Paso Del Cedral
Conditions & tides
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Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
Paso del Cedral is a reef dive site off the island of Cozumel, Mexico, running from 40 to 60 feet (12 to 18 metres) and sitting within the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef system. It is consistently rated among Cozumel's most rewarding sites for encounters with large marine animals, and is particularly well known for its high biodiversity.
The terrain is reef, with the dive profile spanning the full 40–60 ft (12–18 m) range and a maximum depth of 18.1 metres. Positioning slightly above the reef and letting the current carry you forward gives the best opportunity for non-intrusive wildlife observation without disturbing the animals.
Paso del Cedral is one of Cozumel's most reliable sites for turtles and large fish, and the reef supports high overall biodiversity. The current running through the site is what makes close encounters possible, carrying divers steadily along the reef structure.
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Diving here is boat-based, with short boat rides of roughly 10 to 25 minutes to reach the reef. Once in the water, divers drift with the current while a guide navigates the reef, making this a drift dive in the Cozumel style. Visibility is great, typically excellent across Cozumel's reef systems. Water temperature ranges from 78 °F (26 °C) in winter to 86 °F (30 °C) in summer. The site is rated intermediate in difficulty due to its strong current, which requires consistent depth control and good buoyancy throughout the dive.
Marine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
SnapperSnapperConfirmed present · 3 independent sources
Nurse SharkGinglymostoma cirratumConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
Moray eelMoray eelReported here · unconfirmed
StingrayStingrayReported here · unconfirmed
Reef sharkReef sharkReported here · unconfirmed
Sea turtleSea turtleConfirmed present · 3 independent sources
LobsterLobsterReported here · unconfirmed
Nurse sharkNurse sharkConfirmed present · 5 independent sources
Eagle rayEagle rayConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
NudibranchNudibranchReported here · unconfirmed
BarracudaBarracudaReported here · unconfirmed
Caribbean Spiny LobsterPanulirus argusReported here · unconfirmed
French AngelfishPomacanthus paruReported here · unconfirmed
Atlantic Sergeant MajorAbudefduf saxatilisReported here · unconfirmed
Giant AnemoneCondylactis giganteaReported here · unconfirmed
Atlantic Blue TangAcanthurus coeruleusReported here · unconfirmed
Black TriggerfishMelichthys nigerReported here · unconfirmed
Southern StingrayHypanus americanusReported here · unconfirmed
Bluestriped GruntHaemulon sciurusReported here · unconfirmed
Queen AngelfishHolacanthus ciliarisReported here · unconfirmed
ParrotfishParrotfishReported here · unconfirmed
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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