Tortugas Reef - Cozumel

St Abbs Head, for us, is Scottish diving distilled. Forget about any preconceived notions of cold, dark water – we’ve had dives here with 15m visibility, sunlight streaming through the kelp, and a surreal green glow to everything. It's a voluntary marine reserve, and you can tell. Drop into Cathedral Rock and you’re immediately enveloped by dense kelp forests, swaying gently with the surge. Look closer amongst the fronds for those lumpsuckers, clinging to the stalks, and keep an eye out for a grumpy wolf fish peering from a crevice. The rocks themselves are plastered with plumose anemones and dead man’s fingers, providing bursts of orange and white against the greens and browns. It’s a site that rewards slow diving, poking around the nooks and crannies. We often find ourselves just hovering, watching the smaller stuff, the nudibranchs crawling along, or a curious butterfish darting past. If you’re comfortable with shore entries and a bit of swell, it’s an absolute belter for temperate water enthusiasts. Just remember to time your dive for slack water, especially if you plan to venture further out.

Location
Cozumel, Mexico, North America
Coordinates
20.575100, -87.104900
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

Nearest Dive Centres to Tortugas 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 Tortugas 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