Cuevas de Afuera
Protected Area
Costa Occ. de I. Mujeres, Pta. Cancún y Pta. Nizuc
Why dive here
With 177+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, bull sharks, dolphins, eagle rays and nurse sharks - Cuevas de Afuera offers some of Cozumel's richest cave diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest August, September, October.
Cuevas de Afuera delivers exactly what its name suggests: a series of interesting small caves and overhangs. It’s a good spot for divers looking to explore the shallower side of Cozumel’s cave system, without the commitment of deeper penetration. You’ll weave through rock formations, often encountering nurse sharks resting in the shadows and plenty of smaller reef fish. It's a relaxed dive, suitable for those comfortable with overhead environments but not necessarily full cave certified.
Typical Cuevas de Afuera Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Overhead environment - never enter without proper cave/cavern training, redundant equipment, and a guideline.
Strong currents typical this month (avg 79 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.
Nearest Dive Centres to Cuevas de Afuera
Dive shops near Cuevas de Afuera
Aquaworld
Solo Buceo
Manta Divers SA de CV
Vision Oceanos Dive Center
Scuba Total
Squalo Divers
Reviews for Cuevas de Afuera
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Cuevas de Afuera
Cuevas de Afuera Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Cuevas de Afuera, 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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