Punta Francesa - Cozumel

South Bay, just south of Kaikōura town, isn’t about huge depths or big pelagics – it’s a quiet kelp forest dive, and we really like it for that. The entry is a V-shaped cut, carved out by whalers back in the day, leading you into a sheltered little bay. It’s pretty shallow, topping out around 10 metres, even at high tide. What you get here is a rich, green world. You’ll weave through thick stands of kelp, sometimes so dense it feels like flying through a forest, and you'll spot plenty of local coastal fish. We've seen snapper cruising, butterfish peeking out from the fronds, and those tiny spotted robust triplefins darting about. Keep an eye out for stingrays nestled in the rocky patches; they often hang out there, apparently to avoid the local orca pods. Visibility averages around 5 metres, which is fine for this kind of close-up exploration. It’s a calm, easy dive, perfect if you’re after a relaxed afternoon exploring a gentle ecosystem, or if you just want to get wet without a big boat trip.

Location
Cozumel, Mexico, North America
Coordinates
20.356300, -87.028400
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 Punta Francesa

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 Punta Francesa

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