
Presidente InterContinental Cozumel Resort & Spa by IHG
★★★★★
★ 9.3/10 (1,117 reviews)
4.5 km away as the crow flies
Dive centre · Riviera Maya · Mexico
4.8365 Google reviewsExperience the drift diving of Cozumel from solar-powered facilities and fast, shaded boats with an instructor team that has logged over 40,000 dives.
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Located on the water's edge in San Miguel de Cozumel, Salty Endeavors operates from a unique shop built into a 28-foot cargo trailer. The centre is 100% solar-powered and holds official Marine Park permits, ensuring your dives contribute to local conservation efforts.
Whether you are arriving via the ferry from Playa del Carmen or a cruise ship at Punta Langosta, the centre provides easy access with pier pickups available at over 30 locations across the island. They offer a range of holiday packages that include accommodation in local hotels, resorts, and villas.
The team is composed of six professional instructors and divemasters who bring deep marine expertise to every dive. Their background includes professional experience in marine fish husbandry and coral reef restoration, ensuring they understand the ecosystem you are exploring.
Having taught more than 3,000 students, the staff is equipped to handle everything from your first Discover SCUBA Diving session to advanced technical training. They provide instruction in English, French, German, and Spanish.
The centre provides a comprehensive curriculum through PADI and SSI, covering all levels of diver progression. You can begin with Open Water Diver or use the Open Water Referral programme to continue your training elsewhere.
Advanced training is extensive, with courses including Advanced Open Water, Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, and Night & Limited Visibility Diver. For those looking to professionalise, they offer Divemaster, Instructor, and Specialty Instructor programmes, alongside technical options like Extended Range and Sidemount.
The centre operates fast, shaded boats designed to keep you comfortable during the transit to the reef. Each boat carries a maximum capacity of 6 to 8 divers, ensuring small group sizes for a more personalised experience.
Onboard, you will find refreshments including water, fresh fruit, and snacks. The boats are fully equipped for various dive types, including night dives and excursions to the deeper reefs of the island.
Salty Endeavors offers a full range of high-quality rental kit, selected personally by the owner to ensure reliability. This includes everything from regulators to wetsuits and torches for night dives.
For those looking to extend their bottom time, Nitrox 32% is available on-site. They also provide 100 cu. ft. aluminium cylinders for hire.
Santa Rosa Wall is a premier site for experienced divers, featuring vertical walls that descend from 15 to 40 metres. You can swim through spectacular tunnels and explore overhangs while watching for eagle rays and hammerhead sharks.
Palancar Gardens is a world-famous reef site accessible to all levels, from beginners to advanced divers. The area is a vast garden of colourful corals and massive tunnels, with eagle rays frequently visiting during the winter months.
Colombia Deep is a favourite for veterans, offering a massive wall that drops into the abyss. It is known for its incredible coral pinnacles and large groupers, providing a high-energy environment for those comfortable with strong currents.
Ship Wreck C-53 is an advanced wreck dive located near Chankanab Park. This 56-metre vessel lies vertically on the seabed and is now home to large groupers and green moray eels.

down to 40 m

down to 25 m

down to 18 m

down to 19 m

down to 40 m

down to 28 m

down to 40 m

down to 40 m

down to 40 m

down to 24 m

down to 40 m

down to 40 m

down to 30 m
And some of the dive sites the centre runs.
The reefs of Cozumel are teeming with large pelagics and vibrant reef fish. You will often encounter eagle rays (Aetobatus) during the winter, as well as hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) and blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) in the deeper sections. Other frequent visitors include nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum), reef sharks (Carcharhinus), and various species of turtles, such as the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).
In the coral gardens, look for large groupers (Epinephelus), snapper (Lutjanus), and various species of damselfish (Pomacentridae). You may also spot barracuda schools, jacks (Carangidae), and blue chromis. The reef is decorated with hard corals, black corals, and deep-water gorgonians, alongside colourful barrel sponges.
For macro enthusiasts, the area offers plenty of detail. Keep an eye out for seahorses (Hippocampus kuda), nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani), and various species of shrimp (Caridea). You might also find lobster (Homaridae), king crabs, and even the elusive splendid toadfish during night dives.
Diving in Cozumel is defined by its drift currents, which typically flow from south to north at an average of 1.5 knots. While many reef sites offer gentle drifts, northern sites like Cantarell and Devil's Throat can experience extremely strong and unpredictable currents.
Surface conditions can vary, and the boat ride to southern sites like Devil's Throat can be challenging depending on the swell. Always consult your guide regarding local conditions before heading out to the wall.
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