Dive· Cozumel· Mexico
Paso del Cedral (Cozumel)
20° 22.3′ N · 87° 1.7′ W · approximate
A long, flat reef of coral ridges and sand rolling to the edge of the drop, known for schooling barracuda at its north end, big turtles and eagle rays - many guides' favourite all-round Cozumel dive.
Practical
Coordinate is approximate: placed offshore of El Paso del Cedral as mapped in OpenStreetMap (20.37222, -87.02389), north of Punta Francesa; not a published dive-site position. Depth 12-18 m (40-60 ft) on the main reef - often used for training (SSI); the reef runs on to the drop-off and Cedral Wall, which starts at about 45 ft with a strong current and can be combined with it (njscuba). The current is often mild (SSI) but can be strong and unpredictable, and the reef is easy to miss (njscuba). Eagle rays, turtles, nurse sharks, schooling barracuda. Alberto's Beach Bar is ashore here. Cozumel's channel current runs northbound at an average 1-2 knots (Spanish Wikipedia), so this is a drift dive: the boat drops you up-current and follows your bubbles - carry an SMB and stay with your guide. 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
Intermediate drift; turtles and barracuda
Nearby
- Alberto's Beach Bar (Cozumel)0.3 NM away
- Playa Palancar to Alberto's Beach Walk (Cozumel)0.4 NM away
- Playa Palancar (Cozumel)0.6 NM away
- Punta Dalila (Cozumel)0.8 NM away
- Santa Rosa Wall (Cozumel)0.9 NM away
- Palancar Reef (Cozumel)1.7 NM away
- San Francisco Wall (Cozumel)1.7 NM away
- Playa Paraíso (Paradise Beach, Cozumel)1.8 NM away