Rodman - Cozumel
Taket Malang, just northeast of Gili Meno, is one of our favourite spots when we’re looking for some dramatic topography. It’s all about the seamounts here, rolling from 7m down to a maximum of 25m, making you feel like you’re soaring over an alien mountain range. The sheer scale is impressive, especially when you’re drifting along the peaks and valleys. We’ve found the best way to dive Taket Malang is on a slow drift, letting the currents carry you over the vast stretches of staghorn coral. Seriously, there are patches of staghorn here that just seem to go on forever, providing shelter for countless fusiliers and triggerfish. Keep an eye out for blue-spotted stingrays tucked into the sandy patches between coral bommies. We’ve also had luck spotting whitetip reef sharks patrolling the deeper edges, especially in the early mornings. Visibility hovers around 19m on average, which gives you plenty of scope to appreciate the grandeur of the landscape. It’s a great site for divers who appreciate big underwater scenery and a relaxed drift, rather than hunting for tiny critters.
- Location
- Cozumel, Mexico, North America
- Coordinates
- 20.858700, -86.847900
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Arrecife de Puerto Morelos
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
- Agua Negra Cozumel (reef)
- Agua Negra Cozumel (reef)
- AGUSTIN MELGAR - 13m (wreck)
- Akumal Dive Shop
- Amancay Freediving
- Aristos
- Bajo de Molas
- Bandera - 15-30m (reef)
- Barco Hundido - Wreck Cadete Juan Escutia C-56 (reef)
- Barco Hundido - Wreck Cadete Juan Escutia C-56 (wreck)
- Barracuda - Cozumel (drift)
- Barracuda - Cozumel (reef)
- Barracuda - Playa del Carmen (reef)
- Barracuda - Playa del Carmen (reef)
- Barracuda Point
Nearest Dive Centres to Rodman
- Abyss
- ACTUNPRO
- AGUA CLARA DIVING - PADI, SSI
- Akumal Dive Adventures
- Akumal Dive Shop
- Aldora Divers - ["PADI"]
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
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
- turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) - Seagrass & Algae
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Spiny Brittle Star (Ophiocoma echinata)
- Reticulated brittle star (Ophionereis reticulata)
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Harlequin Brittle Star (Ophioderma appressum)
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals
- manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme) - Seagrass & Algae
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
- Hamlet (Gymnothorax moringa) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Black Moray (Gymnothorax funebris) - Reef Fish
- Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
- Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Rodman
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