will understand the importance of dive safety and diving with a team, along with the use of well-maintained, properly configured dive equipment. Start your cave diving journey with the SSI Cave Diving program today!

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Trippy DIvers

Extended Range Cavern Diving

01 Dec 2025

The SSI Extended Range Cavern Diving program gives you a small glimpse into the exciting world of cave diving. As an SSI Extended Range Cavern diver, you will learn how to use cavern diving equipment, gas management concepts, and buddy team skills to safely conduct cavern penetration dives. The SSI Extended Range Cavern Diving program trains you to dive in caverns within the daylight zone to a maximum depth of 40 meters. From the grandest Mexican cenotes to vast caverns, becoming a cavern diver allows you to experience it all. Start the SSI Extended Range Cavern Diving program online today!

Professional Level Programs / Courses

BE DIVING COZUMEL

Open Water Instructor (Instructor Training Course ITC)

02 Dec 2025

Start today - You need to be a Divemaster or equivalent to join SSI´s 3-Step Instructor Training Approach. The training process starts with joining the Assistant Instructor / Instructor Training Course combination accompanied with Digital Learning. After successful completion of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) you will enroll in an Instructor Evaluation (IE) to qualify as an SSI Open Water Instructor. This 10 day training program entitles you to teach various key SSI programs independently like Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress & Rescue and Dive Guide. For those who want to take more time to learn and to gain valuable teaching experience between the training programs the 3 parts can also be taken as single steps - Assistant Instructor, Instructor Training Course (ITC) and Instructor Evaluation (IE) one after the other at own pace and with a flexible schedule.

Instructor Evaluation

Trippy DIvers

Instructor Evaluation - IE

12 Dec 2025

Start today - You need to be a Divemaster or equivalent to join SSI´s 3-Step Instructor Training Approach. The training process starts with joining the Assistant Instructor / Instructor Training Course combination accompanied with Digital Learning. After successful completion of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) you will enroll in an Instructor Evaluation (IE) to qualify as an SSI Open Water Instructor. This 10 day training program entitles you to teach various key SSI programs independently like Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress & Rescue and Dive Guide.

For those who want to take more time to learn and to gain valuable teaching experience between the training programs the 3 parts can also be taken as single steps - Assistant Instructor, Instructor Training Course (ITC) and Instructor Evaluation (IE) one after the other at own pace and with a flexible schedule.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Salty Endeavors

Open Water Diver

31 Dec 2025

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Deep Blue

Advanced Adventurer

03 Jan 2026

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Adventurer program! With this program, you can try a variety of specialties before committing to full specialty programs. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Adventurer Program, you will try out 5 different specialties. You will complete one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. With this trial program in specialty diving, you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full specialty programs any time in the future and credit your Advanced Adventurer training towards them.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★★ Palancar Bricks

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.

4,526
Logs
3,294
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
27.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Felipe Xicotencatl C-53 Wreck

The C-53 was purposefully sunken with the aim of it becoming an artificial reef dive site. The wreck was thoroughly prepared for safe diving, including easy penetration and egress. The wreck is 55m/184ft long and the deepest point lies 23m/76ft deep.

4,613
Logs
3,575
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
28.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Maracaibo Reef

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.

245
Logs
119
Divers
28.0 m
⌀ Depth
26.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Chunchacah

In the shallower area adjacent to Maracaibo, this long stretch is populated with large coral heads and abundant fan corals. The depth is a constant 70 ft/21m through the entire site, with currents often unpredicatble. This is one of the southernmost dive sites in Cozumel and often the second dive after Maracaibo.

182
Logs
152
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
27.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Punta Sur - Devil’s Throat

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.

1,114
Logs
880
Divers
32.0 m
⌀ Depth
27.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Colombia Shallows

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!

1,314
Logs
1,029
Divers
15.0 m
⌀ Depth
27.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Palancar Horseshoe

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.

3,462
Logs
2,461
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
27.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Punta Dalila

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.

7,296
Logs
4,748
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
27.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Punta Francesa

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.

3,347
Logs
2,332
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
26.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Casa Blanca

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.

1,094
Logs
860
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
27.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Santa Rosa Wall

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.

9,156
Logs
6,293
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
28.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Santa Rosa Wall

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.

4,543
Logs
3,391
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
28.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ San Francisco Wall

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.

2,572
Logs
2,020
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
28.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ San Clemente

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.

7,719
Logs
5,037
Divers
15.0 m
⌀ Depth
26.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Cardona

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.

289
Logs
211
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
26.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Palancar Reef

Dive sites at Palancar Reef are versatile in that they offer something for divers ranging in experience from freshly certified to seasoned with thousands of logged dives. The dive sites geared towards novice divers consist of mostly reef dives, with countless stunning sponges and corals to see, as well as the multitude of colorful tropical fish that call them home. That being said, Palancar Reef is best known for its wall- and drift-diving, which is generally geared towards a more advanced crowd.

Cozumel Island and nearby Playa del Carmen have a large number of dive shops and dive resorts that send boats out to dive sites on Palancar Reef daily and sometimes twice-daily. These shops also offer certification courses for people hoping to learn how to scuba dive on their vacation, or for those looking to complete the open water portion of their certification.

The best Months to dive in Palancar Reef

The best time of year to dive Palancar Reef is December through April. This is when the water is cooler and visibility is best. During this window, the average water temperature is 25-28°C (78-82°F). If you prefer to avoid the crowds and dive in warmer waters, May through November is the time to visit. Keep in mind, however, that this overlaps with hurricane season, which has cut short many trips to this region.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

Sandro Scuba Tours

Marina La Caleta Carr. Costera km 4.5, 77688 San Miguel, QR - MEX

ALMA LIBRE DIVE CENTER

105AV. esquina Calle 1 Sur Bis, 77645 Cozumel, QR - MEX

Aqua Flow

Calle2 Sur #1713 entre 13sur y 31Sur Flores Magon 3, 77666 Cozumel, QR - MEX

Humarine

Avenida 65 940, 77620 San Miguel de Cozumel, QR - MEX

CARIBE PARADISE DIVERS

CARRETERA COSTERA SUR KM 9.5 INTERIOR PARQUE CHANKANAAB LOCAL 2, 77600 Cozumel, QR - MEX

Dive with Purpose Cozumel

Marina FONATUR Carretera Costera Sur Km 6.5, 77675 Cozumel, QR - MEX

Scuba Mau

Marina Caleta ,Carretera Costera Sur KM 4.5, 77600 Cozumel, QR - MEX

Nirvana Dive Shop

Av .10 No 172 Centro, 77600 Cozumel, QR - MEX

DIVE AND SHINE

25 Ave. entre Benito Juarez y Calle 1 Sur, 77600 Cozumel, QR - MEX

Dive Galaxsea Cozumel

Fonatur Marina, 77660 Cozumel, QR - MEX

ICONIC DIVES COZUMEL

MARINA FONATUR, 77675 COZUMEL, QR - MEX

Salty Endeavors

65 Avenue Entre 21 y 23, 77600 Cozumel, QR - MEX

Trippy DIvers

Calle Jose Maria Morelos 510 (entre 25y30), 77600 San Miguel de Cozumel, QR - MEX

Julio Kinscuba

CARRETTERA CHANKANAAB KM 3.5, ZH SUR, 77600 Cozumel, QR - MEX

Blue Angel

Carretera Costera Sur km 2.2, 77600 Cozumel, QR - MEX

Pelagic Ventures Scuba

Carretera Costera Sur Km 6.5, 77600 San Miguel de Cozumel, QR - MEX

Deep Blue

Adofo Rosado Salas #200, 77600 Cozumel, QR - MEX

Chili Charters

Marina Norte Puerto de Abrigo (Banco Playa), 77640 COZUMEL, QR - MEX

DIMI SCUBA TOURS

75 AV. L.11 ENTRE MORELOS Y PRIVADA MORELOS, 77642 COZUMEL, QR - MEX

Papa Hogs Scuba Emporium

285 Costera Sur, 77600 Cozumel, QR - MEX