San Francisco Reef in Cozumel, QR is perhaps one of the best places for diving for beginners and those with intermediate skills. Part of the
Parque Marino de Cozumel, the San Francisco Reef begins at the south end of the beach of the same name — Playa San Francisco - and extends for about half a mile. It is split into three broken sections which are separated by yards of sand.
The reason why the San Francisco Reef is best for beginners and intrepid intermediate divers is that it is a rather shallow area for a wall dive. By wall, this means a wall of coral that only extends up to fifty feet deep in many areas. There are strong currents here in this area so it is advised that you hire a dive operator with experience in this area. In fact, if you are new to the sport of scuba and just got an introductory certification, the San Francisco Reef is the one that most instructors take you to for indoctrination.
However you make your way to the reef, you will discover that you can see great in these crystal clear waters. That means, you can expect to see an area teeming with underwater wildlife, many of whom make their home within the reef system. The coral itself is beautiful and there are colorful, vibrant sponges. The grouper is a sight to behold and the clown fish and angelfish provide bright flashes of color. You definitely need to bring an underwater camera for your dive at San Francisco Reef to capture this unforgettable experience.
