Manchones I - Cozumel

Manchones I always puts a smile on our faces. This site is classic Cozumel drift diving, easygoing and full of those subtle joys we keep coming back for. We usually drop in around 18-20 metres, letting the current nudge us gently past sand flats and low coral heads. You’ll spot plenty of French grunt schooling here, often in impressive numbers, along with mutton snapper eyeing you from the shadows. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too; we’ve had some fantastic encounters with Caribbean pipefish tucked amongst the gorgonians. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a sand stargazer peeking out from the bottom. It's a relaxed, colourful dive perfect for photographers wanting to practice their drift shots or anyone looking for a chill afternoon spent watching the reef go by. We’d suggest going in the morning before it gets too busy.

Location
Cozumel, Mexico, North America
Coordinates
21.199297, -86.719894

Marine Protected Area: Costa Occ. de I. Mujeres, Pta. Cancún y Pta. Nizuc

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 Manchones I

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 Manchones I

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