Palancar Reef

Overview

Discovered by Jacques Cousteau in the 1960s, Palancar Reef is what put Cozumel on the global diving map. It is actually a massive reef complex spanning several miles, broken into different sections like Palancar Gardens, Palancar Horseshoe, and Palancar Deep.

What you’ll see

The visibility here frequently exceeds 30 meters, meaning you can look out into the deep blue as you drift along the wall.

• Massive brain coral and towering sponge formations
• Hawksbill turtles eating sponges
• Huge moray eels hiding in the crevices
• Nurse sharks sleeping under coral overhangs

The Dive Experience

Cozumel is famous for its drift diving. The Gulf Stream current sweeps past the island, meaning you essentially just get neutral and let the ocean do the work. The boat follows your bubbles from the surface and picks you up wherever you surface. Depending on which section of Palancar you dive, the max depth can range from a gentle 15m (Gardens) down to 30m+ (Deep).

Getting There

Palancar is located on the southern end of Cozumel’s leeward side. It’s accessible by boat from any of the dive centres in San Miguel, usually taking about 45 minutes to reach.