Cozumel · Mexico · Wall
Maracaibo Reef
A deep drop-off from 29 m with a large arch through the wall
Area photo: Matthew T Rader · CC BY-SA 4.0
The deep wall at the far south of Cozumel, and one of the least visited sites on the island. The drop-off starts at around 29 metres, with formations continuing well past 43, and its landmark is a large arch cut through the wall. Operators run it as an advanced dive and some ask for proof of a minimum number of logged dives.
Where it is and how deep
20.2697° N, 87.0107° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
The dive begins with the entry, which is the part people remember for the wrong reasons: the site is exposed enough that large ocean swells at the surface are normal, and the group goes down promptly rather than waiting on the line. The wall itself starts at about 29 metres, so there is no shallow phase to settle into before the depth arrives.
Below that the formations carry on well past 43 metres, further than any recreational plan should follow, so the dive is set by an agreed floor rather than by the site. The landmark is a large, almost perfectly shaped arch through the wall, entered from the bottom and swum upwards through. Because the profile is deep from the first minute, bottom time is short, and dives usually finish on Chun Chacaab, the shallower reef next door.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good |
Season follows Cozumel: January–April is prime with December close behind; lighter trades keep the leeward side calm, though winter nortes can shut the port for a day. Peak hurricane risk falls in September and October.
Know before you go
- Large ocean swells on entry are normal here; get negative and descend promptly rather than waiting on the surface for the group to gather.
- The wall keeps going well past 43 metres with no natural stopping point. Agree a floor before the dive and hold it, because there is nothing on the site to tell you where to stop.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Maracaibo Reef?+
The wall starts at around 29 metres and the formations continue well past 43. It is dived to an agreed floor rather than to the bottom of the site.
Who can dive Maracaibo?+
It is an advanced dive, and divemasters may require proof of a minimum number of logged dives before taking a visiting diver on it.
Sources
- Maracaibo dive site — PADI Travel
- Maracaibo Reef — Scubago
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