You’ll need to add diving in Cozumel to your journey to Mexico for those who take pleasure in a little bit of underwater exploration. On this publish, we’ll take a more in-depth have a look at all issues associated to scuba diving in Cozumel.
I used to be licensed in 2008, and in 2021 I spent per week diving Cozumel with Scuba Tony. I spent greater than 12 hours underwater across the island. I met up with some native Padi Instructors and spoke with the homeowners of dive retailers to verify I had all the info appropriate for this publish.
I’ve spent a number of time diving in Mexico, significantly across the Yucatan Peninsula, and I’ve to say that (in my view) Cozumel diving is a number of the finest in Mexico.
Scuba Diving in Cozumel, Mexico: A Full Information
The island of Cozumel is certainly one of many finest locations for scuba diving in Mexico. Right here you may go diving within the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the world’s 2nd largest barrier reef system.
It’s a part of a protected marine park with spectacular partitions of coral and greater than 500 species of fish. You may see turtles, sharks, and eagle rays right here along with all of the tropical fish just like the endemic splendid toadfish.
Even famend explorer Jacques Cousteau declared the island of Cozumel to be a world-class diving vacation spot when he visited again in 1961. Diving in Cozumel actually is an unbelievable expertise!
Diving is simply one of many many unbelievable issues to do in Cozumel, and for those who’re travelling to Mexico, getting below the water ought to positively be in your listing.
Learn on for an in depth information to scuba diving on this gorgeous island within the Yucatan. I’ll cowl the perfect time to go to, common prices, typical marine life, a number of the finest dive websites, prime scuba firm and much more.
When to Go Diving in Cozumel
Cozumel scuba diving is nice year-round.
I visited Cozumel within the shoulder season of late April and early Could, however you may actually come right here for diving any time of the yr. There actually isn’t a nasty time to go scuba diving in Cozumel!
That being mentioned, some months are positively higher than others relying on what you need to see.
The water is sort of heat and nice in all seasons, normally between 78 and 82ºF (25 and 28ºC). Whereas the water is all the time good, the temperatures on land will be downright stifling throughout the summer season months.
July to October can also be hurricane season right here, so you need to take that into consideration.
The danger is decrease in the summertime months however a lot larger in September and October. One advantage of touring to Cozumel within the offseason is that costs are decrease and crowds are a lot smaller.
The height season for diving Cozumel is between December and March. Whereas it is a nice time to be on the island weather-wise, it’s additionally costly and crowded. Undoubtedly you’ll want to e-book prematurely presently, particularly between Christmas and New 12 months’s.
A candy spot for scuba diving in Cozumel is between March and April, when crowds begin to skinny out however the rain has but to reach.
The exception is Semana Santa (Holy Week) pageant, which is a mini-peak season for locals. See our information to the finest time to go to Mexico.
Cozumel Diving Seasons
| January – April | Could – August | September – December |
|---|---|---|
| Sea Temperature 77°-79°F / 25°-26°C |
Sea Temperature 78°-86°F / 26°-30°C |
Sea Temperature 77°-84°F / 25°-28°C |
| Climate January – February continues to be primarily clear skies and cooler temperatures. It begins warming in March-April. |
Climate Could and June the climate begins heating up and in the summertime you may count on fast bursts of rain. |
Climate August to October have the very best probability of hurricane, however December has nice climate. |
| Sharks This can be a nice season to see sharks, significantly from January to March when you may as well see bull sharks (nearer to Playa del Carmen). |
Sharks July and August are different excessive months for shark recognizing! You received’t see bull sharks presently, however there are many reef sharks. |
Sharks From November to December the bull sharks return and provide the alternative to dive with them. |
| Rays Between the months of January to April, you may see probably the most eagle rays. You all the time have a excessive likelihood of seeing brown stingrays within the sand. |
Rays July & August are additionally the second-best seasons to see the attractive eagle rays. As all the time you’ll see loads of different rays too. |
Rays September – December isn’t the perfect months to see eagle rays, however you’ll nonetheless see loads of brown noticed rays and different species. |
| Turtles You may’t actually dive in Cozumel with out seeing turtles! |
Turtles Could to October is Loggerhead breading season in Cozumel. |
Turtles Yep. You’ll in all probability nonetheless see a inexperienced turtle on each dive on this season! |
| Coral Each month of the yr is nice for diving and seeing the unbelievable Coral formations and this season isn’t any completely different. |
Coral The coral pinnacles will nonetheless be unbelievable in Could-August and the ocean is heat sufficient to dive with no wetsuit. |
Coral The water begins to chill once more in October however the fish and coral stay the identical, all sensible, wholesome, and vibrant. |
Finest Dive Websites in Cozumel
Cozumel scuba diving is so standard as a result of there are such a lot of dive websites to select from. There are over 20 websites across the island for divers of all ranges. You would simply plan your whole journey round diving on this wonderful island.
Cozumel dive websites usually have fairly a little bit of present, however usually you may circulate with the present (collectively together with your group) and the boat will decide you up on the different finish of the reef.
Newbies will benefit from the shallow websites that includes colourful reefs, whereas extra superior divers can go for some thrilling drift diving with swim-throughs. Even non-divers can take pleasure in the fantastic thing about the underwater world right here by tagging alongside as a snorkeler.
The dive websites right here vary in depth from 4.5 meters – 36 meters, nonetheless, the perfect ones max out at 25 meters. Divers with an Superior Open Water certification are in a position to take pleasure in all the finest dive websites in Cozumel.
Listed here are a number of the finest dive websites in Cozumel which you could’t miss:
1. Palancar Reefs
- Depth: 9 meters – 36 meters (30-120 toes)
- Expertise Degree: Newbie-Intermediate
- Present: Gentle-Robust
That is thought of to be the star of the diving scene in Cozumel. It’s really divided into 4 sections — caves, bricks, horseshoe, and gardens. These completely different websites supply one thing for divers of all ranges.
Between the 4 completely different websites, you may expertise depths of between 9 meters – 36 meters (30 to 120 toes). There are many wonderful coral formations, colourful sponges, and many fascinating marine life. Chances are you’ll spot sea turtles, nurse sharks, angelfish, and extra right here.
On my current journey diving Cozumel, I dove all of the websites right here and general the Palancar reefs had been in all probability my favourite on the island. Notably Palancar Caves the place you get to swim by means of monumental caverns within the coral reef itself.
In case you ask your dive store what the perfect Cozumel dive websites are, they’ll doubtless listing Palancar first.
2. Columbia Wall
- Depth: 18 meters – 36 meters (60-120 toes)
- Expertise Degree: Intermediate
- Present: Unpredictable
Enormous coral pinnacles are a spotlight right here, some rising greater than 60 toes (20 meters) from the underside. You may take pleasure in some deep swim-throughs and wall diving right here. Look out for grouper, turtles, and perhaps even nurse sharks at this glorious dive website.
I dove the Columbia Wall as a twilight dive which was unbelievable as a result of because the solar units it displays off of the wall and creates some spectacular colours.
In case you dive the Columbia Wall, I like to recommend doing it as a 2 tank night time dive, so the primary dive is on the wall for sundown, and your second dive could be a close by night time dive (extremely really useful).
3. San Clemente
- Depth: 10 meters – 30 meters (30-98 toes)
- Expertise Degree: Superior
- Present: Robust
This was my second dive of the two tank twilight and night time dive and it was unbelievable. You may go right down to round 30 meters on this one however we stayed at about 20 because it was our second dive of the day.
I extremely suggest doing San Clemente as an evening dive. The animals come out to play on this reef and it’s a spectacular present!
We noticed 3 octopus, a nurse shark, eels, brown noticed stingrays, and better of all, a large eagle ray “flew” by us on the finish of the dive!
In case you get the possibility, ask your dive store to take you on the 2-tank San Clemente and Columbia Wall twilight & night time dives. These had been a few my favorites.
Notice: Like many spots for diving in Cozumel, there may be present right here. Once I did the San Clemente night time dive it was fairly robust. In case you’re not used to highly effective currents, let your dive store know in order that they’ll test the circumstances earlier than taking you right here.
4. Columbia Pinnacles
- Depth: 9 meters – 30 meters (30-98 toes)
- Expertise Degree: Newbie-Intermediate
- Present: Gentle
Like Palancar, there are fairly a couple of dive websites throughout the Columbia Reefs. The Columbia Pinnacles had been one other one in all my favourite dive websites as a result of, like Palancar, that they had unbelievable coral crests jutting up from the seafloor.
There are many swim-throughs and it’s a comparatively straightforward dive.
On the day I went, there was no present in any respect and even when there was, there are many locations on the leeward aspect of the pinnacles to relaxation and regroup, making it an amazing place for novices.
5. Columbia Shallows
- Depth: 8 meters – 14 meters (26-50 toes)
- Expertise Degree: Newbie
- Present: Gentle
I dove the Columbia Pinnacles and Columbia Shallows in someday as a part of a 2 tank dive day and it was unbelievable.
We had a little bit of present within the shallows nevertheless it wasn’t dangerous and it was tremendous relaxed to simply drift over the corals at a shallow depth; the proper shallow dive after the deeper pinnacles.
We noticed a number of turtles on this dive, too many lobsters to rely and I discovered a small reef shark sleeping below a coral overhang which principally made my day on the water.
6. Punta Sur Reef
- Depth: 27 meters – 39 meters (90-130 toes)
- Expertise Degree: Superior
- Present: Unpredictable
This subsequent one is for extra superior divers. It reaches right down to depths of 130 toes (30 meters) and is cut up into two sections. The southern half has an incredible chamber known as the Cathedral whereas the northern half contains a cave formation generally known as the Satan’s Throat.
7. Chankanaab Reef
- Depth: 10 meters to fifteen meters (35-50 toes)
- Expertise Degree: Newbie
- Present: Gentle
This is a great spot for some diving in Cozumel for novices. It’s a simple, shallow dive that’s normally accomplished as a 2nd dive on a visit.
All of the cracks and crevices within the coral right here imply a number of fascinating marine life — lobster, noticed moray eels, crab, and even the endemic splendid toadfish.
8. C-53 Shipwreck
- Depth: 15-30 meters (50-98 toes)
- Expertise Degree: Intermediate to Superior
- Present: Average
The C-53 isn’t an unlimited wreck, however it’s one in all my favourite shipwrecks I’ve completed and it’s positively the perfect (hottest) on Cozumel. What I beloved about it was that it was fully upright, making it straightforward to navigate the darkish hallways.
That’s proper, you get to penetrate this wreck and it’s wonderful!
In case you’re a newbie to an intermediate diver, you’ll solely be capable to enter the higher degree of the ship which sits at about 20 meters (65ft), however for superior deepwater divers, you may go a degree deeper into the vessel at round 30 meters (98ft).
In case you’re scuba diving Cozumel and also you need to go to a wreck dive, the C-53 must be on the prime of your listing.
9. Paradise Reef
- Depth: 10-18 meters (32-59 toes)
- Expertise Degree: Newbie
- Present: Average
This was the second dive that I did proper after the C-53 Wreck and it’s probably the most standard dive websites in Cozumel because of the shallow, easy-to-follow reef system right here.
In my view, Paradise Reef has a few of Cozumel’s finest tender coral formations with vibrant colours and many sea life. Verify below each little nook and cranny to seek out hiding fish, lobsters, and typically nurse sharks.
10. Tormentos
- Depth: 15-18 meters (50-60 toes)
- Expertise Degree: Intermediate-Superior
- Present: Robust
Tormentos is one other probably the most standard dive websites in Cozumel because of its shiny colourful coral and abundance of turtles snacking on the reef. I believe we noticed 3 turtles throughout my dive at Tormentos.
Out of all the dive guides I talked to, fairly a couple of of them mentioned that Tormentos was their favourite chilled dive website and I might see why. Most agree that Palancar is the perfect general, however Tormentos usually comes as a detailed second.
The present will be fairly robust right here, so be ready for that, however once I visited it was fairly calm that day.
If it’s too robust and you end up getting pushed forward of your group, simply discover one of many many coral mounts and conceal behind it to keep away from the present till your group catches up with you.
Hold your eye out for black grouper, large barracuda, and the occasional nurse shark which will grace you with its presence at Tormentos.
Value of Diving in Cozumel
When scuba diving in Cozumel, 2-tank morning dives or afternoon dives are the usual. You may hop on a 2-tank enjoyable dive journey for about $90 if staying on the island or a bit extra if staying in close by Playa del Carmen.
It’s attainable to seek out single-tank dives, however these are uncommon throughout the day. Most dive retailers in Cozumel supply a single-tank night time dive journey for round $60-65. These normally solely run between October and February.
It’s also possible to join particular 2-tank twilight dives throughout sure occasions of the yr for round $100. These usually don’t run within the winter months. It’s finest to ask the dive store that you simply join with if they’ve such a visit obtainable if you’ll be on the island.
It’s typical for dive retailers right here to supply the fundamentals (masks, snorkel and fins) at no cost however cost additional for gear rental.
You will get a full set of drugs for $20-25 a day or get a reduction if diving for a number of days. Most retailers supply Nitrox tanks for an extra $8-10.
Need to seize your expertise diving in Cozumel? Many retailers hire out GoPros for round $40 for those who don’t have your individual. Some even supply videography providers so you may allow them to do the work of documenting the dive so you may simply take pleasure in it.
In case you’re not but licensed to dive, Cozumel is a superb place to test that off your listing. You are able to do a Uncover Scuba course for as little as $80 from the seaside or $140-150 from a ship.
You may full your Open Water coaching in Cozumel for $430-450 or $340-380 for those who select the e-learning possibility. Many retailers additionally supply Superior Open Water for slightly below $400 and Rescue Diver programs for $380-410.
With so many wonderful dive websites to select from, it’s price it to enroll in a number of days of diving. Sticking with the identical store in the course of your journey will certainly get you low cost on the diving and rental gear.
For instance, some retailers supply 5 days of diving for $80/day versus their regular charge of $90. That’s $50 extra that you simply’ll have for fish tacos and margaritas on the seaside if you get again from diving!
Many dive retailers may also prepare keep & dive packages with resorts and resorts. This can be a good way to avoid wasting cash and care for your diving and lodging in Cozumel in a single fell swoop.
Scuba diving Cozumel isn’t all the time low cost, however consider me… it’s price each penny.
How Deep Are the Dive Websites in Cozumel?
15-30 meters (50 – 100 toes)
Most dive websites in Cozumel vary from 15-30 meters (50 – 100 toes) with some being as shallow as 8 meters (26 toes). This makes Cozumel nice for all ranges of divers, from absolute novices doning scuba gear for the primary time, all the way in which to superior divers with 100+ dives.
The place to Keep When Diving in Cozumel
You may keep just about wherever for those who’re a diver. Nonetheless, for those who keep central, you’ll be capable to rapidly get to the dive retailers for a morning below the water. In case you keep across the marine park, many dive firms will even decide you up at your lodge’s jetty.
We stayed 5 nights at Stingray Villa in centro Cozumel and spent 2 nights on the Landmark Resort within the south. Be taught extra about the place to remain in Cozumel in our full information.
Cozumel Dive Outlets
For a small island, there are a number of decisions of dive retailers in Cozumel. You may join day journeys, night time dives, and PADI programs at most dive retailers on the island.
Since diving is such a giant a part of life on the island, there are a number of dive retailers right here on Cozumel. That being mentioned, they positively vary in high quality. That is true for dive retailers in Mexico and another nation the place diving is standard.
A lot of the dive retailers in Cozumel are situated on the west coast of the island. Some have an precise store whereas others don’t and simply take reservations on-line. Total, the dive facilities right here supply nice worth and high quality.
Listed here are a number of the finest:
⭐️ Scuba Tony (My Choose)
That is the dive store I went with and I extremely suggest it. Whereas I was working with them on this journey to assist them promote the attractive diving in Cozumel, that doesn’t imply that I might suggest them if I didn’t assume they had been an amazing store.
Selecting the perfect dive store in Cozumel is certainly subjective, however in my expertise and from what I heard on the island, Scuba Tony is the perfect round.
I beloved diving with each member of the workforce right here, significantly with Martin and Pedro. Additionally, Carlos (aka “Paco”) was an amazing boat captain and such a hilarious character.
Tony has been operating his dive store on the island for over 15 years and has earned the repute of being the most effective. He and his workforce have near-perfect evaluations all throughout the online, so that they’re positively doing one thing proper.
They don’t even have a store and simply deal with reservations on-line, which really works fairly properly in my expertise. I didn’t get to fulfill with Tony (he was off-island), however I met with the brand new part-owner and supervisor Adam and he’s an amazing man.
Scuba Tony affords their divers a “rent-to-own” dive gear mannequin which helps be sure that their gear is all the time new. Each day on the water I had a model new BCD, nice regulator, a superb masks and fins, and a dive laptop.
As a bonus, additionally they supply pickups by boat from most of the jetties on Cozumel!
Total, it is a well-run dive store and can go down as one in all my favourite dive experiences I’ve ever had. In case you’re in search of an amazing store in Cozumel, look no additional.
Scuba Life Cozumel
This 5-star PADI dive heart makes security and luxury their prime priorities. They’re all about hassle-free diving right here and care for every thing so you may simply take pleasure in your journey.
Maple Leaf Scuba
In case you choose small teams, it is a nice dive store to go along with. They restrict teams to 6 per divemaster and typically convey two alongside if the group isn’t so skilled. They’ll additionally provide help to prepare an underwater proposal.
The way to Get to Cozumel
Though many individuals fly to Cancun, you may fly on to Cozumel through the island’s worldwide airport.
There are a couple of choices for direct flights from the US and Canada year-round and a number of other extra in excessive season (December-March). Simply keep in mind that it’s really useful to attend no less than 24 hours after diving to take a flight.
The island can also be a very talked-about vacation spot for cruise ships.
When you don’t get a number of time there throughout a cease, it’s sufficient to take pleasure in some Cozumel scuba diving. Many dive retailers are pleased to accommodate cruise ship passengers. Simply you’ll want to e-book this tour prematurely to keep away from disappointment.
Most guests to Cozumel fly into Cancun Worldwide Airport first. From there, you can also make your manner right down to Playa del Carmen. Be sure you learn our information on tips on how to get from the Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen as there are a number of choices.
Cozumel is just a few miles offshore from Playa del Carmen and is well reached by ferry.
At present, there are two completely different firms operating ferries from the pier and there are round 9 sailings a day. One-way tickets value 250 pesos ($12.50) for adults and 200 ($10) for kids. Go to Winjet and Ultramar to get the present costs and departure occasions.
Diving in Cozumel from Playa del Carmen
Basing your self on Cozumel will mean you can spend extra time within the water and fewer cash in your dives than if staying in Playa.
Nonetheless, many individuals select to base in Playa for quite a lot of causes. There are extra choices for issues to see and do, lodging, eating, and nightlife, and it’s additionally simpler to succeed in the cenotes within the space.
Dive retailers in Playa del Carmen set up dives in Cozumel too. You’ll take the ferry by your self, and your dive information will meet you on the Cozumel ferry terminal. Then after your dive, you’ll take the ferry again.
Most dive retailers suggest a morning dive so that you received’t have to fret about taking the final ferry of the day again to Playa. Meaning after your dive you’ll have the afternoon free to discover Cozumel and get one thing to eat there.
So, diving in Cozumel from Playa del Carmen is principally the identical expertise within the water as if you keep on Cozumel, besides you’ll need to rise up early to catch the ferry. (It’s a few 1-hour experience.) It’s possibility for those who’re staying in Playa del Carmen anyway and solely have time for one dive on Cozumel.
There are lots of dive retailers in Playa del Carmen, they usually all prepare dives in Cozumel. I went with Phantom Divers and extremely suggest them.
Hyperbaric Chambers in Cozumel
Diving is a secure sport, however issues can and do go flawed.
Fortunately, there are hyperbaric chambers on the island in case of an emergency. The Cozumel Hyperbaric Chamber and Clinic is part of the Cozumel Worldwide Hospital and is the place to go you probably have a diving-related emergency.
They’ve a employees of full-time professionals right here prepared that will help you take care of points like Decompression Illness (DCS) and Arterial Fuel Embolism (AGE). They use a multi-place decompression chamber that enables the technician to go in our out with out interrupting remedy.
These sorts of remedies actually aren’t low cost, so it’s essential to be sure to have the precise sort of insurance coverage when diving in Cozumel (or wherever, for that matter).
The DAN (Divers Alert Community) comes extremely really useful. Click on right here to study extra about their insurance policies.
FAQs About Diving in Cozumel
Have a fast query about scuba diving in Cozumel? Learn on for some FAQs.
Completely! And for those who don’t consider me, then take heed to Jacques Cousteau, who mentioned that Cozumel was one of many prime ten dive websites on this planet.
Diving in Cozumel is sweet all yr. November to March is finest for seeing sharks and eagle rays, but in addition these months even have probably the most vacationers. There are fewer vacationers in summer season but in addition the possibility of hurricanes.
The reefs off of the southwest shore of the island have the perfect diving in Cozumel. A few of the prime dive websites are Palancar and the Columbia Wall. The C-53 shipwreck can also be glorious.
The diving is certainly higher in Cozumel, with huge partitions and deeper dives. You may keep in Playa del Carmen and dive in Cozumel, nonetheless, by taking the ferry. Additionally, for those who’re a newbie or intermediate diver, Playa del Carmen does gave good diving too.
Though I beloved diving in Belize, and the Blue Gap is wonderful, I’ve to say I appreciated Cozumel higher. It’s a lot simpler to get to the dive websites. In Belize typically the boat rides had been a number of hours lengthy. They’re as brief as 10 minutes in Cozumel.
Able to Go Diving in Cozumel?
I’ve been scuba diving in Isla Mujeres, Playa Del Carmen, and all up and down the Yucatan Peninsula, and indisputably, my favourite diving in Mexico was on Cozumel.
The coral right here is so extremely wholesome. It’s no marvel why Cozumel continuously makes the highest of the listing of the finest diving on this planet.
The most effective diving in Cozumel might be across the Columbia and Palancar reefs, however actually you possibly can go to any dive website on the island and be amazed by the coral and sea life.
Only a few locations on this planet have been in a position to defend such monumental towers of colourful reefs. Whereas there aren’t as many fish like another elements of the world, for those who’re an individual who loves wholesome coral and nice visibility then Cozumel is the place to return.
Come right here in December – March and have an opportunity to dive with Bull Sharks, in the summertime months there are a great deal of Eagle Rays and all year long you may spot numerous turtles, stingrays, and eels.
In case you’re an avid scuba diver, Cozumel ought to positively be excessive in your listing. This gorgeous island within the Yucatan Peninsula is arms down one of many prime diving locations in North America.
With over 20 distinctive websites for divers of all ranges and an abundance of marine life, Cozumel actually is an incredible place to go to for scuba divers.
Better of all, after a giant day of diving, you may relax in your chair on a number of the finest seashores in Mexico and revel in some tasty delicacies with a chilly cerveza or margarita!
Some pictures on this article are courtesy of Shutterstock, an internet site for sourcing royalty-free movies and pictures on-line. Be taught extra right here.
Like This Article? Pin It!
