Dive· Cozumel· Mexico
Maracaibo Reef (Cozumel)
20° 15.5′ N · 86° 59.4′ W
Cozumel's southernmost and least-visited reef: a sheer, deep wall with a near-perfect arch at 115 ft, open-ocean swell and frequent shark sightings - for experienced divers only.
Practical
Coordinate from PADI's dive-site listing (20.25890, -86.99056), off Punta Celarain at the south tip. The wall starts at about 95 ft (29 m) with formations well past 140 ft; the signature arch is at 115 ft and can be swum up through from below (PADI); njscuba puts the deep section's wall top nearer 120 ft and uses an old anchor rope as a landmark. Expect big ocean swells at entry and strong currents that demand a quick, coordinated descent; dives usually finish on the shallower Chun Chacaab reef. Trips need an earlier-than-usual departure and divemasters may ask for proof of a minimum number of dives (PADI). Exposed to swell around the south point - only in settled weather. Inside Cozumel Reefs National Park: dive only with a licensed operator; the park fee was 255 pesos per person in April 2026 and is sometimes charged on top of the dive price (Riviera Maya News). No touching, standing on or taking any marine life, no stepping on seagrass, and only biodegradable sunscreen (Riviera Maya News). Fly a dive flag - boat traffic is heavy (njscuba). Sections of the park have been rotated closed since 2019 for coral-disease recovery, so confirm the site is open.
Best for
Advanced deep wall dive with sharks
Season
Settled weather; south-point swell often cancels trips
Nearby
- Punta Sur Nature Trail and Celarain Lighthouse (Cozumel)0.8 NM away
- Devil's Throat at Punta Sur (Cozumel)1.4 NM away
- Punta Sur Park Beaches (Cozumel)2.5 NM away
- Punta Sur Ecological Park (Cozumel)2.6 NM away
- El Cielo Sandbar (Cozumel)2.7 NM away
- Cozumel Reefs National Park2.8 NM away
- Rasta Bar (Punta Sur, Cozumel)2.8 NM away
- Colombia Reef (Cozumel)3.3 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).