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Whether you like to see how deep you can dive, or you prefer to spend as much time at the bottom as possible and only care about the view, these amazing scuba diving spots in Cozumel, Mexico will have you covered.
Cozumel has got it all: shallow and interesting. Deep and dark. Reefs and wildlife of all kinds.
What are the top diving spots in Cozumel, Mexico?
The best scuba diving spots in Cozumel, Mexico are largely open for debate. Some people enjoy the less explored north, but for many people seeking the joys of scuba diving for the first – or the hundredth – time, there are dozens of spots where you can get your scuba fix.
1. Palancar Reef, Horseshoe and Gardens
Palancar Reef is perhaps the best place to start if you’ve done little or no scuba diving before. But even experienced divers looking for a stress-free dive will find plenty worth seeing here. Palancar is an extensive reef with plenty of smaller “areas” which have well-known names and reputations amongst the local scuba diving community.
Palancar Reef
There are massive clusters of coral here, a huge variety of species with surprisingly deep crevices from which all kinds of wildlife sometimes emerges.
Many people enjoy taking photos on their dive here. This is easy to do as the water is gentle around the reef and the brightly coloured coral and life makes for some simple yet great shots.
Palancar Horseshoe
Part of the reef is known as Palancar Horseshoe, so-called because it looks a little like one when viewed from above. Here you can swim through little tunnels and overhangs and actually get inside the reef. It’s still perfectly suited to new divers, with the schools of fish outside and wildlife hidden inside easily reachable by all.
Palancar Gardens
Your final and possibly most unique find here will be the section known as Palancar Gardens. This stunning section is an absolute beauty, with huge domes of green, yellow and purple sponges on every side. It looks something like an underwater village, meaning even divers who have visited a dozen times before will happily go back and still see something new.
2. Paradise Beach
The sheer awesomeness of Paradise Beach makes it a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. But, thanks to the fact that you can have both day and night dives here, you can still sometimes find a time that’s a little quieter. It’s always worth asking someone who knows the area to find out when this might be.
As the name suggests, Paradise is a beach diving location. It’s another ideal spot for the beginner diver and many local dive shops host their certification dives here.
The waters are clear, there’s not much current to speak of and there are all the brightly coloured and varied forms of marine wildlife along the reefs just offshore. Paradise Beach is a popular scuba diving spot in Cozumel for some very good reasons.
3. Columbia Wall
Many underwater photographers also favour Columbia Wall. The huge wall of coral here, which is over 65 feet tall in places, has a large number of swim-throughs, caves and caverns as well as freestanding towers of coral. Surgeonfish, sea turtles, rays, barracuda and a wide variety of fish make their home here, so you’re guaranteed to see something interesting every time you dive.
Much like Palancar, the area is so large that it could be split into multiple areas or multiple dives. These include:
- The shallow section – as you might expect, this part of Columbia isn’t very deep but it’s somehow been spared the hurricane damage you can sometimes see elsewhere around Cozumel. The light quality in this section of the reef is stunning, explaining its popularity with photographers.
- The deeper parts– Columbia’s depths will require intermediate or, more likely, advanced certification and start at around 90 feet down or more. For the advanced diver though, you’ll be getting the maximum chance to see bigger fish, more turtles and lobsters in the depths.
4. Santa Rosa Wall
Rising in dive difficulty a little from Palancar Reef, Columbia and Paradise Beach is the Santa Rosa Wall. If you have a little dive experience under your belt – enough to handle the currents in the area – a trip to Santa Rosa will reward you with a huge variety of underwater wildlife. This can include everything from schools of fish to sea turtles and rays.
Santa Rosa starts around 45 or 50 feet down and there are many short swim-throughs and caves to explore.
5. Punta Tunich
Punta Tunich is a stunning location for a scuba dive but you need some skills to handle it. With rapid currents likely, you’ll want to have some experience before you start on the drift dives which are possible here.
Once you’re down there though, you’ll see long stretches of coral with sponges and snapper fish, sea fans and more living amidst the formations.
6. Barracuda Reef
Finally, seeing the reef and Hammerhead sharks, eagle rays and the eponymous barracuda at this magnificent scuba diving spot is only really possible if you’re an experienced, qualified diver. Good buoyancy and air consumption skills will be an absolute must as you’ll have to deal with up drafts, down drafts and a strong current. Definitely an advanced level location. But if you know what you’re doing, find a local guide with a boat and get out there.
It’s one of the best scuba diving spots in Cozumel. If you’re into your diving and you’re in the area, you can’t afford to miss it.
About the author
Jesús Guzman Diaz
Also known as “Chucho” around the surfing and diving scene in Tulum, Mexico, Jesús is deeply familiar with the cenotes in the local area, having helped map some of them for National Geographic. Co-founder of locally renowned diving shop Ko’ox Diving as well as the XookBoards line of wooden surfboards, Jesús divides his time between surfing, diving and playing with his two children.
