Cozumel · Mexico · Reef · Drift
Santa Rosa Shallows
Triggerfish and sponges on coral patches beside Santa Rosa Wall
Photo: Peter Stalonczyk · CC BY-SA 3.0
Santa Rosa Shallows is the shallow counterpart to the Santa Rosa Wall, a loosely built patch reef on white sand. The large formations along the wall shelter it, so the current over the coral patches is relatively mild.
Also known as Santa Rosa Shallow.
Where it is and how deep
20.3714° N, 87.0294° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Divers drift over the white sandy bottom from one coral patch to the next, between about 6 and 15 m (20 and 50 ft). Sponges are abundant among the hard corals, and angelfish, boxfish, snapper and plenty of triggerfish populate the patches.
Marine life and season
- Reef fish swarms
| 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.
Dive videos
SCUBA Dive at Santa Rosa Shallows Reef, Cozumel, Mexico, 12/15/2024. · Yeah Baby SCUBA Adventures on YouTube
Sources
- Santa Rosa Shallow – Scuba Du — Scuba Du
- Santa Rosa Shallows — ScubaGo
- Cozumel — New Jersey Scuba Diving
- Cozumel Scuba Diving Guide — Island Life Mexico
Photo credits
- Mounds of hard coral and sponges rise in blue water, with small dark fish and a striped fish swimming among them. by Peter Stalonczyk, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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