Shark Point - Playa del Carmen - Cozumel
Tignes, in the Loyalty Islands, isn’t about dramatic drop-offs or pelagic thrills. This site is pure, unadulterated coral appreciation, especially if you’re into the intricate stuff. We love how the reef here, particularly the Vallée Blanche section, delivers an almost overwhelming density of staghorn corals. They stretch out in every direction, forming canyons and valleys of branching structures. Peering into the gaps, you’ll spot Electric Flame Scallops flashing their neon edges and countless small reef fish darting amongst the coral fingers. It’s shallow, maxing out at 13m, which means plenty of bottom time to really explore. We’ve found the average visibility around 9m here, which can feel a little close-quarters, but it forces you to slow down and appreciate the micro-details. Keep an eye out for the big humpback parrotfish munching on coral, and we’ve occasionally seen leopard sharks resting on the sandy patches between the coral bommies. This is a site for the patient observer, the diver who finds beauty in dense coral gardens and the tiny creatures that call them home.
- Location
- Cozumel, Mexico, North America
- Coordinates
- 20.622800, -87.056700
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Caribe Mexicano
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 Shark Point - Playa del Carmen
- 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 Shark Point - Playa del Carmen
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