what to expect diving in cozumel in november

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If you enjoy a scrap of underwater exploration, y'all'll want to add diving in Cozumel to your trip to Mexico. In this post, we'll take a closer expect at all things related to scuba diving in Cozumel.

The island of Cozumel is definitely ane of the best places for scuba diving in Mexico. Here you can go diving in the Mesoamerican Bulwark Reef, the world's 2nd largest barrier reef system.

It's part of a protected marine park with impressive walls of coral and more than than 500 species of fish. You might run into turtles, sharks, and hawkeye rays here in addition to all the tropical fish like the owned excellent toadfish.

Fifty-fifty renowned explorer Jacques Cousteau declared the island of Cozumel to be a world-class diving destination when he visited back in 1961. Diving in Cozumel really is an incredible experience!

Diving is just one of the many incredible things to do in Cozumel, and if you're travelling to Mexico, getting under the water should definitely be on your list.

I recently spent a week diving Cozumel with Scuba Tony and I spent more 12 hours underwater around the isle. I met upwardly with some local Padi Instructors and spoke with the owners of dive shops to make sure I had all of the information correct for this post.

I've spent a lot of time diving in Mexico and particularly effectually the Yucatan Peninsula and I have to say that (in my opinion) Cozumel diving is some of the all-time in Mexico.

Read on for a detailed guide to scuba diving on this stunning island in the Yucatan. I'll cover the best time to visit, average costs, typical marine life, some of the best dive sites, top scuba company and a lot more.

When to Go Diving in Cozumel

Cozumel scuba diving is great year-round.

I visited Cozumel in the shoulder season of late April and early on May, but you can really come here for diving whatsoever time of the year. There really isn't a bad fourth dimension to go scuba diving in Cozumel!

That being said, some months are definitely better than others depending on what you desire to see.

The water is quite warm and pleasant in all seasons, usually between 78 and 82ºF (25 and 28ºC). While the water is ever nice, the temperatures on country can be downright stifling during the summer months.

July to Oct is also hurricane season here, then you should take that into consideration.

The risk is lower in the summer months but much higher in September and October. Ane benefit of traveling to Cozumel in the offseason is that prices are lower and crowds are much smaller.

The tiptop season for diving Cozumel is between December and March. While this is a dandy time to be on the island weather-wise, it'south as well expensive and crowded. Definitely be sure to book in advance at this time, especially between Christmas and New year'due south.

A sweet spot for scuba diving in Cozumel is between March and April, when crowds get-go to sparse out only the rain has yet to make it.

The exception is Semana Santa (Holy Week) festival, which is a mini-acme season for locals. Come across our guide to the best fourth dimension to visit Mexico.

Cozumel Diving Seasons

Jan – April	May – Baronial	September – December
Sea Temperature 77°-79°F / 25°-26°C	Bounding main Temperature 78°-86°F / 26°-30°C	Sea Temperature 77°-84°F / 25°-28°C
Weather January – February is still mainly clear skies and cooler temperatures. Information technology starts warming in March-April.	Weather May and June the weather starts heating up and in the summer you can expect quick bursts of pelting.	Weather condition August to October have the highest likelihood of hurricane, merely Dec has smashing weather.
Sharks This is a bully flavor to see sharks, peculiarly from Jan to March when you can also see bull sharks (closer to Playa del Carmen).	Sharks July and August are other high months for shark spotting! You won't see balderdash sharks at this fourth dimension, only there are enough of reef sharks.	Sharks From November to December the balderdash sharks return and give you the opportunity to dive with them.
Rays Between the months of January to April, you tin see the most hawkeye rays. You lot always have a loftier chance of seeing brownish stingrays in the sand.	Rays July & August are too the 2nd-best seasons to run into the beautiful eagle rays. As always you'll come across plenty of other rays also.	Rays September – December isn't the all-time months to run across hawkeye rays, but you'll still see plenty of brown spotted rays and other species.
Turtles You lot can't really dive in Cozumel without seeing turtles!	Turtles May to October is Loggerhead breading season in Cozumel.	Turtles Yep. Y'all'll probably yet see a green turtle on every dive in this flavour!
Coral Every month of the year is not bad for diving and seeing the incredible Coral formations and this season is no different.	Coral The coral pinnacles will still be fantastic in May-August and the ocean is warm plenty to swoop without a wetsuit.	Coral The h2o starts to absurd again in October but the fish and coral remain the same, all vivid, healthy, and vibrant.

Best Dive Sites in Cozumel

Cozumel scuba diving is so popular because there are so many dive sites to cull from. There are over 20 sites around the isle for divers of all levels. You could easily plan your entire trip effectually diving on this amazing isle.

Cozumel dive sites typically have quite a flake of current, but generally, you can flow with the current (together with your grouping) and the boat will choice yous up at the other end of the reef.

Beginners will enjoy the shallow sites featuring colorful reefs, while more avant-garde defined can opt for some heady drift diving with swim-throughs. Even non-defined can enjoy the beauty of the underwater earth here by tagging along equally a snorkeler.

scuba diving boat in cozumel — If it makes sense in terms of swoop sites, your not-diving significant other could tag along and snorkel

The dive sites here range in depth from 4.5 meters – 36 meters, however, the best ones max out at 25 meters. Divers with an Avant-garde Open up H2o certification are able to relish all of the all-time dive sites in Cozumel.

Here are some of the best dive sites in Cozumel that you can't miss:

1. Palancar Reefs

Depth: nine meters – 36 meters (30-120 feet)
Experience Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Current: Mild-Potent

This is considered to be the star of the diving scene in Cozumel. It'southward actually divided into four sections — caves, bricks, horseshoe, and gardens. These different sites offering something for divers of all levels.

Between the iv different sites, yous can experience depths of between 9 meters – 36 meters (30 to 120 anxiety). There are plenty of amazing coral formations, colorful sponges, and lots of fascinating marine life. Y'all may spot sea turtles, nurse sharks, angelfish, and more here.

On my recent trip diving Cozumel, I dove all the sites here and overall the Palancar reefs were probably my favorite on the island. Particularly Palancar Caves where you get to swim through enormous caverns in the coral reef itself.

If you ask your dive shop what the best Cozumel swoop sites are, they'll likely listing Palancar outset.

2. Columbia Wall

Depth: 18 meters – 36 meters (60-120 feet)
Experience Level: Intermediate
Current: Unpredictable

Huge coral pinnacles are a highlight here, some rising more than 60 feet (20 meters) from the bottom. You lot can savour some deep swim-throughs and wall diving hither. Await out for grouper, turtles, and maybe even nurse sharks at this fantabulous dive site.

I dove the Columbia Wall as a twilight dive which was fantastic because equally the sunday sets it reflects off of the wall and creates some spectacular colors.

If you dive the Columbia Wall, I recommend doing it as a 2 tank dark dive, then the start dive is on the wall for sunset, and your second dive can be a nearby night swoop (highly recommended).

3. San Clemente

Depth: ten meters – 30 meters (xxx-98 feet)
Experience Level: Advanced
Current: Strong

This was my 2d swoop of the 2 tank twilight and nighttime dive and it was fantastic. Y'all can go down to around 30 meters on this one but we stayed at about 20 as information technology was our second dive of the 24-hour interval.

I highly recommend doing San Clemente as a night swoop. The animals come out to play on this reef and it is a spectacular show!

We saw 3 octopus, a nurse shark, eels, brown spotted stingrays, and all-time of all, a massive eagle ray "flew" by us at the end of the dive!

If you get the chance, ask your swoop shop to accept you on the 2-tank San Clemente and Columbia Wall twilight & nighttime dives. These were a couple of my favorites.

Note: Like many spots for diving in Cozumel, in that location is current here. When I did the San Clemente night dive it was quite strong. If you're non used to powerful currents, let your dive shop know so that they tin check the conditions before taking you lot here.

4. Columbia Pinnacles

Depth: ix meters – xxx meters (30-98 feet)
Experience Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Current: Mild

Like Palancar, in that location are quite a few swoop sites all effectually the Columbia Reefs. The Columbia Pinnacles were another one of my favorite dive sites because, like Palancar, they had fantastic coral crests jutting upwardly from the seafloor.

There are plenty of swim-throughs and it'southward a relatively easy dive.

On the day I went, in that location was no current at all and fifty-fifty if at that place was, there are plenty of places on the leeward side of the pinnacles to rest and regroup, making it a great place for beginners.

5. Columbia Shallows

Depth: 8 meters – 14 meters (26-50 feet)
Feel Level: Beginner
Current: Balmy

I dove the Columbia Pinnacles and Columbia Shallows in one day as function of a 2 tank dive 24-hour interval and information technology was fantastic.

We had a bit of current in the shallows merely it wasn't bad and information technology was super relaxed to just drift over the corals at a shallow depth; the perfect shallow dive after the deeper pinnacles.

Nosotros saw lots of turtles on this dive, as well many lobsters to count and I found a small reef shark sleeping under a coral overhang which basically made my solar day on the water.

half dozen. Punta Sur Reef

Depth: 27 meters – 39 meters (xc-130 feet)
Experience Level: Advanced
Electric current: Unpredictable

This next one is for more avant-garde divers. It reaches down to depths of 130 feet (30 meters) and is split into ii sections. The southern part has an amazing sleeping accommodation called the Cathedral while the northern part features a cave formation known as the Devil'due south Throat.

vii. Chankanaab Reef

Depth: 10 meters to 15 meters (35-50 feet)
Feel Level: Beginner
Current: Balmy

This is an excellent spot for some diving in Cozumel for beginners. It's an easy, shallow dive that's usually completed every bit a second dive on a trip.

All the cracks and crevices in the coral here mean lots of interesting marine life — lobster, spotted moray eels, crab, and even the endemic first-class toadfish.

viii. C-53 Shipwreck

Depth: fifteen-xxx meters (l-98 feet)
Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Current: Moderate

The C-53 isn't an enormous wreck, but information technology is one of my favorite shipwrecks I've done and it is definitely the best (most popular) on Cozumel. What I loved near it was that information technology was completely upright, making it easy to navigate the dark hallways.

That'southward right, you become to penetrate this wreck and it's astonishing!

If you're a beginner to an intermediate diver, y'all'll only exist able to enter the upper level of the ship which sits at about 20 meters (65ft), but for advanced deepwater divers, you lot tin go a level deeper into the vessel at around 30 meters (98ft).

If yous're scuba diving Cozumel and yous want to visit a wreck dive, the C-53 should be at the superlative of your listing.

9. Paradise Reef

Depth: 10-18 meters (32-59 anxiety)
Experience Level: Beginner
Electric current: Moderate

This was the second dive that I did right after the C-53 Wreck and information technology's one of the most pop dive sites in Cozumel thanks to the shallow, piece of cake-to-follow reef system here.

In my opinion, Paradise Reef has some of Cozumel's best soft coral formations with vibrant colors and lots of sea life. Check nether every little nook and cranny to find hiding fish, lobsters, and sometimes nurse sharks.

10. Tormentos

Depth: 15-xviii meters (l-threescore feet)
Experience Level: Intermediate-Advanced
Electric current: Strong

Tormentos is some other one of the most popular dive sites in Cozumel thanks to its bright colorful coral and abundance of turtles snacking on the reef. I think nosotros spotted iii turtles during my dive at Tormentos.

Out of all of the dive guides I talked to, quite a few of them said that Tormentos was their favorite chilled swoop site and I could run into why. Most hold that Palancar is the best overall, only Tormentos ofttimes comes as a shut 2d.

The current tin be quite strong here, so be prepared for that, but when I visited it was quite calm that day.

If information technology's too strong and you lot discover yourself getting pushed alee of your group, but find i of the many coral mounts and hide behind it to avoid the current until your grouping catches up with you lot.

Keep your eye out for black grouper, massive barracuda, and the occasional nurse shark that may grace you with its presence at Tormentos.

Cost of Diving in Cozumel

When scuba diving in Cozumel, ii-tank forenoon dives or afternoon dives are the standard. You tin can hop on a 2-tank fun dive trip for about $90 if staying on the island or a bit more if staying in nearby Playa del Carmen.

Information technology'southward possible to discover single-tank dives, simply these are rare during the day. Almost dive shops in Cozumel offer a single-tank night dive trip for around $60-65. These commonly only run between October and February.

Y'all can besides sign up for special two-tank twilight dives during sure times of the year for around $100. These typically don't run in the winter months. It'due south best to enquire the swoop shop that yous sign up with if they have such a trip bachelor when you'll exist on the island.

It'due south typical for dive shops here to offer the nuts (mask, snorkel and fins) for free just charge extra for gear rental.

Yous can get a full ready of gear for $twenty-25 a day or get a discount if diving for multiple days. About shops offer Nitrox tanks for an additional $8-x.

Want to capture your feel diving in Cozumel? Many shops rent out GoPros for around $40 if you don't take your own. Some even offering videography services so you tin let them do the work of documenting the dive and so you can just enjoy it.

If you're non still certified to dive, Cozumel is a smashing place to check that off your listing. Y'all tin can exercise a Detect Scuba course for equally depression as $80 from the beach or $140-150 from a boat.

You lot can complete your Open H2o grooming in Cozumel for $430-450 or $340-380 if you cull the e-learning selection. Many shops as well offer Advanced Open up H2o for but under $400 and Rescue Diver courses for $380-410.

With then many amazing swoop sites to choose from, information technology's worth it to sign up for several days of diving. Sticking with the same shop for the elapsing of your trip will definitely get you a good discount on the diving and rental gear.

For example, some shops offer 5 days of diving for $80/day equally opposed to their normal rate of $90. That's $50 more that you'll accept for fish tacos and margaritas on the embankment when y'all get dorsum from diving!

Many dive shops tin also arrange stay & swoop packages with hotels and resorts. This is a cracking way to save some coin and accept intendance of your diving and accommodation in Cozumel in one fell swoop.

Scuba diving Cozumel isn't always cheap, but believe me… it's worth every penny.

How Deep Are The Dive Sites in Cozumel?

15-thirty meters (50 – 100 feet)

Most swoop sites in Cozumel range from 15-30 meters (l – 100 anxiety) with some beingness as shallow as viii meters (26 feet). This makes Cozumel bang-up for all levels of defined, from absolute beginners dawning scuba gear for the commencement time, all the mode to avant-garde divers with 100+ dives.

Where to Stay When Diving in Cozumel

You can stay pretty much anywhere if you lot're a diver. Even so, if you stay central, you'll be able to quickly get to the swoop shops for a morning under the water. If you stay around the marine park, many dive companies will even choice yous up at your hotel'southward jetty.

Nosotros stayed five nights at Stingray Villa in centro Cozumel and spent ii nights at the Landmark hotel in the south. Acquire more than about where to stay in Cozumel in our complete guide.

Cozumel Dive Shops

For a small island, there are several choices of dive shops in Cozumel. You can sign up for day trips, nighttime dives, and PADI courses at near swoop shops on the island.

Since diving is such a big part of life on the island, there are several dive shops here on Cozumel. That being said, they definitely range in quality. This is true for dive shops in Mexico and any other country where diving is popular.

Most of the dive shops in Cozumel are located on the west coast of the island. Some take an actual shop while others don't and only accept reservations online. Overall, the swoop centers here offering bully value and quality.

Hither are some of the best:

⭐️ Scuba Tony (My Pick)

Accost: Small Hut on Marina Fonatur
Reviews: v.0 (109 reviews)
Spider web: Visit Site

This is the swoop store I went with and I highly recommend it. While I was working with them on this trip to assistance them promote the beautiful diving in Cozumel, that doesn't hateful that I would recommend them if I didn't think they were a bully shop.

Picking the best swoop shop in Cozumel is definitely subjective, merely in my experience and from what I heard on the isle, Scuba Tony is the best around.

I loved diving with every member of the team here, especially with Martin and Pedro. Also, Carlos (aka "Paco") was a dandy boat captain and such a hilarious grapheme.

scuba diving cozumel boat and dive guide — Dive guide Martin from Scuba Tony giving the condom briefing on the boat

Tony has been running his dive shop on the island for over xv years and has earned the reputation of being one of the best. He and his team accept nearly-perfect reviews all beyond the web, so they're definitely doing something right.

They don't actually accept a shop and only handle reservations online, which really works quite well in my experience. I didn't become to meet with Tony (he was off-isle), but I met with the new office-possessor and manager Adam and he'south a neat guy.

Scuba Tony offers their divers a "hire-to-own" dive gear model which helps ensure that their gear is ever new. Every twenty-four hour period on the h2o I had a brand new BCD, great regulator, an excellent mask and fins, and a dive computer.

Every bit a bonus, they besides offer pickups by gunkhole from many of the jetties on Cozumel!

scuba diving in cozumel with scuba tony — What service! Scuba Tony picked us up correct at our jetty

Overall, this is a well-run swoop shop and will go down as one of my favorite swoop experiences I've always had. If you lot're looking for a great shop in Cozumel, look no further.

Scuba Life Cozumel

Address: Sur Marina Cozumel, Carretera Costera Sur km. 6.5, Zona Hotelera Nte
Reviews: 5.0 (72 reviews)
Web: Visit Site

This v-star PADI swoop center makes safety and comfort their top priorities. They're all about hassle-free diving here and take intendance of everything so you can just savor your trip.

Maple Leaf Scuba

Address: Av Lic Benito Juárez 273, Centro, 77600 San Miguel de Cozumel
Reviews: 4.ix (126 reviews)
Web: Visit Site

If you prefer small groups, this is a great dive shop to go with. They limit groups to six per divemaster and sometimes bring two along if the group isn't then experienced. They can also assist yous accommodate an underwater proposal.

How to Become to Cozumel

Many visitors to Cozumel wing into Cancun International Airport. From at that place, you lot tin make your way down to Playa del Carmen. Exist sure to read our guide on how to get from the Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen as there are several options.

Cozumel is merely a few miles offshore from Playa del Carmen and is hands reached by ferry.

Currently, there are two different companies running ferries from the pier and at that place are around nine sailings a mean solar day. One-way tickets cost 250 pesos ($12.50) for adults and 200 ($10) for children. Visit Winjet and Ultramar to get the current prices and departure times.

Basing yourself on the island will allow y'all to spend more time in the h2o and less money on your dives than if staying in Playa.

Notwithstanding, many people choose to base in Playa for a variety of reasons. There are more options for things to see and do, accommodation, dining, and nightlife, and it'southward as well easier to reach the cenotes in the area.

Yous can also wing directly to Cozumel via the island's international airport.

At that place are a few options for direct flights from the United states of america and Canada twelvemonth-round and several more in high flavor (December-March). Only remember that it's recommended to wait at least 24 hours afterwards diving to take a flying.

The isle is also a very popular destination for cruise ships.

While you don't get a lot of time in that location during a stop, information technology's enough to enjoy some Cozumel scuba diving. Many dive shops are happy to accommodate cruise send passengers. Just exist sure to book this excursion in advance to avoid disappointment.

Hyperbaric Chambers in Cozumel

Diving is a safe sport, merely things can and exercise get wrong.

Thankfully, there are hyperbaric chambers on the island in case of an emergency. The Cozumel Hyperbaric Chamber and Clinic is a part of the Cozumel International Hospital and is the place to go if y'all have a diving-related emergency.

They have a staff of total-time professionals here ready to help you deal with issues like Decompression Sickness (DCS) and Arterial Gas Embolism (AGE). They use a multi-place decompression chamber that allows the technician to go in our out without interrupting handling.

These kinds of treatments certainly aren't inexpensive, and then it'south of import to make sure you have the right blazon of insurance when diving in Cozumel (or anywhere, for that affair).

The DAN (Divers Alarm Network) comes highly recommended. Click hither to learn more about their policies.

Ready 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 without a doubtfulness, my favorite diving in Mexico was on Cozumel.

The coral here is so incredibly healthy. It's no wonder why Cozumel frequently makes the peak of the listing of the best diving in the world.

The best diving in Cozumel is probably around the Columbia and Palancar reefs, but really you could get to whatever dive site on the island and be amazed by the coral and sea life.

Very few places in the world accept been able to protect such enormous towers of colorful reefs. While there aren't as many fish similar some other parts of the world, if you lot're a person who loves healthy coral and great visibility then Cozumel is the place to come.

scuba diver in cozumel mexico — I actually enjoyed my 12 dives on Cozumel isle with Scuba Tony

Come hither in December – March and accept a chance to dive with Bull Sharks, in the summer months there are loads of Eagle Rays and throughout the year y'all can spot countless turtles, stingrays, and eels.

If you're an avid scuba diver, Cozumel should definitely be high on your list. This stunning island in the Yucatan Peninsula is hands downwardly 1 of the superlative diving destinations in North America.

With over 20 unique sites for divers of all levels and an abundance of marine life, Cozumel really is an amazing place to visit for scuba defined.

Best of all, after a big day of diving, you can kick back in your chair on some of the best beaches in Mexico and enjoy some tasty cuisine with a cold cerveza or margarita!

Some images in this article are courtesy of Shutterstock, a website for sourcing royalty-gratuitous videos and images online. Learn more here.

Carnell Thalow