For over 40 years, Cozumel has welcomed ocean lovers worldwide to experience Cozumel’s coral reefs. However, a proposed expansion of Cozumel’s cruise ship infrastructure puts these fragile ecosystems at serious risk. The project includes a fourth cruise pier, to be built just north of the existing International Pier, directly on top of Villa Blanca Reef—a healthy, shallow reef system that has become central to both tourism and marine conservation efforts.
If approved, the project threatens to destroy a living reef, displace a coral reef restoration site, and cut off public access to the sea—a triple blow to Cozumel’s environmental sustainability and local communities.
A Reef of Ecological and Educational Value
Villa Blanca Reef isn’t just another dive site. It’s a thriving ecosystem that supports reef fish, coral colonies, invertebrates, and marine turtles. It also functions as an outdoor classroom—the home base for the Cozumel Coral Reef Restoration Program, run in partnership with Sand Dollar Sports.
Students, interns, and visiting divers work together to restore elkhorn and staghorn corals, stabilize substrates using reef balls, and monitor growth on the striking Zoe Living Sea Sculpture. These initiatives have helped Villa Blanca become a model for coral reef restoration in Cozumel.
The construction of a cruise pier in this location would obliterate this reef system and render years of restoration effort meaningless. It could also force the closure of Sand Dollar Sports’ house reef, eliminating an accessible, near-shore reef used for training dives, snorkeling, and scientific monitoring.
The Human Cost of “Progress”
In addition to the environmental damage, the development plan includes turning Cozumel’s last remaining public beach, located adjacent to the pier, into a private beach club called Cabo Mantarraya. This pier would eliminate one of the few places where Cozumel’s local population can enjoy the ocean freely.
This public beach has been a gathering place for families, fishermen, and youth for decades. Privatizing this space for cruise tourism is not just an ecological issue—it’s a matter of social justice and community rights.
Cozumel’s Coral Reefs: A Natural Asset Worth Protecting
Cozumel has built its reputation on the beauty of its reefs. Divers and snorkelers don’t come to see cruise ships—they come to swim alongside sea turtles, admire living corals, and experience natural wonders.
The idea that we would sacrifice the ecosystems that support tourism to make room for more cruise ships is not only shortsighted but dangerous. Cozumel’s long-term future lies in sustainable tourism, marine conservation, and public access to nature. Mass tourism ultimately does more harm than good.
What You Can Do
Your voice matters if you’ve experienced the magic of Villa Blanca Reef or care about the future of Cozumel’s coral reefs. Here’s how you can help:
- Share this blog or video below with friends, divers, and conservation groups.
- Contact local and federal authorities to express your concern.
- Support reef restoration programs and responsible tourism operators. Look for Travelife Certified tour operators, Green Fins, and/or PADI Eco dive centers.
- Ask cruise lines to consider their impact and demand sustainable alternatives.
- If you’re a diver, become a Green Fins scuba diver. This online course is a fantastic way to help you learn about corals and how to minimize your environmental impact while diving and out of the water!
Villa Blanca Reef is worth saving—it’s worth fighting for. Please sign the Change.org petition today and share this blog with others. And when you visit Cozumel, be sure to book a dive, snorkel, or SNUBA with us!
At Sand Dollar Sports we care about the sea. We are a Green Fins and Travelife Certified business. We donate a portion of all our profits to help support the work of coral reef restoration programs here on the island.
