La Francesa
Conditions & tides
Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model
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
La Francesa, also known as Punta Francesa, is a reef off Cozumel, Mexico. The original name comes from the point of land in front of the reef. The depth runs from 10 to 18 m (30 to 60 ft), and it is often dived as a second dive.
Strips of coral and gorgonians are crossed by sandy paths, with patches of coral heads and a good variety of multicoloured sponges. Corals are of good quality, with an abundance of fish and invertebrates.
Pipefish, splendid toadfish, nurse sharks, spotted eagle rays and southern stingrays are commonly seen. Butterflyfish and grouper are also present, and peacock flounders and molluscs live on the sand. The mix makes it a rewarding photography dive.
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Current is moderate to strong, mostly running north, and it can carry divers on towards the next site, Paso del Cedral. You can drift slowly along the reef, and because the site is not so deep the bottom time is longer. Visibility is great, and the site is suited to beginners with some current awareness.
Marine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
StingrayStingrayConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
Nurse SharkGinglymostoma cirratumReported here · unconfirmed
AngelfishAngelfishReported here · unconfirmed
ButterflyfishButterflyfishConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
Sea turtleSea turtleReported here · unconfirmed
French AngelfishPomacanthus paruReported here · unconfirmed
Caribbean Spiny LobsterPanulirus argusReported here · unconfirmed
Atlantic Sergeant MajorAbudefduf saxatilisReported here · unconfirmed
Southern StingrayHypanus americanusReported here · unconfirmed
Atlantic Blue TangAcanthurus coeruleusReported here · unconfirmed
Giant AnemoneCondylactis giganteaReported here · unconfirmed
Black TriggerfishMelichthys nigerReported here · unconfirmed
Queen AngelfishHolacanthus ciliarisReported here · unconfirmed
Whitespotted FilefishCantherhines macrocerusReported here · unconfirmed
ParrotfishParrotfishReported here · unconfirmed
SnapperSnapperReported here · unconfirmed
PipefishPipefishReported here · unconfirmed
Nurse sharkNurse sharkReported here · unconfirmed
Eagle rayEagle rayReported here · unconfirmed
GrouperGrouperReported here · unconfirmed
Manta rayManta rayReported 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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