Diving Cozumel | Mexico

DESTINATION OVERVIEW | Right at the top of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula is the island of Cozumel. This is an extremely popular diving destination especially for American scuab divers as it's just a few hours away from the southern United States. Despite the near proximity, it remains a fairly Mexican sort of place. Most tourism targets the western coast and as fresh water is at a premium, development hasn't been as prolific as it has become across on the Yucatán Peninsula.

The limestone shore surrounding the island is mostly craggy but warm, clear waters reveal shallow coral formations that run to the southern tip of the island. These consist of a double row of parallel reefs characterised by lots of interesting swim-throughs, tunnels and caverns. However, move outside this protective barrier and you find that all the reefs are subject to some spiky currents and drift diving is the order of the day.

Marine life is typically Caribbean with plenty of fish life and a mix of small and large creatures. Corals are less prolific as they struggle to withstand the rushing waters but the visibility is almost always crystal clear.

Cozumel diving features

PROS AND CONS | With it's busy international airport, Cozumel is easy to reach and can be a good value destination. There is a mix of Mexican culture and western facilities. Local food, arts and festivals nudge against burger bars and high-class hotels. The downside is the daily arrival of huge cruise liners and their shopoholic passengers.

SCUBA DIVING | Marine diversity is low in the Caribbean Sea when compared to the Pacific or Indian Oceans and as Cozumel is hit by so much current there may appear to be even less marine life to an untrained eye. However, the currents are also a bonus for diving as they do attract a good array of schooling fish and the underwater geography is definitely interesting in it's own right.

OPINION | We have dived Cozumel three times but our last visit in 2005 was just for a day trip from the coast opposite. The increasing numbers of cruise liners and day trip tourists (like us!) seem to spoil what was once a charming destination. No doubt it's quieter at night. Mexico is beautiful but much of the Yucatán Peninsula has lost its unique flavour through tourism development and Cozumel seems to have been affected by that.

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