Cozumel Dive sites - How Reefs got their Names
Ever wondered why Cozumel's dive sites have such intriguing names? Most reef names are tied to nearby landmarks, like the Rancho Paraíso that gave its
name to one of Cozumel's busiest dive spots. Others are named after people, like the filmmaker René Cardona, whose underwater scenes in 'Un Mundo Nuevo'
were shot at the reef now bearing his name.
Some names are more straightforward: Ladrillos - Spanish for bricks - houses scattered clay bricks from a shipwreck. And then there's the C-53
Felipe Xicoténcatl, a former minesweeper intentionally sunk as an artificial reef. Many names, however, have faded into local memory. That's why we're sharing this info
– with the aim to preserve the stories behind these underwater wonders. We owe a big thanks to local historian Ric Hajovsky for sharing his research.
If you are looking for the location of dive sites, check out our reef map here.
Dive sites within the Marine Natural Preserve
These are the dive sites within the Arrecifes de Cozumel Marine Preserve in the southwest quadrant of the island. These are by far the most popular dive
sites in Cozumel in alphabetical order.
C-53 Felipe Xicoténcatl.
This is the official name of a wrecked minesweeper intentionally sunk to create an artificial reef in the 90s.
Cardona.
Named after Mexican film director René Cardona, who filmed underwater scenes for "Un Mundo Nuevo" here in 1957.
Casa Blanca - White House.
The starting point for this dive is Casa Gordon, a large white rental house on the shore.
Chankanaab.
One of the few reefs with a Mayan name, meaning "little sea," referencing the spectacular, open cenote located therein.
Chunchaca.
Named after the trunk of the local chaca tree (Bursera simaruba). Also often spelled Chunchacab.
Colombia.
Named after the ranch "Colombia de los Santos" and its eponymous lagoon, owned by Juan Santos. Frequently misspelled 'Columbia.'
Dzul Ha.
Mayan for "foreigner and water," named after a popular restaurant that once stood there.
Ladrillos. - Bricks
This dive site is littered with clay bricks from a shipwreck.
Las Palmas.
Named after a group of palm trees that once stood on the shore at this location.
Maracaibo.
Named after Punta Maracaibo, a landmark on the coastline by this reef.
Palancar.
Cozumel's most iconic reef system inherited its name from the adjacent Rancho Dalila Palancar.
Paraíso - Paradise.
Cozumel's most visited dive site is named after Rancho Paraíso. Its northernmost section is now home to Carnival's cruise ship terminal.
Pared de San Francisco - Saint Francis' Wall.
Named after Playa Rancho San Francisco.
Pared de Santa María - Saint Mary's Wall.
Named after Rancho Santa Rosa, also the name of the beach and a former restaurant.
Paso del Cedral - Cedar Grove Pass.
Named after the road to El Cedral, Cozumel's other populated area besides San Miguel de Cozumel.
Punta Dalila - Delilah.
Named after the landmark of the same name, it shares its name with Rancho Dalila (now part of Rancho Palancar-Dalila), in turn named after local entrepreneur and
businesswoman Dalila del Pilar Allen Delgado.
Punta Francesa.
Named after the coastal landmark at this location. Often misspelled
'Francesca' or
'Punta Francesca' .
Punta Sur.
This reef system is named after the landmark of the same name located on the coastline. Not to be confused with Punta Celarayn (sometimes misspelled Celarain), the southernmost point on the island.
Punta Tunich.
Named after the adjacent landmark. The word
Tunich is mayan for 'rock,' referring to the rocky shores nearby.
San Clemente - Saint Clemente.
Named after Rancho/Finca San Clemente, owned by local resident Ladislao Novelo.
Punta Tormentos.
This dive site is named after Punta Tormentos, a w-shaped point on the coastline famous for the winding road that follows along the shore.
Yucab.
This is a case of spelling drift over time. Originally named after Rancho Yocop, owned by a Rosalindo Cop. Interestingly, no local records exist of Cozumel
residents with this last name, the closest being Cab. The name then drifted from Yocab to Yucab.
Dive sites outside the Marine Natural Preserve
Other, more remote dive sites which are less frequently visited are also worth mentioning. Some of these dive sites are breathtaking but too remote, too deep
or the current too strong for most recreational divers. However, many of these dive sites are also very conveniently located for dive excursions departing from
Puerto de Abrigo on the North side of Cozumel.
Antares.
Wreck of the Antares, a yacht which sank near Punta Norte on its way to Saint Thomas.
Barracuda.
Named after the large, predatory fish of genus
Sphyranea .
Bloques de Concreto de Casitas - Concrete Blocks at Casitas.
After hurricane Wilma destroyed Puerta Maya's cruise ship dock, some of its remnants were relocated here forming an underwater shallow playground of sorts.
Cañones / El Galeón.
Named after a yet unidentified wreck near the shore. Some cannons are still visible.
Cantarell.
Named after the Hotel Cantarell on the shores of this dive site. Now Hotel B.
Castillo Real.
This dive site borrows its name from the archeological site located at its shores.
Coral Princess.
Named after the Coral Princess hotel.
El Islote.
An islet on the southeast edge of the island.
Janan.
Named after Rancho Janan, owned by Emilio Nieto Janan. Often misspelled Hanan - or even Xanan, probably in an attempt to make it appear as a Mayan name.
Las Brisas.
Named after Las Brisas Condo building.
P-74 Laguna de Mandinga.
Dual wreck site. The Laguna de mandinga was a Mexican Navy patrol boat decommissioned and scuttled at Casitas beach in 2006 along PC321 Lago de Pátzcuaro.
Pared de Villablanca. - Villablanca Wall.
Named after the Villablanca Hotel. Also referred to as Villa Blanca.
PC-321 Lago de Pátzcuaro.
Dual wreck site. The lago de Pátzcuaro was a Mexican Navy patrol boat decommissioned and scuttled at Casitas beach in 2006 along with the P74 Laguna de mandinga.
Puerto de Abrigo.
Named after Marina Banco Playa's most popular alias, on the north side of Cozumel.
San Juan
Named after Playa San Juan.
Sukha
Wreck of a C&C Cruiser that sank while being towed after running ashore in December 2023. This is the third, much deeper wreck located at Casitas.
The Odd ones
Yet a few more dive sites are not well known or have been recently named. These are the peculiar cases which make up such list:
Arrecife sin Nombre - No-Name Reef.
This is a relatively small, isolated reef surrounded by sand. Not particularly popular, it simply does not have a name.
Caracolillo
This is part of the Gardens section of Palancar, but the dive begins slightly further North than usual, running into Dalila reef.
The name stems from the tree of the same name that served as a reference for the beginning of the dive. The tree was vaguely shaped like a rooster,
or a roadrunner, hence its alternate name El Gallo.
Atolones - Atolls.
This dive site has several microatolls, circular coral formations. Hence the name.
Cueva de los Tiburones Dormidos. - Sleeping Shark Cave.
Named after a cave where sharks can be found sleeping here. Also called Tiburcio.
Escochin
Named after the local name for the Grey triggerfish, Balistes capriscus.
Goliath.
Named after the Atlantic Goliath grouper,
Epinephelus itajara.
Ledges
Named after the many overhangs in this dive site.
Puente - Bridge.
Named after the natural coral formation resembling a large arch or bridge at this dive site.
Punta Norte.
Located at the Northern end of the island, this site is named after its location on the north end of the island, by Punta Molas.
This is not intended as an exhaustive list of dive sites, if you have any additions, suggestions or corrections, feel free
to contact us and let us know your thoughts.