Beginner Mexico
Cozumel
Drift diving over the world's second-largest reef, without the effort
In Cozumel you barely swim. You drop in, the current carries you along the reef, and an hour later the boat picks you up wherever you surfaced. Drift diving became the norm here before almost anywhere else.
In this profile you'll find why the current works the way it does, what the reefs along the west coast are like, what sets the shallow reefs apart from the deep ones, when to go, what level you need, and what rules govern a heavily visited national park.
It's one of the most popular gateways to drift diving, and part of the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest reef system on the planet.
Geography and access
Cozumel is a limestone island off Mexico's Caribbean coast, separated from the mainland by a deep channel.
A constant current fed by the Caribbean current system runs south to north through that channel. That current is what defines all the diving on the island.
The reefs lie along the sheltered west coast and form a strip that runs from the shallows down over a wall into deep water.
The incoming water is oceanic and filtered by the limestone, producing visibility that regularly exceeds thirty meters.
The limestone formation creates tunnels, arches, caves, and passages between coral blocks: the reef isn't a flat wall but a structure you pass through.
Access is among the easiest in the Caribbean: an international airport on the island itself or a ferry from the mainland, with short trips to the dive sites.
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