Cozumel · Mexico · Reef
Palancar Bricks
Swim-throughs at several depths with usually mild current
Area photo: Matthew T Rader · CC BY-SA 4.0
The southernmost of the four named sections of Palancar Reef, dived between about 18 and 27 metres. Multiple swim-throughs at different depths make it a natural multi-level dive, and mild currents leave time to slow down and work small subjects. Turtle, shark and eagle ray sightings are all described as common here.
Also known as Palancar Briks.
Where it is and how deep
20.3176° N, 87.0263° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
Bricks is the last section of Palancar going south. The working range is about 18 to 27 metres, and because the swim-throughs are cut at several different depths the dive builds itself as a multi-level: take the deeper gaps first, work up through the reef as gas and time allow, and finish on the shallower structure. Large coral formations rise from a white sand bottom that slopes off into the blue.
Currents here are usually mild, which changes the character of the dive completely on an island where most sites are run as fast drifts. Instead of covering ground you can stop, hold position at a coral head and look at what is on it, which is why the site gets used for macro photography. Turtle, shark and eagle ray sightings are all described as very common, so it is worth glancing off the reef between subjects.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Reef sharks
- Eagle rays
| 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.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Palancar Bricks?+
The usual profile runs between about 18 and 27 metres, dived multi-level because the swim-throughs are cut at several depths through the reef.
Sources
- Palancar Briks dive site — Scuba Du
- Palancar Bricks — Scubago
More dive sites in Cozumel
Reef
Relaxed shallow drift with nurse sharks and turtles
Splendid toadfish, nurse sharks and turtles along the coral
Coral heads rising from 30 m to within 6 m of the surface
Mild current in a protected pocket, 9 to 15 m
Reef
Giant coral pinnacles cut with caves, tunnels and caverns
Wall
A deep drop-off from 29 m with a large arch through the wall
The Cathedral cave sits in the same block of reef as the throat
Cave & cavern
Sunlight streaking through a vaulted cavern ceiling
Similar dives elsewhere
Reef
Coconut Reef
St. Kitts · Saint Kitts and Nevis
Nurse and reef sharks along a sloping reef and wall
Swim-throughs between giant boulders where shy nurse sharks hide
Tarpon and jack schools over a drop-off at 25 m
A 22–29 m reef with a small wreck, the island's deep-training site