Molas Sand Bank is a dive near the northern tip of Cozumel, where sandy hills roll away between patches of sponges and soft corals at 35 to 90 feet. It isn't a classic coral wall like the southern reefs. It's an open, spacious landscape where big animals are the attraction: nurse sharks, rays, sea turtles and other large fish are often seen. The current can be strong, so it's a dive for experienced drift divers.
Where Molas Sand Bank is
Molas takes its name from Punta Molas, the northern tip of Cozumel, where the island's lighthouse stands at the edge of a wild, undeveloped coast. The sand bank lies in the waters of the north end, part of the area divers know from nearby Bajo de Molas. The north is far from the main dive harbors, and the sea there is more exposed than on the sheltered west coast, so Molas is dived less often than the reefs south of town.
Molas Sand Bank at a glance
- Depth: 35 to 90 feet
- Terrain: sandy hills with sponges and soft corals
- Marine life: nurse sharks, rays, sea turtles and other large fish
- Current: often strong
- Good for: experienced divers who are comfortable in current and want to see big animals
What the dive is like
Diving Molas feels different from diving the coral reefs of the west coast. The landscape is mostly sand, sculpted into hills and channels by the current, with sponges and soft corals growing in patches. Visibility over the white sand can be excellent, and with fewer coral heads to block the view, you can see animals from a long way off.
The current at the north end is often strong, and the depth range is wide, so the dive profile depends on your guide's plan. Typically the group drifts across the sand bank, with the guide choosing the depth to suit the group and the conditions. Stay close to your guide, keep an eye on your computer, and don't drift deeper over the sand to follow an animal. Our guide to drift diving in Cozumel explains descents and pickups in current.
Marine life at Molas
Molas is a place for big animals. Nurse sharks rest on the sand or under the edges of sponge patches, and southern stingrays bury themselves in the sand with only their eyes showing. Eagle rays sometimes cross the sand bank in the open water, and sea turtles are often seen. Large groupers, jacks and other big reef fish move between the sponge patches. The soft corals and sponges shelter smaller life too, including crabs, shrimp and juvenile fish, so it's worth looking closely when you pass over them.
Skill level and safety
Molas Sand Bank is for experienced divers. The current can be strong, the depth range goes beyond open water limits, and the north end of the island is more exposed than the leeward coast. You'll need good buoyancy, depth discipline and drift-diving experience. Many operators ask for advanced certification and recent dives before taking a group to the north end.
The surface can be rougher at the north end than near town, so a surface marker buoy is essential, and an audible signal is a good idea. Ascend together, make a safety stop, and stay with your buddy at the surface. Our page on scuba diving gear for Cozumel covers signaling devices and other gear for current and open water.
The north end of Cozumel
The north of the island is the least developed part of Cozumel, with mangroves, lagoons and long empty beaches, and the lighthouse at Punta Molas marking the very tip. There's no paved road all the way there, so it's rarely visited by land. That remoteness is part of the appeal for divers: when conditions allow a trip to the north, you may have the site almost to yourselves.
Protecting the reef
The waters around the north end are part of Cozumel's protected reef area. Divers pay a park fee, usually as a wristband through their operator. Don't chase or touch the nurse sharks, rays or turtles; if an animal is resting, watch from a distance and let it be. Keep your fins clear of the sponges and soft corals, which are easily damaged, and don't stir up the sand. Reef-safe sunscreen, or a rash guard instead, is the standard on the island.
Best time to dive
Conditions decide when you can dive Molas. The north end is exposed to the wind and swell, especially in winter, when northerly cold fronts can make it rough or close the port. Calm days with mild currents are the best time to go. Water temperatures in Cozumel are usually in the high 70s to low 80s °F. See Cozumel climate for more on the seasons.
Booking a dive at Molas
Only some operators run trips to the north end, and they only go when conditions are right. Ask when you book and let the operator know your experience. Trips to the north are often combined with other northern sites such as San Juan Reef or Barracuda. Our directories of Cozumel dive operators and Cozumel dive shops list operators across the island, and Cozumel coral reefs covers the other dive sites.
