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Clear blue ocean breaking over a rocky tropical shoreline

United States · United States

Diving in Florida Keys

1,284 bookable dive experiences across Florida Keys.

Drift diving
New divers
Wall diving
Underwater photography
Family trips
Long bottom times

Dive sites: 40+
Verified operators: 25
Bookable trips: 1,284
Average diver rating: 4.8

Things to do Dive sites Trips Best time Getting there Guides

A permanent north-flowing current does the swimming for you. You drop in, the reef moves past, and the boat collects you wherever you surface — bottom times regularly pass 60 minutes.

The marine park has been protected since 1996: mooring buoys instead of anchors, and a daily cap on boats at the busiest sites. Shallow gardens for new divers, 130-foot walls for everyone else.

Best months: Mar–Jun
Water temp: 78–84°F
Visibility: 80–130 ft
Diver level: Open Water +
Airport: CZM / CUN
Currency: MXN / USD

Things to do in Florida Keys

Try scuba, get certified, add a specialty, or just get on a boat. All-in pricing, verified operators.

See all Florida Keys bookings

Dive trips in Florida Keys

Bookable now with verified operators and member pricing

See all Florida Keys trips

Divers drifting over a shallow coral reef crowded with tropical fish

Top Rated

Dos Tiburones Divers

Cozumel Reef Drift Diving

Cozumel, Mexico

4.9(1,284 reviews)

2 tank dives · 4.5 hrs

From$89

Members $80

Sunlight streaming through deep blue open water at dusk

Likely to Sell Out

Big Island Blue Charters

Kona Manta Ray Night Dive

Kona, Hawaii

4.8(2,041 reviews)

1 night dive · 3 hrs

From$149

Members $134

Sunbeams cutting through clear water above a rocky reef

Diver Favorite

Cenote Guides Riviera

Tulum Cenote Cavern Adventure

Tulum, Mexico

4.9(864 reviews)

2 cenotes · 5 hrs

From$175

Members $158

Large school of silver jacks swirling in blue water

Bestseller

Maui Reef Expeditions

Molokini Back Wall Dive

Maui, Hawaii

4.7(1,536 reviews)

2 tank dives · 6 hrs

From$189

Members $170

Dive sites in Florida Keys

The sites operators actually run, with the depth and certification each one needs.

Open Water
Palancar Gardens
Reef and wall · 40–80 ft
Massive coral heads separated by white sand channels, with swim-throughs and the wall falling away to the west.
- Swim-throughs
- Turtles
- Splendid toadfish
- Photography
Advanced
Santa Rosa Wall
Wall · 50–130 ft
The signature Cozumel wall dive. Overhangs, tunnels, and big sponges with strong drift along the drop-off.
- Deep wall
- Eagle rays
- Strong drift
- Barrel sponges
Advanced+
Punta Sur / Devil's Throat
Cavern and wall · 80–130 ft
A vertical chimney dropping through the reef into open blue. Guide-led, gas-managed, and unforgettable.
- Devil's Throat
- Cathedral
- Technical feel
- Guide required
Open Water
Colombia Shallows
Coral garden · 20–45 ft
Wide, sunlit coral garden with the longest bottom times on the island. The classic second dive.
- 60+ min dives
- Turtles
- Beginner friendly
- Macro
Open Water
Paso del Cedral
Reef · 30–55 ft
Fish-heavy strip reef known for schooling grunts, groupers who follow divers, and reliable nurse sharks.
- Fish action
- Nurse sharks
- Green morays
- Easy drift
Advanced
C-53 Felipe Xicoténcatl
Wreck · 50–85 ft
A 184-foot minesweeper sunk in 2000, upright on sand with cut penetration routes for trained divers.
- Wreck penetration
- Upright hull
- Macro life
- Photography

When to go

Conditions, crowds, and pricing month by month. Three dots means prime diving.

Month	Water	Air	Visibility	Crowds	Notes
Jan	78°F	82°F	80–100 ft	High	Cool fronts can cancel boats
Feb	78°F	82°F	80–100 ft	High	Windy days, great pricing midweek
Mar	79°F	84°F	100–130 ft	Peak	Best visibility begins
Apr	80°F	86°F	100–130 ft	Peak	Prime conditions, book early
May	82°F	88°F	100–130 ft	Medium	Warm water, thinner crowds
Jun	83°F	89°F	90–120 ft	Medium	Excellent value, occasional rain
Jul	84°F	90°F	80–110 ft	Medium	Hot and humid, calm seas
Aug	84°F	90°F	80–110 ft	Low	Hurricane season begins
Sep	84°F	89°F	70–100 ft	Low	Lowest prices, highest storm risk
Oct	83°F	87°F	70–100 ft	Low	Still storm season, quiet reefs
Nov	81°F	85°F	80–110 ft	Medium	Season reopens, good value
Dec	79°F	83°F	80–110 ft	High	Holiday crowds and pricing

Marine life calendar

What you can realistically expect to see, and when.

Splendid toadfish
Year round
Endemic to Cozumel — found nowhere else
Green and hawksbill turtles
Year round
Nesting May–October
Eagle rays
Dec–Mar
Schooling on the walls in cooler water
Nurse sharks
Year round
Reliable at Paso del Cedral
Whale sharks
Jun–Sep
Day trip to Isla Mujeres, snorkel only
Coral spawning
Aug–Sep
Night dives, 5–8 days after full moon

Diving conditions

Current: Light to strong drift, north-flowing
Entry: Boat only, giant stride
Exposure: 3mm shorty most of the year, 5mm Dec–Feb
Nitrox: Widely available, often included
Marine park fee: Required, usually bundled
Chamber: Two on island, both within 20 minutes

Getting there and practicalities

Flights, transfers, money, power, and the nearest chamber.

Getting there
CZM direct or CUN + ferry
Cozumel airport takes direct flights from Dallas, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, and Charlotte. Otherwise fly Cancún, shuttle to Playa del Carmen, and take the 45-minute ferry.
Transfers
10 min from CZM to town
Fixed-rate taxis from the airport. Most shops offer free hotel pickup along the hotel zone.
Visa
No visa for most nationalities
US, CA, UK, EU, AU citizens enter visa-free for tourism up to 180 days.
Money
Peso preferred, USD accepted
Dive shops quote in USD. Paying pesos in cash is usually cheaper. Tip crew 10–15%.
Power and water
110V, type A/B
Same plugs as the US. Drink bottled water; most hotels provide it free.
Safety
Two hyperbaric chambers
DAN-affiliated chambers in San Miguel. Dive insurance is strongly recommended, not required.

Where to stay

Dive hotel
Hotel Cozumel & Resort
On-site shop, dock, and pool
From $120/night
Boutique
Casa del Mar
Walk to the ferry and town
From $95/night
Resort
Presidente InterContinental
House reef and shore diving
From $310/night

Verified operators in Florida Keys

Every operator below is verified, insured, and bookable on WSN.

Verified
Dos Tiburones Divers
Small groups, 1:4 ratio
4.9(3,417)34 trips
Verified
Isla Azul Dive Center
Training and beginners
4.8(1,875)41 trips
Verified
Blue Angel Cozumel
House reef and shore access
4.8(2,210)28 trips
Verified
Cozumel Tech Divers
Deep, wreck, and rebreather
4.9(640)17 trips

Plan this trip

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Florida Keys guides and trip reports

Written by instructors, operators, and divers who dive here.

Divers drifting in formation along a reef

Guide9 min

Cozumel drift diving: what nobody tells first timers

How to position yourself in the current, why you should not fight it, and the three signals every Cozumel guide uses.

Luis Herrera, Course Director

Know this destination better than we do?WSN members and verified operators can contribute guides, trip reports, and site corrections.

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Frequently asked

Do I need drift diving experience for Cozumel?

No. Cozumel is where most divers learn to drift, and guides brief the technique before every dive. The current does the work — the skill is staying with the group and holding depth, not swimming.

Can I dive Cozumel as a brand new Open Water diver?

Yes. Sites like Colombia Shallows and Paso del Cedral sit in 30–45 feet with gentle current. Save Santa Rosa Wall and Punta Sur for after your Advanced certification.

When is the visibility best?

March through June regularly delivers 100 to 130 feet. September and October drop to 70–100 feet with storm activity, though prices fall accordingly.

Is the marine park fee included in trip prices?

On WSN, yes — operators list all-in pricing. Booking directly elsewhere, expect a separate daily park fee of roughly $5 USD.

How many days should I plan?

Five diving days lets you cover the shallow gardens, the walls, the wreck, and still leave 18 hours before flying. Seven is the sweet spot if you want a Punta Sur day and a rest day.