Palace Reef - Cozumel

Royal Dalton feels like a living museum, if museums had a gentle current to push you along. We love dropping down the wall here, sinking to about 20 metres, and just gazing upwards into those enormous plate corals. Some are ancient, showing their age, while others are clearly new growth, a testament to the reef’s resilience. It’s a peaceful drift, the kind where you can really slow down and appreciate the details, like the delicate structures of lesser star coral or the way the light filters through the big plates. Visibility here is usually excellent, so you get a clear view of clown butterflyfish flitting between coral heads and big-eye trevallies cruising the deeper sections. If you hit it during the summer months, you might just find yourself surrounded by a swirling cloud of juvenile fusiliers, so thick they almost block out the sun – it’s quite a spectacle. Our favourite approach is to stay deep until you’re nudging your no-decompression limits, then slowly ascend and let the current carry you back towards the boat, a serene mid-water drift over the top of the reef. This site is perfect for those who appreciate the quiet beauty of a healthy reef and enjoy a relaxed drift dive.

Location
Cozumel, Mexico, North America
Coordinates
20.503200, -86.959800
Type
reef

Marine Protected Area: Caribe Mexicano

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 Palace 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 Palace 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