DivePlnr
    Palancar Caves dive site
    cave
    Cozumel, Mexico
    Arrecifes de Cozumel

    Palancar Caves

    Good diving all year

    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 - Palancar Caves offers some of Cozumel's richest cave diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest August, September, October.

    Best timeYear-round
    WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit
    Marine lifeBarracuda, Bull Sharks, Dolphins, Eagle Rays and Nurse Sharks · 177+ species recorded
    Water27-30°C · warmest August, September, October
    CharacterCave dive
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    Palancar Caves is a Cozumel classic. You'll find a labyrinth of swim-throughs and overhangs here, more like canyons than true caves, where sunlight streaks through the gaps. Look for nurse sharks napping under ledges and plenty of schooling fish. It’s a site that suits divers comfortable with overhead environments, but nothing too tight or technical.

    Safety Notes

    Overhead environment - never enter without proper cave/cavern training, redundant equipment, and a guideline.

    Strong currents typical this month (avg 79 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.

    Today05:4217:2911h 47m daylightGolden hour 17:00

    Nearest Dive Centres to Palancar Caves

    Dive shops near Palancar Caves

    Scuba Mau

    5km away
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    Dive Palancar

    9km away
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    Phone
    Courses

    CARIBE PARADISE DIVERS

    13km away
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    Phone

    Elite Dive Center

    16km away
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    Phone

    Blue Note Scuba Diving

    16km away
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    Courses

    Scuba XOC Dive Center Cozumel

    17km away
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    Courses
    Rental
    View all dive centres in Cozumel

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Palancar Caves

    Palancar Caves Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Palancar Caves, sourced from NOAA NDBC + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Yucatan Basin - 120 NM ESE of Cozumel, MX (227km away)

    ExcellentGreatGoodFairPoor★Best monthsThis month

    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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