Cozumel Diving
Diving in Cozumel
Diving in Cozumel, the third largest island in Mexico, is considered one of the best diving experiences in the Mexican Caribbean, perhaps even in the world. Cozumel is a subtropical paradise that is still intact.
The island of Cozumel lies off the Yucatán Peninsula. It is easy to reach by ferry from Playa del Carmen. With an ideal climate for diving all year round, Cozumel is one of the most beautiful and, at the same time, most hidden places to dive.
Cozumel is part of the second largest barrier reef in the world.
Reefs and extraordinary coral formations in shallow waters are just the tip of the iceberg of the marine adventures that can be enjoyed in Cozumel. The west coast of the island, from the extreme south almost to San Miguel, stands out for its topography.
The history of diving in Cozumel:
Cozumel is the third largest island in Mexico, with a total area of 477.85 square kilometers.
Nobody knows exactly who the first settlers of Cozumel were. There are traces left by the Mayans long before the Spanish conquest.
The word Cozumel comes from the Mayan “Cuzamil”, which means “land of shallow waters”.
Cozumel was an economic and religious center in the region. The island was sacred to the Mayans: the moon and Ixchel, the goddess of fertility, were worshipped here.
According to Mayan legends, the islanders built a temple to the goddess Ixchel here, which attracted pilgrims, especially women who wanted to get pregnant.
The first Spanish explorers arrived under the command of the conquistador Juan de Grijalva. They landed in Cozumel in 1518. A year later, Cozumel was the first stop for Hernán Cortés on his campaign to conquer the Aztec Empire.
In 1954 the French oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau was dazzled when he explored the island. This is how Cozumel became known for the beauty of its reefs and turned into a world-class diving destination.
The trip:
We leave at 8:00 am from Playa del Carmen for Cozumel.
The boat trip to the southern area of Cozumel takes about 45 minutes. This gives us enough time to do the briefing and answer all your questions.
The first dive is normally done in the Palancar area, where you can see the second largest barrier reef in the world and its steep walls.
The current is pleasant and lets us glide along the reef.
After a good surface interval, the second dive takes place on one of the many reefs on the way back to Playa del Carmen.
We will be back in Playa at about 3:00 pm.
Cozumel prices
2 guided dives: 150 USD
Equipment rental: 20 USD