Everything you need to know to dive in Cozumel
For many people, diving in Cozumel is much more than a philosophy of life. Since time immemorial, it has been part of the local culture, inseparable from the sea and the link between nature and man. As a traveler, it is also a unique opportunity to transform and enrich your holidays, combining fun and learning in the same environmentally friendly experience.
From Iberostar’s hotels in Mexico you will have access to the best beaches in the Caribbean, including those of this paradisiacal island whose depths harbor true ecological treasures. To take you there, below we will tell you about the best places to dive in Cozumel and the advantages of choosing it as an active destination. We'll also tell you where the most prestigious dive center is located, whose professionals will guide you through dives that will raise your vibration, connecting you with yourself and the landscape thanks to the power of the oceans.
Advantages of diving in Cozumel
Diving in Cozumel only has advantages as long as it is done with a responsible mentality towards the environment. Firstly, as we have already mentioned, you will have the chance to dive in some amazing marine spots. And that's not all: you'll also be able to ethically spot amazing marine creatures. Furthermore, through this experience you will learn more about the mechanisms that create life, as well as the relationships that, hidden beneath an idyllic surface, are established between the different species of underwater fauna and flora.
Do you like keeping fit during your vacation? Diving is also a good way to combine sport, adventure and outdoor leisure, so by including this plan in your agenda, you will exercise body and mind with little effort. In fact, you'll enjoy it to the max. In the case of children, they will learn to snorkel as well as to respect the planet. If you sign them up for diving lessons, make sure that the lessons are appropriate to their age and level, especially if it's their first time. Choosing a hotel for the fun and relaxation of the whole family, with specific spaces and activities for them, will do the rest.
Diving schools in Cozumel
At the Dressel Divers dive center located inside the Iberostar Cozumel hotel, in front of the second-largest coral reef in the world, you can get your PADI certification, improve your diving or snorkel. The qualified and experienced instructors of one of the best diving schools in Cozumel will show you the magical underwater universes that surround the island. In this five-star paradise, with bungalow-style rooms and beachfront location, all inspiration revolves around the sea.
The culture and traditions of Mexico, intimately connected to the natural elements, will also be very present during your stay through food, wellness moments and the environment itself. Other water sports such as surfing will complete your diving adventure in Cozumel, giving you an unparalleled opportunity to enjoy active tourism in a location you will remember for a lifetime. In the surroundings of the resort you will find more diving schools, as it is located in a privileged location with respect to the coast and is very well-connected; just 6.10 miles from Chankanaab Park, 12.4mi from Cozumel International Airport (CZM) and 14mi from the Mayan site of San Gervasio. You can take the ferry from Playa del Carmen, the most frequent means of transportation to Cozumel.
The best places to dive in Cozumel
Cozumel Reefs National Park
Coral reefs, protected habitats where the essence of nature expresses itself in the most admirable and creative ways, interact with the island of Cozumel and the coasts of the Riviera Maya in the state of Quintana Roo (take note of these places to dive in the mainland!) as if it were a ritual dance. Witnessing this submerged dance of colors, textures and shapes is a delight for the senses. Witnessing this submerged choreography of colors, textures and shapes is a delight for the senses. Where to dive in Cozumel to experience it? Undoubtedly, in the Cozumel Reefs National Park, which preserves part of the Great Mayan Reef or the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest coral ecosystem on Earth. It is located very close to the Iberostar Cozumel hotel and is one of those points that, yes or yes, you have to see on a dive in Cozumel. The pattern of the North-ecuatorial and Guayana currents, which is an extension of the South-ecuatorial, gives it its qualities for diving.
Paradise Reef... at night
If you go diving in Cozumel, you can't miss Paradise Reef, which is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. It is one of the most mysterious places to explore the sea, especially when night falls. Among its incredibly turquoise and crystalline waters you will enjoy the opportunity to swim with amazing animals such as anemones and corals, groupers and angelfish, lobsters, turtles, sea fans, moray eels and, for the more adventurous, sharks. As the sun sets, these fascinating creatures (some of which are endangered in Mexico and impossible to see anywhere else) transform into enchanted creatures that, in some cases, even glow in the dark. This luminescent phenomenon also occurs in some of its algae and aquatic plants, so the underwater spectacle is guaranteed. Its moderate current runs from north to south and makes these night dives possible.
Palancar Gardens
After visiting Cozumel in 1961, the famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteau declared that it was "one of the best destinations for diving enthusiasts". His observations contributed to direct the gaze of amateurs and experts from all over the world towards this environmental prodigy, stopping at its underwater gardens. Because the Caribbean's vegetation is not only made up of tropical forests whose trees sprout delicious exotic fruits: its seabed is also fertile ground for a wide variety of native plant species to thrive. In the Palancar Gardens, also located in the Great Mayan Reef, you can take four different wall dives: Gardens, Bricks, Coves and Horseshoes, each one more inspiring from a plant point of view. At this point, the current also tends to be moderate.
Santa Rosa Wall
What to see on a dive in Cozumel if you are an experienced diver? The wall known as the Santa Rosa Wall will challenge you to make a vertical dive that reaches up to 116ft meters deep in its most abyssal zone. Like the previous diving sites, it also belongs to the Cozumel Reefs National Park. It is accessed by boat from San Miguel, the main population and tourist center of the island. One of its main attractions are the tunnels, created by its biology combined with the changes that the sea has been experiencing over time. There, the blue color dominates everything, especially in its deepest part, where triggerfish and frogfish or sea sponges can be seen. As for the current, it is high to moderate, with drift dives.
Throughout the natural park you will have to follow a series of guidelines so as not to interfere with the routines of its inhabitants. Perhaps the most important is not to disturb the animals or touch the plants. Of course, littering is strictly prohibited. And if, after diving, you want to continue caring for coastal health from your accommodation, you can do so in Iberostar hotels in Mexico and the rest of the world, which since 2020 are free of single-use plastics. In addition, all resort restaurants prioritize seasonal and local products, such as native chiles, the main ingredient used to prepare Mexican mole; or fish and seafood from responsible sources, included in tacos and other recipes such as Tikinxic fish.
Chankanaab Natural Park
The name Chankanaab comes from the Mayan terms Chan, which means small, and Kanaab, which translates into English as sea. It refers to the natural formation of the center of the park, which could be likened to a miniature version of the ocean itself: an ocean within an ocean. There, the Chankanaab Natural Park, created in 1980, is home to peculiar coral masses known as balls, due to their round shape. In addition, at this point you will also find coral heads of more than nine feet high and up to sixteen feet wide, with their corresponding animal and plant wealth around them. A practical fact: to dive in the enclosure, as well as in other protected areas of Cozumel, you must pay a small tax that goes to the conservation of the reefs. Very close to Chankanaab is located the sunken ship Felipe Xicoténcatl, also called Wreck C53. In the whole area, the current is usually moderate.
C53 shipwreck
The C53 Felipe Xicoténcatl ship was sunk in the waters of Cozumel to convert it into an artificial reef to shelter the island's marine biodiversity, including some endangered plants. It was created in 1944 by the Wilson Marine shipping company, in Tampa, as a U.S. Navy vessel. Its crew members served during World War II. In 1962, it became property of the Mexican Navy, patrolling as a gunboat for the control of arms and drug trafficking until 1999. Since June 5, 2000 it remains submerged. Before sinking it intentionally, materials and polluting substances that could affect the fauna and flora were removed from its structure. Would you dare to explore its secrets? With a moderate current, this dive is ideal for divers of all levels.
El Cielo" Beach
This beach is actually an islet or sandbar near the shore, whose name has to do with a beautiful image: that of starfish swimming in its transparent waters. There are also manta rays and other sea creatures that will come to greet you while you snorkel or swim. However, it is essential that you do not touch the animals or take them out of the water, as this would damage their delicate balance. It can be easily reached by boat from the beaches of Cozumel, about half a mile away. There is hardly any current or waves, so the place is perfect for swimming as well as for quiet exploration and relaxation.
As you may have already guessed, diving in Cozumel means opening up to an experience that transcends all tangible dimensions, from the ecological to the sporting. Going back to the philosophy we mentioned at the beginning of the article, it will also help you to better understand the natural and cultural memory of the island, as well as its geography, its spirituality and your own human dimension when you come in contact with them.
