Columbia Reef

A drift along the southern Cozumel reef where coral buttresses build into tall pinnacles riddled with swim throughs, arches, and sand chutes, draped in barrel and vase sponges and sea plumes. The deep section starts near 18 m and drops past 40 m into blue water, with a gentler coral plateau running above it. Hawksbill and green turtles graze the coral, spotted eagle rays and nurse sharks patrol the drop off, and the Cozumel-endemic splendid toadfish tucks into reef crevices. A light to moderate current carries divers north along the structure.