Cardona
Protected Area
Arrecifes de Cozumel
Why dive here
With 177+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, bull sharks, dolphins, eagle rays and nurse sharks - Cardona offers some of Cozumel's richest diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest August, September, October.
Cardona often gets overlooked for its flashy neighbours, but we love it as a chilled-out, genuinely colourful second or third dive. It’s shallow, capping out around 19 metres, so you get plenty of bottom time and lots of light. We think it’s one of the best spots for just soaking in the Caribbean reef vibe. You drift along, eyes peeled, and you’ll find sponges and soft corals that seem to glow. Damselfish dart in and out, angelfish glide by, and if you slow down, you’ll spot blennies poking their heads out of coral crevices – fantastic natural light photo ops there. Keep an eye out for the Spotfin Dragonet, they’re particularly charming. Cardona is perfect if you’re looking for a relaxed dive with consistent beauty, rather than heart-pounding drift. It’s a great site for newer divers building confidence, or anyone wanting a gentle, vibrant end to their dive day.
Safety Notes
Strong currents typical this month (avg 79 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.
Nearest Dive Centres to Cardona
Dive shops near Cardona
Dive Palancar
Scuba Mau
CARIBE PARADISE DIVERS
Blue Note Scuba Diving
Scuba XOC Dive Center Cozumel
Scuba Life Cozumel
Reviews for Cardona
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Cardona
Cardona Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Cardona, sourced from NOAA NDBC + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Yucatan Basin - 120 NM ESE of Cozumel, MX (227km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
30°C
85°F · Range: 28.7–32.3°C
Air Temperature
29°C
84°F
Current Speed
78.6 cm/s
Direction: NE (36.7°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.046 mg/m³
Very clear (oligotrophic)
Salinity
35.99 PSU
Wave Height
1.1m
6.7s period
Wind Speed
5.5 m/s
10.7 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1010.7 hPa
Visibility
24.1 nmi
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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