Tortuga Reef
Protected Area
Playa Tortuguera X'cacel-X'cacelito
Why dive here
With 177+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, bull sharks, dolphins, eagle rays and nurse sharks - Tortuga Reef offers some of Cozumel's richest reef diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest August, September, October.
Tortuga Reef in Cozumel is a good drift dive, not too deep, often around the 15-meter mark. You’ll mostly see hard coral formations, some nice brain and star corals with plenty of damselfish and parrotfish zipping around. It’s a pretty easy dive, good for newer divers getting used to Cozumel’s currents, or for a relaxed afternoon float. Just don’t expect the big pelagics here; it's more about the reef itself.
Safety Notes
Strong currents typical this month (avg 79 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.
Nearest Dive Centres to Tortuga Reef
Dive shops near Tortuga Reef
Akumal Dive Shop
Akumal Dive Adventures
Cave Gravity Dive Shop
Blue Experience Diving
Aquaexcursions Diving Centers
ACTUNPRO
Reviews for Tortuga Reef
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Tortuga Reef
Tortuga Reef Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Tortuga Reef, 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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