Cozumel Island Mexico
Cozumel Island
Cozumel is Mexico’s largest island and lies just 30 km (19 miles) southeast of Cancun on the Yucatán Peninsula. The island is 47 km (29 miles) long and 15 km (9 miles) wide and is covered in large part by dense jungle and swamps. Intriguing ruins of the great Mayan civilization can also be found scattered around the island.
Millions of years ago a sea mount was formed by tectonic movements in the earth’s crust and Cozumel lies atop this sea mount. The submarine plateau was soon colonized by coral formations, particularly in the shallow range of the ridge. Vertical coral growth, influenced by rising sea levels formed perpendicular barriers of coral around the original sea mount. Dropping sea levels, together with wind and wave actions, eroded the coral reef until the coastline was typified by a fossilized shoreline surrounded by a live coral fringing reef.
Virtually all of the diving involves drift diving from a boat and, depending on your ability and skill, your dive guide will escort you to the best spot. However, there are also numerous shore dives at allocations along the island’s west coast. As well as superb diving, Cozumel is also blessed with excellent beaches lapped by the clear waters of the western Caribbean.
Palancar Reef
Palancar Reef is an enormous reef that has been split into four dive sites being seen as the most popular parts by the Cozumel Diving Association. The reef stretches over 5km (3 miles) and offers an amazing diversity of coral formations and marine life.
1. Palancar Shallows
This part of the reef is cut and divided by many fissures and caves. It rises from around 5m (16ft) in some places and drops down to 18m (59ft) in a mini-wall.
Sights: Black corals are found in the deeper parts and stovepipe sponges stretch out from the shallow reef areas.
2. Palancar Horseshoe
This dive site is always dived separately from the other areas. It forms a natural amphitheater cut into the Palancar Shallows stretch of the Palancar Reef. The diver is better in the deeper section where large Gorgonian sea fans are found.
3. Palancar Caves
At Palancar Caves, the sand slopes plummet off into the depths and the reef forms a deeply convoluted lip. The corals have created wonderfully shaped caves, canyons, buttresses, spires and deep fissures at this site. Large sheet corals can also be seen shooting out from the top of the reef forming overhangs where fish such as the squirrel and big eyes fish find shelter during the day.
4. Palancar Deep
This part of the reef is formed as a deeply incised wall with many various coral growths. Snappers and grunts are in evidence and if you take your time when exiting the caves on the edge of the reef, you may see a spotted eagle ray or a green turtle swimming past.
