Colombia Deep - Cozumel

Guacamaya Island, up the coast from Flamingo, is one of those sites we always try to hit when we're in the area. It’s a small island, but it punches above its weight in terms of fish life, especially on the shallower eastern side, which drops to about 5m. You'll find yourself surrounded by schools of spottail grunts and graceful mojarra, so thick they sometimes make it hard to see your buddy. The average visibility here is around 8m, which isn't huge, but it often brings a dramatic, intimate feel to the dive, making everything seem closer. Our favorite spot is definitely the western side, where the reef slopes down to 17m. We’ve had some fantastic encounters here with whitetip reef sharks cruising past, and we’re always on the lookout for the crafty morays tucked into crevices. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too, like the southern blennies peering from their holes and the chameleon wrasses changing colors right before your eyes. It’s a brilliant site for newer divers looking for abundant fish without too much depth, but experienced divers will still find plenty to explore.

Location
Cozumel, Mexico, North America
Coordinates
20.305700, -87.034800
Difficulty
advanced

Marine Protected Area: Arrecifes de Cozumel

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 Colombia Deep

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 Colombia Deep

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