Dive Palancar - Cozumel
The team at Dive Palancar are a genuine breath of fresh air, one of our favorite picks in Cozumel, especially if you’re looking for a slightly more personal touch. They’re a PADI 5 Star outfit, but what we really appreciate is their refusal to get caught up in the mass-market hustle. You won't find yourself crammed onto a boat with 20 other divers here. Instead, it’s smaller groups, which means more attentive divemasters and a much calmer experience. We particularly love them for their local knowledge. While everyone dives Palancar Reef, their guides often find quieter corners and nooks that bigger operators tend to overlook. We’ve seen spotted eagle rays glide right past us in the gentle current near Columbia Deep, and once, a curious loggerhead turtle practically swam alongside us for five minutes – moments you just don't get when you're part of a huge pack. If you appreciate a dive where the focus is truly on the underwater world and not just getting bodies in the water, Dive Palancar nails it. They really shine for divers who value a relaxed pace and a more intimate connection with the reef.
- Location
- Cozumel, Mexico, North America
- Coordinates
- 20.405336, -87.016410
- Phone
- +52 987 564 8542
- [email protected]
- Website
- http://www.divepalancar.com
- Certification Agencies
- ["PADI"]
- Courses
- PADI 5 Star Dive Resort [padi:3013]
- Address
- Zona Hotelera Sur Kilometro 12.9 G, Carretera Costera Sur, 77600 Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Dive Sites Near Dive Palancar
Dive Palancar provides access to 15 dive sites in Cozumel.
- Agua Negra Cozumel (reef)
- Agua Negra Cozumel (reef)
- AGUSTIN MELGAR - 13m (wreck)
- Akumal Dive Shop
- Amancay Freediving
- Aristos
- Bajo de Molas
- Bandera - 15-30m (reef)
- Barco Hundido - Wreck Cadete Juan Escutia C-56 (reef)
- Barco Hundido - Wreck Cadete Juan Escutia C-56 (wreck)
- Barracuda - Cozumel (drift)
- Barracuda - Cozumel (reef)
- Barracuda - Playa del Carmen (reef)
- Barracuda - Playa del Carmen (reef)
- Barracuda Point
Other Dive Centres in 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)
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 Marine Life
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
- turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) - Seagrass & Algae
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Spiny Brittle Star (Ophiocoma echinata)
- Reticulated brittle star (Ophionereis reticulata)
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Harlequin Brittle Star (Ophioderma appressum)
Recommended Packing List for Cozumel
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