Maracaibo Reef
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 - Maracaibo Reef offers some of Cozumel's richest reef diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest August, September, October.
Maracaibo is usually our last dive of a south Cozumel trip, and it never disappoints. It’s a proper deep wall, falling away beneath you, feeling much more remote than some of the busier northern sites. We love the drift here; you just glide along with the current, spotting giant barrel sponges and massive gorgonians clinging to the sheer face. Keep an eye out into the blue for the big stuff – we've seen bull sharks cruising by, and eagle rays often make an appearance in groups. The famous arch is impressive, a massive swim-through, but it’s the overall scale of the place that really gets us. We’d suggest this one for advanced divers comfortable with depth and current, ready for a proper Caribbean wall dive.
Safety Notes
Strong currents typical this month (avg 79 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.
Nearest Dive Centres to Maracaibo Reef
Dive shops near Maracaibo Reef
Scuba Mau
Dive Palancar
CARIBE PARADISE DIVERS
Elite Dive Center
Blue Note Scuba Diving
Scuba XOC Dive Center Cozumel
Reviews for Maracaibo Reef
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Maracaibo Reef
Maracaibo Reef Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Maracaibo Reef, 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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