Punta Sur Reef - Cozumel

Punta Sur. Oh, Punta Sur. This site is everything we love about Cozumel drift diving, dialled up. It’s a proper deep dive, so bring your advanced cert and good air consumption. The current here can be a serious ride, which means you just fly along, watching the reef unfold. You’ll spot schools of Cardinal Soldierfish hanging in the overhangs, sometimes so thick they look like a shimmering wall. We’ve seen Marbled Morays peeking from every crevice, and the Harlequin Bass are just everywhere, adding splashes of colour against the deeper blues. The real magic happens when you get to the Devil’s Throat. This is our favourite part. It’s a swim-through that drops you into a vast cathedral-like chamber, shafts of light piercing the gloom. The scale of it is incredible, like diving inside a giant's dream. You emerge onto the deep wall, and that’s where you have a shot at some bigger pelagics passing through, though often we’re just mesmerized by the sheer drop-off. Keep an eye out for Cherub Pygmy Angelfish here, they’re tiny but brilliant. This is a dive for those who love depth, current, and genuinely dramatic topography. It’s not for the faint of heart, but boy, is it rewarding.

Location
Cozumel, Mexico, North America
Coordinates
20.287317, -87.031630
Type
reef
Maximum Depth
15-40m

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 Sur 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 Punta Sur 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