Cozumel’s Reef-Rest Rotation Shifts to Santa Rosa and San Francisco

Cozumel’s rotating reef-rest program has moved to San Francisco Reef and Santa Rosa Wall for October and November 2026. The two sites are unavailable for recreational diving and snorkeling during the rest period, while Cozumel’s broader marine-park dive program continues at sites that are not included in the rotation and remain open under daily port and safety conditions.

The change took effect with the October rotation and is expected to run through November 30. A current October 2026 operator guide independently lists San Francisco Reef and Santa Rosa Wall as the marine park’s closed sites, matching the schedule published by CONANP Cozumel.

For divers, this is an itinerary change rather than an island-wide closure. Santa Rosa is one of Cozumel’s best-known wall dives, and San Francisco is a popular drift site, so visitors should expect operators to substitute other legal sites. Exact alternatives will depend on certification level, currents, group experience and the harbor master’s daily operating status.

The practical rule is simple: do not ask a guide or captain to enter a resting reef, and do not interpret older dive-site lists as proof that access remains available. The purpose of the rotation is to reduce pressure on heavily visited reef sectors and give habitat a recovery window.

Divers booking trips in October or November should confirm the day’s itinerary with their operator and distinguish reef-rest closures from short-term port closures caused by wind or sea conditions. Unless CONANP issues a revision, San Francisco and Santa Rosa should be treated as closed throughout both months.