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Atlantis Submarine Cozumel: Dive the Chankanaab Reef and Sunken Wrecks - San Miguel de Cozumel

Atlantis Submarine Cozumel: Dive the Chankanaab Reef and Sunken Wrecks

Cozumeleasy

Difficulty

easy

Duration

2 hours

Fitness Level

Suitable for most fitness levels; must be able to climb a short ladder and move unassisted.

Overview

Descend 100 feet without a tank: Atlantis Submarines Cozumel offers non-divers a front-row seat to Chankanaab Reef, a dramatic wall drop and the Felipe Xicoténcatl wreck. This two-hour excursion pairs marine storytelling with easy access for families.

Atlantis Submarine Cozumel: Dive the Chankanaab Reef and Sunken Wrecks

Other
Wildlife

The passenger boat chops away from the shore and the island shrinks into a bright crescent. You step into a padded seat beneath a porthole and feel the vessel give a gentle sigh as ballast tanks do their work. Through thick glass, the ocean pulls you down: light filters, then narrows, and the reef reveals itself as an ordered city — branching corals, curious parrotfish and a wall that drops off like an open book.

Adventure Photos

Atlantis Submarine Cozumel: Dive the Chankanaab Reef and Sunken Wrecks photo 1

Adventure Tips

Arrive Early

Check in 30 minutes before departure to watch the safety briefing and secure a good window seat on the sub or deck.

Bring Reef-Safe Sunscreen

You’ll wait on open decks and step back into bright sun; use reef-safe sunscreen to protect marine life when you board or disembark.

Wear Secure Footwear

You must climb a 12-step ladder and board small boats — closed-toe shoes with good grip make it easier and safer.

Carry Small Cash

An $11 marine park fee is collected per person on-site and some extras (photos, souvenirs) are cash or card options at the facility.

Local Insights

Wildlife

  • Green sea turtle
  • Parrotfish and snapper schools

History

Cozumel’s reefs formed on Pleistocene limestone and today are part of the protected Mesoamerican Reef; the Felipe Xicoténcatl wreck was scuttled to create an artificial reef.

Conservation

Chankanaab is a protected marine park with fees that fund monitoring; visitors are asked not to touch coral and to use reef-safe sunscreens.

Adventure Hotspots in San Miguel de Cozumel

Frequently Asked Questions

Recommended Gear

Light Windbreaker

Essential

Interior of the sub and open decks can be cool — a light jacket keeps you comfortable.

Sunglasses and Hat

Useful while waiting on deck and for the transit boat ride.

summer specific

Waterproof Camera or Phone

Capture surface scenes, the boat approach and dockside moments; underwater photos are possible only through portholes.

Non-slip Shoes

Essential

Recommended for safe boarding, ladder use and moving around the pier area.