Yucab Reef
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 - Yucab Reef offers some of Cozumel's richest reef diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest August, September, October.
Yucab Reef is a proper Cozumel classic. We usually hit it as a second dive, a nice shallow drift after something deeper, and it never disappoints. The current usually rips along here, so you just glide over a sprawling coral landscape, watching the scenery unfold. You’ll spot huge barrel sponges, some as tall as a person, and we always keep an eye out for the yellowhead jawfish darting in and out of their sandy burrows. The hard corals here are fantastic, lots of branched finger coral and big heads of great star coral, all looking incredibly healthy. What makes Yucab special for us is that relentless, effortless drift combined with how much life you see right in front of your mask. It’s perfect for divers who love covering ground and seeing a lot without finning hard. We’ve had some fantastic encounters here, including spotted eagle rays cruising by, and it’s one of our better spots for finding those elusive splendid toadfish tucked away in crevices. Visibility is almost always excellent, giving you a really clear view of everything below.
Safety Notes
Strong currents typical this month (avg 79 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.
Nearest Dive Centres to Yucab Reef
Dive shops near Yucab Reef
CARIBE PARADISE DIVERS
Dive Palancar
Blue Note Scuba Diving
Scuba XOC Dive Center Cozumel
Scuba Life Cozumel
Scuba Mau
Reviews for Yucab Reef
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Yucab Reef
Yucab Reef Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Yucab 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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