Where to dive in Mexico

Blue Shark Reef

Exposed eastern Cozumel reef with variable currents, high visibility and potential pelagic sightings. Advanced.

Boiler Isla San Benedicto

Seamount off San Benedicto in Revillagigedo, world-famous for giant Pacific manta cleaning stations and hammerhead schools.

Bull Sharks

Bull shark site off Playa del Carmen with pregnant females at 20-25m (Nov-Mar). Open Water + 25 logged dives required.

Casa Blanca

Shallow, diverse reef in southern Cozumel at 10-18m with coral heads, turtles and angelfish. Intermediate.

Cedar Pass

Shallow Cedral Pass with coral corridors, green morays, nurse sharks and barracudas at 12-18m. Accessible drift, intermediate.

Cedral Pass

Popular Cozumel drift with vertical wall from 13m and coral gardens to 27m. Nurse sharks, barracudas, morays.

Chac Mool

Reef off Playa del Carmen with seasonal bull sharks (Nov-Mar) at 20-25m. World-class cageless shark diving.

Chankanaab

Beach-access reef in Cozumel Marine Park to 15m, with submerged Christ statue. Ideal for beginners; lower visibility.

Chun Chacaab

Chun Chacaab reef on Cozumel's west coast, with coral heads and sand corridors at accessible depths.

Chun Ka Nah

Chun Ka Nah reef on Cozumel's west coast, with coral formations at 12-18 m and typical Caribbean fauna.

Chunzumbul

Chunzumbul garden reef on Cozumel's north coast, max 12 m, ideal for beginners and snorkelers.

Chunzumbul Reef

Shallow Chunzumbul garden reef at Cozumel's northern tip, ideal for beginners and snorkeling.

Colombia Ladrias

Ladrillos section of Colombia reef in southern Cozumel, with coral blocks, walls to 27 m and rich fauna.

Colombia Reef

Colombia reef in southern Cozumel, coral pinnacles and channels to 27 m, with turtles and reef sharks.

Columbia

Columbia reef system in southern Cozumel, monumental coral pinnacles dropping into the deep blue.

Columbia Deep

Deep section of Columbia in southern Cozumel, pinnacles dropping past 40 m, for advanced divers.

Columbia Ladrillo

Columbia Ladrillo in southern Cozumel, rectangular coral blocks and walls to 27 m within the Marine Park.

Columbia Ladrillos

Ladrillos section of Columbia in southern Cozumel, coral blocks and walls dropping to the abyss.

Columbia Reef & Palancar Bricks

Combined Columbia and Palancar Bricks in southern Cozumel, pinnacles and walls from 15 to 35 m.

Columbia Shallow

Shallow Columbia reef in southern Cozumel, coral gardens at 5-12 m, ideal for beginners and snorkelers.

Columbia Shallows

Shallow Columbia in southern Cozumel, coral gardens at 5-12 m with the endemic Cozumel Toadfish.

Cozumel Off Shore

Offshore Cozumel site in deeper waters with high visibility and potential pelagic encounters.

Cueva Del Pargo

La Cueva del Pargo off Playa del Carmen, an overhang with snapper schools at 6-13 m and rich macro life.

Dalila Reef

Dalila reef in southern Cozumel at about 17 m, with nurse sharks, manta rays and the endemic Toadfish.

Dive Paradise Shore Dive

Shore dive in front of Dive Paradise in San Miguel, Cozumel, 12-15 m, popular for night dives.

Dive Paradise Shore Dive (Night)

Night shore dive at Dive Paradise in Cozumel, 12-15 m, famous for octopus, rays and nocturnal life.

Felipe Xicotancatl C 53

Wreck of the C-53 Felipe Xicotencatl, sunk in 2000 near Chankanaab, 56 m long resting at 25 m.

Francesa

La Francesa, shallow photogenic dive in southern Cozumel, cuts and caverns with sea fans and morays.

Iberostar Lindo

Iberostar Lindo dive site in northern Cozumel, wall and coral garden at 15-25 m, boat access only.

Jardines

Jardines reef in northern Cozumel, coral gardens to 13 m with weak currents, suitable for all levels.

Jardines Reef

Shallow Jardines reef off Playa del Carmen, 13 m max, ideal for beginners and macro photography.

La Francesa Reef

La Francesa reef on Cozumel's west coast, 12-18 m with cuts, caverns, sponges and sea fans.

La Francesca

La Francesca, photogenic reef in southern Cozumel, with cuts and grottoes amid vibrant coral formations.

Las Palmas

Las Palmas on Cozumel's central coast, 6-21 m, with batfish, seahorses and the endemic Cozumel Toadfish.

Mama Viña Wreck

Mama Vina wreck off Playa del Carmen, sunk in 1995, resting at 21-30 m with green morays and barracudas.

Moc Che Deep

Moc-Che Deep off Playa del Carmen, 24-30 m wall, advanced certification, bull sharks in winter.

Moc Che Shallow

Moc-Che Shallow off Playa del Carmen, 15-20 m drift, accessible to divers with basic certification.

Moche Reef

Moche reef on Cozumel's north coast, 15-25 m drift, snappers, groupers and occasional reef sharks.

Palancar Bricks

Palancar Bricks in southern Cozumel, named after a 1950s wreck, vertical wall from 20 m for advanced divers.

Palancar Caves

Palancar Caves in Cozumel, coral arches and corridors from 17 to 30 m, good buoyancy required.

Palancar Deep

Cozumel, Quintana Roo

Palancar Deep in Cozumel, vertical wall to 27 m with black coral and barrel sponges, for advanced divers.

Palancar Gardens

Palancar Gardens in Cozumel, coral canyons from 9 to 30 m with excellent visibility, ideal for photography.

Palancar Horseshoe

Palancar Horseshoe in Cozumel, 15-30 m wall with tunnels, turtles, nurse sharks and eagle rays.

Palancar Reef Dahlila

Palancar-Dalila section in Cozumel, coral pinnacles from 15-30 m, with turtles, barracudas and needlefish.

Paradisio

Paradisio reef on Cozumel's west coast, 10-18 m with turtles, angelfish and groupers.

Paraiso Paradise Reef

Paraiso reef on Cozumel's west coast, 9-15 m, ideal for beginners and night photography.

Paraiso Reef

Paraiso reef on Cozumel's central west coast, 9-15 m, popular for night dives and macro photography.

Paso Del Cedral

Cozumel, Quintana Roo

Paso del Cedral in southern Cozumel, 12-27 m drift dive with nurse sharks, barracudas and green morays.

Playa Del Carmen

Playa del Carmen coastal reef, 8-15 m coral gardens with morays, lobsters and grunts, suits all levels.

Playa Del Carmen Jardines

Jardines reef in Playa del Carmen, 13 m max, weak currents, ideal for beginners and macro photography.

Porron

Porron, dive site north of Cozumel with moderate reef and typical Mexican Caribbean fauna.

Punta Dalila

Punta Dalila on Cozumel's west coast at 17 m, with nurse sharks, manta rays and the endemic Toadfish.

Punta Delila

Cozumel, Quintana Roo

Punta Delila reef on Cozumel's west coast, 17 m with nurse sharks, manta rays, lobsters and pufferfish.

Punta Palancar

Punta Palancar, northern end of Palancar in Cozumel, 10-30 m walls with barrel sponges and turtles.

Punta Sur Devil's Throat

Cozumel, Quintana Roo

Punta Sur Devil's Throat in Cozumel, narrow tunnel from 24 to 41 m opening into a red coral cathedral.

Punta Tunich

Punta Tunich in southern Cozumel, vertical wall from 18-40 m with strong currents, for experienced divers.

Punta Venado

Punta Venado on Cozumel's north coast, reef formations off the main routes with turtles and snappers.

Recif Palancar Colombia

Combined Palancar-Colombia reef in southern Cozumel, pinnacles and walls at 15-30 m, with turtles and rays.

Sabalos

Finger-coral reef with overhangs and rocky ceilings on northern Cozumel, 9-15 m, with silver tarpons and moderate currents.

Sabalos Reef

Northern Cozumel finger-coral reef named for resident tarpons, 9-15 m, ideal as a relaxed second dive.

San Clemente

Reef at the extreme south of Cozumel with 15-25 m structures, variable currents, pelagic potential and little boat traffic.

San Clemente Reef

Cozumel, Quintana Roo

West-coast Cozumel reef with coral formations and sand corridors at 12-18 m, with moderate drift and the endemic toadfish.

San Francisco La Francesa

Combined Cozumel reef of vertical wall, cuts and small caves with sea fans, eagle rays and the endemic toadfish.

San Francisco Reef

South Cozumel reef with vertical wall and coral heads from 14-36 m, light to moderate drift, eagle rays and sharks.

San Francisco Reef/Wall Coz

Near-vertical Cozumel wall at 14-36 m with sea fans, black coral, eagle rays and the Cozumel toadfish.

San Francisco Wall

Near-vertical Cozumel wall from 14-36 m with sea fans, eagle rays and the endemic toadfish, popular for drift dives.

San Juan Reef

Rarely-dived northern Cozumel reef at 9-21 m with extreme currents, large pelagics, eagle rays and sharks.

Santa Rosa

Iconic vertical Cozumel wall at 15-40 m with gorgonians, sponges, reef sharks and 30 m+ visibility on a drift dive.

Santa Rosa Reef

Shallower Santa Rosa Cozumel reef at 10-20 m with sea fans, turtles and moderate currents for intermediate divers.

Santa Rosa Wall

One of Cozumel's most celebrated drift walls, 15 m to 40+ m with gorgonians, reef sharks, turtles and eagle rays.

Shark Point

Central west-coast Cozumel wall reef at 15-25 m with reef sharks, eagle rays and pelagics among sponges and gorgonians.

Sharks Point

Northern Cozumel wall reef with strong currents, reef sharks, eagle rays and barracudas; for advanced drift divers.

Tormentos

Cozumel, Quintana Roo

Southern Cozumel reef at 10-18 m with coral heads, arches, schools of grunts and dynamic drift currents.

Tormentos Reef

Cozumel reef of large coral heads at 10-18 m with strong drift, French grunts, snappers and rich photography subjects.

Tormetos Reef Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel reef of 6-9 m coral heads with tunnels, French grunts and strong drift, ideal for intermediate divers.

Tortuga

Northern Cozumel reef near Playa del Carmen at 13-25 m with coral gardens, sea turtles, eagle rays and barracudas.

Tortugas

Reef near Playa del Carmen with hawksbill turtles, brown barrel sponges and seasonal bull sharks at 13-35 m.

Tortugas Reef

1 km² flat coral garden off Playa del Carmen at 13-35 m with hawksbill turtles, barrel sponges and winter bull sharks.

Tortugas Reef (Mexico Playa Del Carmen)

1 km² coral garden off Playa del Carmen at 13-35 m with hawksbills, eagle rays and seasonal winter bull sharks.

Villa Blanca

Central Cozumel sloping wall from 10-40 m with basket sponges, black gorgonians and night photography subjects.

Yucab

Cozumel, Quintana Roo

Colorful southern Cozumel reef at 12-18 m with coral heads, barrel sponges and mild south-to-north drift.

Yucab Reef

Western Cozumel shallow reef at 12-18 m with coral heads, barrel sponges and sea fans, ideal as a photography dive.