Snorkeling and Diving – Coral Reefs

Cozumel is part of the Great Maya Barrier Reef, a system that extends from the Northern Yucatan to Honduras and is the second largest in the world. The island's 32-km long reef system is located off the island's southern leeward coast. Swept constantly by the same Giana Current that has carved the shoreline of this coral island into sharp, pitted ironstone patterns for millions of years, these reefs offer some of the most spectacular and exciting diving opportunities in the world. Following are descriptions of the reefs of Cozumel where you can practice snorkeling and scuba. Most of these reefs attract a great abundance and variety of marine life, the listings below include those species most commonly seen.

Bajo de Molas - Coral heads; rays, sharks and sea turtles. Caution: strong currents. Depth: 40 to 80 feet.
Barracuda –Large angelfish, nurse sharks, rays and other large fish. Mountainous coral ridges with peaks are located at 70 feet to then slop into the abyss. Caution: strong current.
Cantarell - Sponges and soft coral amidst large sand bank. Nurse sharks, manta rays, sea turtles and other large species. Depth: 35 to 90 feet, then slopes into the abyss.
Cardona – Varied coral and abounding marine life, excellent for snorkeling. Depth: 18 to 20 feet.
Chankanaab Park – Coral heads and scattered coral; there's a 14-foot statue of Christ and smaller statue of the Virgin Mary, surrounded by abundant sea life. This is an excellent shore dive at a depth of 20 feet.
Chankanaab Reef – Coral heads; sea turtles, rays, grouper, amberjacks and more. Depth: 50 to 90 feet, then slopes into the abyss.
Chankanaab (Shallow) – Several coral species including soft coral; lobster and large crabs, among profuse marine life. Excellent night diving. Depth: 30 to 50 feet.
Chen Rio – Scattered coral and varied marine life. Depth: 60 feet, then slopes into the abyss.
Chun chancaab - Scattered coral and sand bottom; large fish. Depth: 80 feet, then slopes into the abyss.
Colombia (Deep) – Large sea turtles, rays and nurse sharks are often seen. Coral pillars, 50 feet tall, rest at 90 feet on a white sand bottom. At 90 feet, the reef slopes into the abyss.
Colombia (Shallow) – Varied coral and profusion of marine life. Excellent for snorkeling. Depth: 30 feet.
El Islote – Scattered coral with varied marine life. Depth: 40 to 80 feet.
El Mirador – Scattered coral with varied marine life. Caution: dangerous undertow. Depth: 35 feet.
La Francesa – Small sand hills covered with scattered coral and sponges as well as nurse sharks, sea turtles and rays. Caution: strong current and fire coral. Depth: 40 to 80 feet.
Las Palmas – Abundant sponges and gorgonians with scattered coral. Varied marine life. Depth: wall starts at 40 feet then slopes into the abyss.
Los Atolones – Mini atolls about 15 feet tall varied marine life. Depth: 15 to 30 feet.
Maracaibo (Punta) – Large sand hills with large coral formations; marine life includes large manta rays, sea turtles and sharks. Caution: strong current. Depth: 60 feet, then slopes into the abyss.
Maracaibo (Shallow) – Varied corals and abundant marine life at the southern tip of the island. Excellent for snorkeling. Depth: 10 feet.
Molas (Sand Bank) – Sponges and soft corals amid sand hills. Nurse sharks, manta rays, sea turtles and other large fish. Caution: strong current. Depth: 35 to 90 feet.
Palancar (Caves) – Abundant marine life such as grouper and sea turtles. There are many passages going through the coral formations, which rest on the sandy bottom; peaks are found at 35 to 40 feet deep then slopes into the abyss.
Palancar (Gardens) – scattered coral and sponges on sand bottom. Abundant marine life includes grouper, sea turtles and rays. Depth: 30 feet, and then slopes into the abyss.
Palancar (Horseshoe) – Varied corals and sponges and a variety of marine life. Large coral formations start at 25 feet, then slope into the abyss.
Paraiso – Large reef system in three sections: with scattered coral at 18 feet, and at 45 to 59 feet . At 50 feet deep abundant coral and sponges can be found in the reefs before they slope into the abyss. This site is so extensive, several dives are necessary to cover the whole system.
Paso del Cedral (Shallow) – Varied coral and sponges; grouper, various kinds of morays, nurse sharks and sea turtles, among a variety of marine life. Caution: Strong current. Depth: 30 to 60 feet.
Playa Bosh – Scattered coral and a variety of marine life. Depth: 30 to 40 feet.
Punta Dalila – Varied coral and sponges with lots of angelfish. Caution: strong current and fire corals. Depth: 30 to 60 feet.
Punta Morena – Scattered coral and a variety of marine life. Depth: 40 feet.
Punta Sur (Deep) – Large coral formations on sand bottom. Varied marine life; large sharks and rays. Depth: 70 feet then slopes into the abyss.
Punta Sur (Shallow) – Abounding coral and marine life. Excellent for snorkeling. Depth: 18 to 30 feet.
San Francisco Wall – Small coral and sand bottom. Abundant marine life includes rays and sea turtles. Depth: the wall starts at 40 feet then slopes into an abyss.
San Juan – Endless hills of finger coral. Marine life: nurse sharks, rays and other large reef fish. Caution: Strong current. Depth: 35 to 70 feet.
Santa Rosa Wall – Coral ridges, caves and abundant marine life. Caution: strong current and fire coral. Depth: wall starts at 40 feet then slopes into the abyss.
Tormentos – A variety of corals and sponges; morays and grouper in an extensive sand bank. Depth: 30 to 60 feet.
Tunich (Rock) Wall - Small ridges and various species of sponges. Abundant marine life: green morays, rays and sea turtles. Caution: strong current. Depth: 35 feet, then slopes into the abyss.
Villa Blanca Wall – an abundance of huge sponges and gorgonians, and a varied marine life. Wall stars at 35 feet, then slopes into the abyss.
Wreck C-53 - A 1000- ton, three-deck Mexican mine sweeper that stands 40 feet tall. It was sunk on a sandy area by the Chankanaab reef and rests at a depth of 80 feet. Divers can enter and explore the ship safely.
Yucab – A variety of corals and sponges in a sand bottom, with an abundant marine life that includes morays, grouper, lobsters and crabs. Excellent for night diving. Caution: Fire coral. Depth: 35 to 60 feet.