Las Palmas Reef - Cozumel

New Moon gives you that quintessential St. Vincent wall dive feel. We drop onto a sloping reef, really just a jumble of boulders at about eight metres, before the wall itself truly kicks in. It’s a proper sheer drop, heading down past our recreational limits, but we stick to the top section, usually around 15-20 metres, where the light still penetrates beautifully. You'll often find yourself drifting along with a gentle current, which makes for effortless viewing. Keep an eye out for mottled conger morays tucked into crevices and those big horse-eye jacks cruising past in the blue. This site is fantastic for divers who appreciate a good wall, but also love the hunt for smaller things. We've spotted everything from tiny dwarf wrasse darting between corals to the more unusual devilfish blending into the rock. It's an easy drift, so while there’s a wall, it’s not particularly demanding. We'd suggest it for anyone comfortable with a little depth, looking for a relaxed dive with plenty to see both big and small.

Location
Cozumel, Mexico, North America
Coordinates
20.459900, -86.990700
Type
reef

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 Las Palmas Reef

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 Las Palmas Reef

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