Spotted Moray in Cozumel

A pale cream body densely covered in fine dark purple-brown speckles, with a noticeably narrow jaw and long teeth.

Quick ID

Where You Will See It In Cozumel

Spotted Moray is tagged on reef profiles right along the west coast, across a depth band of roughly 6 to 98 feet.

Without a boat. It turns up at Chankanaab Shallow and Playa Corona — all shore entries, so you dive them on your own schedule.

On an ordinary beginner boat dive. It is recorded at Paradise, Yellow House, Chankanaab Bolones, La Francesa and Las Palmas. No advanced certification needed.

Deeper, and on the walls. It also shows up on Villa Blanca Wall, Paso del Cedral and Punta Tunich.

Conditions change the odds more than the site does — the current, the time of day and how much the group has already stirred up the sand. Ask your guide what they have been seeing that week.

Behaviour

Hunts small fish and crustaceans in crevices at night. Frequently seen being serviced by cleaner shrimp, which walk inside the open mouth unharmed.

Commonly Confused With

• Green moray — The green moray is far larger and completely unpatterned.
• Goldentail moray — The goldentail has a yellow-gold tail tip and a coarser, netted pattern.

Diving Etiquette And Safety

Hands out of holes. Give it space when it is at a cleaning station.

Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip

Photo: Stephanie De Nadai, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.