San Francisco Wall
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 - San Francisco Wall offers some of Cozumel's richest reef diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest August, September, October.
San Francisco Wall might be popular, but for good reason. It’s got that classic Cozumel drift, pushing you along a sheer drop-off that just keeps going. We love how the wall is absolutely studded with barrel sponges, some so huge you could almost climb inside. Keep an eye out from the top of the reef, where we often spot eagle rays cruising over the sand flats, digging for snacks. This isn’t a deep dive, usually topping out around 20 metres, so you get plenty of bottom time to really soak it all in. The currents can get lively here, which means you’re mostly just along for the ride, but it’s perfect for spotting turtles gliding past or watching those big Silver Mojarras shimmer in the sun. Visibility usually hits 28 metres or more, so the light plays beautifully on the deep water gorgonians. If you enjoy a spirited drift and an easy depth, this is a great pick.
Safety Notes
Strong currents typical this month (avg 79 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.
Nearest Dive Centres to San Francisco Wall
Dive shops near San Francisco Wall
Dive Palancar
Scuba Mau
CARIBE PARADISE DIVERS
Blue Note Scuba Diving
Scuba XOC Dive Center Cozumel
Scuba Life Cozumel
Reviews for San Francisco Wall
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for San Francisco Wall
San Francisco Wall Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for San Francisco Wall, sourced from NOAA NDBC + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Yucatan Basin - 120 NM ESE of Cozumel, MX (227km away)
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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