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Dive Sites Paradise Reef

Paradise Reef is actually  a series of three separate reefs running parallel to shore approximately  200 yards out and is the only reef listed here accessible to beach divers. Maximum depth is 45 feet. All 3 sections are abundant with marine life of every size, color and description. Expect to see crab, lobster and  a plethora of multicolored tropical fish Bring some food and be surrounded  by angels. tangs and yellowtails. Watch your guide feed the spotted morays. Look closely under ledges and in holes and you're likely to spy the reclusive "Splendid Toad Fish" reputed to live nowhere in the world other  than Cozumel. Paradise reef is the island's most popular night diving location.

Chancanab Reef  Chancanab Reef is just south  of Parque Chancanab and about 350 yards offshore. Maximum depth is 55 ft. The coral formations and marine Life are similar to, but a little  less populated than Paradise. Chancanab is another good location for night diving.

Paso El Cedral Paso El Cedral or "Oak Pass" is a series of many reefs marked with expansive low profile  caverns at its beginning and plenty of big fish throughout. Maximum depth 60 ft.. Cedral is another seldom dived but spectacular site.

Balones of Chancanab Balones of Chancanab is a  series of balloon shaped coral heads. Plenty of lobster, crab and color.  Out from and slightly south of Chancanab. 60-70 ft.

Santa Maria Reef Santa Maria Reef begins where  San Francisco leaves off... at the south end of S.F. restaurant, a little less coral, larger schools of angels... beautiful diving also.

San Francisco Reef San Francisco Reef - Beginning on the southern end of San Francisco Beach, this half mile reef is broken into 3 sections, each separated by about 60 yards of sand. This is Cozumel's shallowest wall dive. Loaded with life and best dived between 35 and 50  ft. San Francisco is a particularly exciting shallow dive, and not to be missed.

Yucab Reef Yucab Reef maximum depth 60 ft.. Yucab's dense low profile is a cornucopia of life and color. Barracuda  are almost always seen here and the current is usually swift.

Tormentos Reef Tormentos Reef is a series of colorful coral heads separated by "blue" sand valleys you can almost always visit with a very friendly and big moray. A divemaster's  favorite. 40-70 ft.

Shallow Palancar Shallow Palancar - An outstanding  dive between 20 and 40 ft. Great for beginners but small groups of experienced  divers can enjoy an incredible tour of long, narrow tunnels and caves. Shallow Columbia Shallow Columbia - This never  ending sea garden is still a favorite for maximum bottom time. 15-35 ft.  If you want to dive deeper here, you'll have to bring a shovel. Maracaibo Reef  Maracaibo Reef - The most challenging dive spot in Cozumel at 140 -160 feet, which is decompression  (non sport) diving. The reef features a spectacular multitude of caves and crevices, requiring an entire day to explore. There is also a series of very lush and rarely dived huge heads in 60-90 ft. of water. Chun Chakab Chun Chakab - Probably the most difficult to find reef in Cozumel Diving this one takes very special  combination of captain, divemaster and weather conditions, If you do manage  to get there, expect a virgin submarine fantasyland where large pelagics  are often seen. For experienced ONLY! 90-120 ft. La Francesa Reef La Francesa Reef - An excellent  deep site for first time ocean divers Not located on our famous drop-off,  this reef is surrounded by sand bottom at 7~15 feet: Expect mild currents and a wide spectrum of colorful marine life. Palancar Reef Palancar Reef - The reef most identified with Cozumel is actually a conglomeration of many different  coral formations and personalities. Stretching over three and one half miles, this gargantuan queen reef lies about a mile oft shore and tops  a sloping wall which descends to a maximum depth of over 3000 feet. Palancar  offers such a wide variety of profiles that she could not be seen in 20 or even 30 dives. Just to get a glimpse" of this multifaceted giant,  the diver need make at least 6 separate dives. The Little Caves The Little Caves is the area of many winding canyons, deep ravines and narrow crevices. A labyrinth of passageways, tunnels and caves, this is best dived at 50-70 feet. The Big Horseshoe The Big Horseshoe where a  series of tightly packed giant coral heads from a natural horseshoe rising  from 100 feet to within 20 feet of the surface. Former home of the Christ  statue (which now stands in Chancanab Park), this is still Palancar's  busiest deep dive. Too much broken coral here, dive well, please. Broken Reef Broken Reef or The Little  Horseshoe - just south of the big one is where you'll find majestic coral ridges rising high from the slope - Many windows, canyons and caverns. Best at 60-80 ft. Seldom dived and pristine. Palancar Caves Palancar Caves - still further south, is best dived al 60-90 feet to appreciate it's deep buttresses, tunnels, caves and immense caverns. Deep Palancar Deep Palancar - Is where the wall begins at 9O-100 feet. Rarely dived and pristine. Not for novice  divers 100-120 ft. Spectacular visibility and currents vary all along  the reef, but you can always count on stunning, exciting dive at mighty Palancar. - Is where the wall begins at 9O-100 feet. Rarely dived and  pristine. Not for novice divers 100-120 ft. Spectacular visibility and  currents vary all along the reef, but you can always count on stunning,  exciting dive at mighty Palancar. Santa Rosa Reef Santa Rosa Reef or "The  Wall" - Undoubtedly Cozumel's second most popular drop-off. A wall  begins at 50 feet and drops straight away into the deep. There is usually a brisk current and what an incredible thrill it is to literally fly the face of the wall and occasionally frolic with a playful grouper. Santa  Rosa offers great beds of tunicates, immense sponges, huge overhangs of stony corals and impressive caves and tunnels best dived 60-80 ft. Cedral Wall Cedral Wall - A fairly flat wall just brimming with  life and color. Expect a swift ride 50-90 ft Columbia Reef Columbia Reef - Another impressive drop-off at 60-80 feet. The quality of diving here is at least as spectacular  as any part of Palancar. Deep diving at its finest. Columbia is comprised of a series of gigantic coral pinnacles (most over 90 ft. tall) rock marked with caves, tunnels and caverns. Here you'll experience a unique sensation liken to floating around the Rocky Mountains. Small marine life is a bit  sparse but large creatures are frequently seen. Punta Sur Punta Sur - incredible topography... huge caverns. 90-100 ft. Barracuda and San Juan Reefs  Barracuda and San Juan Reefs  are younger, more virgin reefs. Barracuda's Wall and the "Mountains"  of San Juan offer little exciting topography. These are definitely not for the novice or overly confident divers. Currents of 3-10 knots run straight out to sea and if you lose your dive group, your next stop may  be Cuba. These 2 reefs can be dived safely only by small groups of experienced  current divers utilizing a hand held ascent line tied to float which the  boat can keep sight of and follow. Depths range from 70 -110 ft. Cameras must be left topside. Villablanca Wall Villablanca Wall - Different!  Instead of the huge stony coral buttresses, so typical of these southern  deep reefs, the sloping wall here is dominated by huge sponges, gorgonians,  and big schools of jacks and angelfish. It is recommended that novices  make this one from a boat, but this site can be dived by more experienced divers from the beach. 50-100 ft. [Cozumel] [Bookstore] [Dive Operators] [Divesites] [U.K.Divers] Back to Top

 

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