Carmen Novelo
Carmen Novelo is a Cozumel native and an active scuba instructor and dive guide on the island. She has spent twelve years diving the Cozumel reef system, and writes about its dive sites, conditions and marine life for Cozumel Dive Hub.
Recent Articles
- Scuba Hand Signals: Underwater Communication Guide (2026)
October 8, 2026
Master essential scuba hand signals for Cozumel dives. Learn OK, stop, ascent, air checks, and marine-life signs with a local dive guide's practical tips.
- San Gervasio Cozumel: The Island's Largest Maya Site, And The Story Most Guides Get Wrong
September 30, 2026
San Gervasio is the biggest Maya settlement on Cozumel and the island's best non-diving half day. What is actually there, what the Ix Chel story rests on, and how to fit it around a dive schedule.
- Punta Sur Cozumel: The Eco Park Above The Island's Most Famous Dive Site
September 30, 2026
Punta Sur Eco Park sits directly above Devil's Throat and Colombia. A practical guide to the lighthouse, the lagoon, the reef and how to fit the park around a diving trip.
- Cozumel Liveaboard: 2026 Truths, Alternatives and Local Tips
September 30, 2026
No true Cozumel liveaboard in 2026. Discover your real options, top Cozumel day-boat dive shops, and how to dive the island like a local for the best
- Snorkeling Cozumel Beaches: Best Shore Spots for 2026
September 28, 2026
Discover the ultimate snorkeling Cozumel beaches for shore entry in 2026. Explore clear reefs, comfy beach clubs, and wild swim-out options for all skill
- Are There Cenotes in Cozumel? Complete 2026 Dive Guide
September 26, 2026
Are there cenotes in Cozumel? Discover on-island cenote diving: what exists, the differences from mainland cenotes, safety, and top tips for 2026.
- Cozumel Sargassum Guide 2026: When & Where to Expect Seaweed
September 25, 2026
Cozumel 2026 sargassum guide: Learn when and where seaweed lands, its effect on west vs. east coast beaches, and how to enjoy diving, snorkeling, and
- Deepest Dive Sites in Cozumel: 2026 Wall Dive Guide
September 20, 2026
Explore Cozumel's deepest dive sites for 2026, including Maracaibo, Colombia Deep, and Santa Rosa Wall. Find top sites for advanced divers and key prep
- Best Scuba Diving in Mexico: How Cozumel Compares
September 20, 2026
Mexico has three separate dive countries inside one set of borders. A comparison of Cozumel, Socorro, the cenotes, Cabo Pulmo and more, built only on CONANP and training-agency facts.
- How Cozumel Taxi Zones Work
September 4, 2026
Cozumel taxis are zone-based, not metered. How the zone system works, what actually changes what you pay, where the official rate is posted, and the one question to ask before you get in.
- Cozumel Bull Shark Diving: The Real Local Experience
August 27, 2026
Find out how to dive with bull sharks from Cozumel: true locations, best season, safety, and authentic local options. Real guide by a local diver.
- Best Cozumel Dive Accommodations for Every Diver (2026)
August 26, 2026
Twelve Cozumel dive hotels, resorts and villas compared by dock access, on-site dive center and price — plus the best pick for each type of diver.
- Cozumel Turtle Sanctuary and Where to See Sea Turtles
August 19, 2026
Turtle nesting runs May to October and releases follow from July. Here's what the sanctuary programmes involve and where turtles actually are in the water.
- Sky Reef Cozumel: The Reef and the Beach Club
August 19, 2026
A genuine reef twenty metres off the shore, with a bar, restaurant and easy dock entry on the beach behind it. Both halves are worth going for.
- El Cielo Cozumel: The Starfish Sandbar
August 19, 2026
El Cielo is a waist-deep sandbar covered in starfish. Boat-only, often crowded, and there are rules about touching them that people ignore.
- Cozumel Whale Shark Season: When to Go and Where They Actually Are
August 19, 2026
Whale sharks don't gather off Cozumel. The aggregation is 80 km north near Isla Mujeres, the day runs 12–14 hours, and it may not be worth giving up two days of diving.
- Palancar Reef Cozumel Diving: The Ultimate Guide to the Crown Jewel
August 16, 2026
Palancar is not a dive site. It is three miles of reef that boats treat as four: Gardens, Horseshoe, Caves and Bricks. Gardens starts at 30 feet and suits a week-old Open Water diver, while Caves drops to 120 through coral tunnels.
- Paradise Reef Cozumel Snorkeling Guide: Tips, Marine Life & Logistics
August 12, 2026
Three low coral ridges in 30 to 40 feet of water, a few hundred metres off the shoreline between the cruise piers. Paradise Reef snorkeling is shallow, clear and dense with fish, and it is also the busiest reef on Cozumel.
- Colombia Reef Cozumel: A Complete Guide to the Island's Underwater Cathedral
August 6, 2026
Two different dive sites share the Colombia name on Cozumel's southern reef line. Columbia Shallows runs 30 to 50 feet and is rated for beginners; Colombia Deep runs 60 to 120 feet and is rated advanced. Both carry real current.
- Discover Scuba Diving Cozumel: Your First Underwater Adventure in 2026
July 31, 2026
Discover Scuba Diving is a supervised introductory dive, not a certification. You leave with no card and cannot book dives on your own afterwards. What it does give you is an honest answer to whether breathing underwater suits you.