Barracuda - Playa del Carmen - Cozumel

Corinne’s Reef is a site we always try to fit in when we’re on Mafia. We’ve had some truly fantastic dives here, especially when the light hits just right, illuminating the seagrass beds. It’s shallow, maxing out at 16m, which means plenty of bottom time to really soak it all in. What makes it a standout for us is the variety you find in such a compact area. You’ll drift over gentle corals, spotting those bigspot rockcods tucked into crevices, then suddenly the reef gives way to these expansive seagrass meadows. We often find green turtles here, lazily grazing, and we’ve seen some huge rays settled on the sand, almost blending in until they decide to glide away. The schools of beautiful fusiliers are often so dense they cast shadows over the reef, and it’s a site where we frequently spot blackside hawkfish perched on corals, watching the world go by. Keep an eye out for banded tobies and blackbar filefish, too. It’s a site that rewards slow, careful exploration rather than a frantic dash, perfect for photographers or anyone who just wants to relax and observe.

Location
Cozumel, Mexico, North America
Coordinates
20.578300, -87.109200
Type
reef

Marine Protected Area: Caribe Mexicano

Best Time to Dive in Cozumel

The warmest water temperatures in Cozumel occur in September, averaging 29.8°C (up to 32.1°C). The coolest conditions are in February at 26.9°C.

The calmest sea conditions are typically in September with average wave heights of 0.70m. Average current speed: 95.0 cm/s.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 27.2°C (air: 26.2°C)
  • February: 26.9°C (air: 26.4°C)
  • March: 27.0°C (air: 26.5°C)
  • April: 27.5°C (air: 27.4°C)
  • May: 28.4°C (air: 28.2°C)
  • June: 29.0°C (air: 28.8°C)
  • July: 29.4°C (air: 29.4°C)
  • August: 29.6°C (air: 29.5°C)
  • September: 29.8°C (air: 29.5°C)
  • October: 29.6°C (air: 29.0°C)
  • November: 28.8°C (air: 27.9°C)
  • December: 27.9°C (air: 26.8°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Cozumel

Nearest Dive Centres to Barracuda - Playa del Carmen

Marine Life in Cozumel

Home to 181 recorded species including 140 reef fish, 15 hard corals, 9 other, 7 sharks & rays, 3 seagrass & algae, 2 whales & dolphins.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Barracuda - Playa del Carmen

Based on average water temperature of 28.4°C, visibility 23 nmi, currents 87 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins (stiff blade recommended for strong currents)
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories