Cheap Thrills Underwater: Cozumel Dive Locations for Just $6
A Cozumel dive location for just $6… I couldn’t believe it either, to be honest. I mean, $6 for a tank to dive in the crystal clear, turquoise blue waters of Cozumel, known for its abundant marine life? It seemed too good to be true. However, it does exist, contrary to what I initially thought after spending considerable time Google searching. And it did not disappoint.
I had previously done boat dives (at twenty times the price), which were great, but I saw even more marine life during these shore dives. Plus, I got to dive with just my boyfriend, which was a blessing because we are both skilled divers who co-exist underwater very well.
To make your next trip to Cozumel easy, I’ve listed all the information you need to take advantage of the inexpensive yet incredible diving that won’t hurt your bank account but will instead fill your heart. If you look up Cozumel Fish ID, you’ll see that we nearly saw it all during our few shore dives.
Each location is within 25-40 minutes walking distance from San Miguel, Cozumel.
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Cozumel Dive Locations for Just $6
Spot #1: Barefoot Dive Center
(The shop along the coast)
Cozumel Dive Location: Barefoot Dive Center below Tikila Bar (There are 2 different locations for Barefoot Dive Center; one is the actual dive shop in the center of San Miguel, and the other is the location below Tikila Bar where you can do tank diving.) It is a bit hidden so just follow the map to Tikila Bar.
Type of Dive: Shore Dive. You enter via a ladder into a shallow spot from shore. It is a bit rocky at the beginning.
Tank Cost: 100 Pesos
Equipment: 100 pesos per item (weights are also 100 pesos per person, not per weight). They offer a deal if you need full equipment.
Who Can Dive Here: I believe you must have a DM or Instructor with you for this dive site. You have to fill out some information and a liability waiver.
Our Experience: To preface, my boyfriend is a certified PADI Instructor with hundreds of dives, and I am Rescue certified with a little over 50 dives. We have both been diving in Indonesia, Thailand, Mexico, and a few other places. We went shore diving around 11:00 AM, with just the two of us. The dive area was not crowded, and we only saw two other divers during our dive.
Dive Time: 70 minutes
Current: Mild to none
Visibility: Crystal clear (seems to be the usual in Cozumel)
Topography: Sandy bottom with small sections of reefs
Depth: 5-8 meters was where we found most life (max depth: 8.8 meters)
Water Temp: 28 degrees Celsius (we did not wear wetsuits but both had on long-sleeve swimsuits that covered our torsos)
What We Saw: I mean, it would be easier to list what we did not see, but here is a shorter list: Spotted drum fish (juvenile dancing together), various butterflyfish, various triggerfish, smooth trunkfish (many), honeycomb cowfish (quite a few), spotted scorpionfish oddly cuddling with a yellow stingray, yellow stingrays, sergeant majors, yellowfin damselfish, barracuda, spotted moray eels, spiny lobsters, trumpet fish (a lot up against the fence), and a king crab. This was my boyfriend’s favorite spot because he felt it had the most reef feel to it, with a lot going on.
Spot #2: Blue Angel Dive Resort
Cozumel Dive Location: It is located right after the Blue Angel Hotel, down a small set of steps. Just walk up to the dive desk and tell them you would like to do a shore dive. The equipment can be booked up if you need common items like a BCD or regulator, so it may be best to schedule ahead via WhatsApp. This one is located right beside Stingray Beach.
Type of Dive: Shore Dive. You enter via a dock that has a railing to help you down into the water. The entrance is a bit slippery and rocky at first, so be sure to hold on tightly and wait until you are a little further out to put your fins on.
Scorpion Fish
Tank Cost: 243 Pesos (okay, okay, so this one is just under $15 USD, but still... insane)
Equipment: 180 pesos per item (weights are free). They do a deal for 3 pieces of equipment.
Who Can Dive Here: I do not know if you need any certification other than open water for this dive and a buddy. But I would recommend being a confident diver with quite a few dives under your belt, before heading out with a friend. Always have an SMB and a plan in case something goes awry.
Our Experiences: Coincidentally, we went shore diving around 11:00 AM with just the two of us. We were literally the only divers at the time, or at least we did not see anyone. Being beside Stingray Beach, there was so much life here. Stingray Beach has massive nurse sharks and rays within a net (sad face) that they feed, which in turn attracts many species of fish.
Note: We returned to this spot a second time, however, this time the current had become extremely strong mid-dive. After holding onto nearby coral and the sea floor for a while, we decided it was best to surface. We came up between Blue Angel and the Villa Blanca/Scuba Reflection reef (see below). I recommend locating the nearest pier to exit the water. We swam to shore and, unfortunately, found ourselves surrounded by waves, a rocky bottom, and many sea urchins, making it quite difficult to get out. From there, we walked back along the sidewalk to Blue Angel.
Peacock Flounder
Dive Time: 80 minutes
Current: Mild - quite strong at the start, but mild after the first 10 minutes
Visibility: Crystal clear again (the usual in Cozumel)
Topography: Sandy bottom with coral sections for the first half followed by big grassy areas for the second
Depth: The majority of life is at 5-6 meters (max depth: 7.1 meters)
Water Temp: 28 degrees Celsius (again, no wetsuits; the water felt a tiny bit colder with much less sun being out, but we were still fine being so shallow)
What We Saw: Again, so. much. life. We began our dive in the “buoyancy” area, where there were hoops and obstacles to practice going through. We continued following alongside the fenced-in area from Stingray Beach and then drifted out to the right, continued diagonally for a bit, and then turned around and headed back along the fence. The fence is a great marker for navigation on this dive. It is also important to note that there is a main docking area nearby, so you will need to pay attention and listen for boats running overhead.
Here is the shortlist: Trunkfish, scorpionfish, moray eels, peacock flounders, French angelfish, yellow stingrays, blue striped grunts, seahorses, honeycomb cowfish, porcupine pufferfish (maybe 20 in the end), cushion sea stars. There were two MASSIVE nurse sharks in the aquarium/tank from Stingray Beach alongside some massive stingrays (sad face again, but it was still very cool to see them).
Spot #3: Scuba Reflection
Cozumel Dive Location: It is located right after the Villa Blanca Hotel. I recommend messaging them via Instagram or WhatsApp ahead of time to be sure they have equipment available. The people working there were incredibly nice and the most helpful by far. They had my gear all set up for me and even walked over with me to show me the best route, how deep to go, and waited to make sure we were weighted properly once in the water. They were there waiting when we finished as well.
Note: This is a busy area, so you need to dive with a marker to let boats know where you are.
Type of Dive: Shore Dive. You enter via a dock that has steps and a rope to help you into the water.
Tank & Equipment Cost: They quoted us for the equipment and tank as one for $20 USD per person. We asked to pay in pesos, and they did a proper exchange rate (680 pesos). We used one BCD, two regulators, and weights from them.
Arrow Crab
Who Can Dive Here: Again, I do not know if you need any certification other than open water for this dive and a buddy. But I would recommend being a confident diver with quite a few dives under your belt before heading out with a friend. Always have an SMB and a plan in case something goes awry. They only asked us for our certification level, and we did not need to write certificate numbers down.
Our Experience: We went around 11:30 AM this time, with just the two of us. We were the only ones in the water, but as we were going in, a group of four was coming out. The dive was one of our favorites with the amount of life spread over the ocean floor and the calmness of the water.
Dive Time: 87 minutes
Current: Mild to very mild
Visibility: Crystal clear again (the usual in Cozumel)
Topography: The majority of life is between 5-8 meters (max depth: 8.3 meters)
Water Temp: 29 degrees Celsius (again no wetsuits, and I did not even notice)
What We Saw: We saw the most life here.
Here's the shortlist: Butterflyfish (and juveniles), barjack, damsels (loads), groupers, grunts (a school near the wrecks), wrasse, needlefish, triggerfish, parrotfish, porcupinefish, filefish, sergeant majors, trumpetfish, moray eels, and lots of yellow rays and crabs. We saw one lionfish for the first time and a massive hermit crab.
Reminder: There is a main docking area nearby, so you need to pay attention and listen for boats running overhead.
General Information on Cozumel:
Best Time to Visit:
Cozumel is great to visit 365 days a year, but I think the best time is March to early June–after peak season and before the real rainy season begins. Peak season is December-February so expect it to be busy. Rainy and hurricane season is mostly July-November but of course, it can expand into before or after those months. I have been here during March, April, May, June, and July.
Tips:
How to Get to Cozumel:
Flying (the best option): Cozumel has an airport right on the island that is located only 3-4 km from downtown San Miguel.
Ferry: You can take the 45-minute passenger ferry into Cozumel from Playa del Carmen. This ferry runs every hour with 3 companies running them: Winjet (orange) Xcaret (blue) and Ultramar (yellow). Check the sites for updated schedules and pricing. The 2024 price I paid was 260 pesos ($15 USD).
Mode of Transport in Cozumel:
Taxi, bicycle, motorbike. Cozumel is very walkable and transport is only really needed to tour the entire island or to reach specific beach clubs or beaches that are further away. I took 1 taxi during my time here and it was from the airport... Motorbikes are around $350-450 pesos daily. Bicycles are around 250 pesos.
Where to Stay:
I recommend staying right in San Miguel to be within walking distance of nearly everything you need. The beaches however will be a bit farther by foot or you can opt to rent a motorbike or bicycle.
Best Accommodation Options For Every Traveler
Best Backpacker/Hostel Option: Hostel Auikyani or Cozumel 568 - Vacation Rental
Best Low-Budget: Casa del Solar Centro Cozumel
Best Mid-Budget: Kippal - Modern Oasis - ApartHotel or Casa Mexicana Cozumel
Best Luxury: Presidente InterContinental Cozumel Resort & Spa
