Colombia Shallows
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 - Colombia Shallows offers some of Cozumel's richest reef diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest August, September, October.
Colombia Shallows is one of those Cozumel sites we genuinely love for its sheer approachability and unexpected drama. Sure, it’s a popular spot for newer divers, but don’t let that fool you. We’ve had some cracking dives here, even with hundreds of logged dives under our belts. The main draw is that sprawling coral garden, rarely deeper than 15 meters, where huge colonies of great star coral dominate. It’s a proper maze of swim-throughs and overhangs. We’ve spent entire dives just exploring these formations, finding angelfish darting between the coral heads and tiny gobies perched on the smooth flower coral. The visibility often hits 25 meters, so the light plays beautifully through the water, illuminating the colours. Keep an eye out for nurse sharks tucked under ledges; we almost always spot one. And if you’re there in winter, those eagle rays often glide right over the sand patches. Our top tip? Go early. You’ll have the place largely to yourself, and the morning light really makes the reef pop. It’s an ideal spot for macro photography, too. The fringed filefish here are remarkably chilled out, letting you get close enough for a good shot.
Safety Notes
Strong currents typical this month (avg 79 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.
Nearest Dive Centres to Colombia Shallows
Dive shops near Colombia Shallows
Scuba Mau
Dive Palancar
CARIBE PARADISE DIVERS
Elite Dive Center
Blue Note Scuba Diving
Scuba XOC Dive Center Cozumel
Reviews for Colombia Shallows
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Colombia Shallows
Colombia Shallows Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Colombia Shallows, 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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