Sand Dollar Sports Cozumel: Inside a Sustainable Dive Center in Mexico

Looking for a dive center in Cozumel where reef protection isn’t just a buzzword?

I found it. Sand Dollar Sports isn’t just another dive operator in Mexico. They’re leading the way in sustainable tourism, coral restoration, and community education.

On a recent trip to Cozumel, I dived with their team and spoke with Catherine Hoelzer and Cristina Mota, two passionate women who live and breathe reef protection.

This isn’t a sponsored post—just my honest take after seeing how they integrate sustainability from the shop to the sea.

If you care about the ocean and want your dives to make a difference, keep reading.

A Dive Center With Over 40 Years of Ocean Advocacy

Sand Dollar Sports has been around for more than four decades—and that kind of longevity already tells you something.

You’ll notice what makes them different: they were protecting Cozumel’s reefs before it was the norm.

Cristina shared that they were one of the first dive centers to advocate for the creation of the Marine Protected Area—long before sustainability became a buzzword.

If you visit their dive base, you’ll see it firsthand. Their house reef, located just steps from the beach, isn’t just a training site—it’s a living conservation hub.

No matter if you’re on a beginner dive or visiting their coral project, you’re not just exploring—you’re helping protect what’s down there.

Green Fins, Travelife & PADI Eco Center: More Than Just Badges

When you arrive at the dive center, you’ll likely spot the Green Fins posters right away—clearly displayed and not just for show. They serve as gentle, constant reminders to respect marine life, control your buoyancy, and avoid single-use plastics.

Sand Dollar Sports is Travelife Certified, a Green Fins member, a proud partner of Parley for the Oceans—and now officially recognized as a PADI Eco Center.

These globally recognized programs keep dive centers—like the one you choose—accountable to both environmental and social responsibility.

So what does that mean for you as a diver?

You won’t be handed plastic bottles on boat dives. You won’t find individually wrapped snacks or toxic cleaning products. In fact, they’ve banned single-use plastics across the board—avoiding nearly one ton of plastic waste per year. Yes, one ton.

They’ll ask you to skip the sunscreen and wear a rashguard instead—your small switch helps protect the reef from harmful chemicals.

And when you gear up, know that even your tank refill is powered by solar energy—something no other dive center on the island is doing.

It’s not just a nice extra. It’s a real, measurable step toward lowering their carbon footprint—and one you’ll be part of when you dive with them.

Coral Restoration: From Storm Damage to New Growth

Their house reef wasn’t always in great shape. After Hurricane Wilma devastated the area in 2005, much of the coral—once nicknamed “Coral Garden”—was destroyed.

But Sand Dollar Sports didn’t just shrug and move on.

They invested in artificial reef structures like reef balls and platforms, and partnered with the Cozumel Coral Conservatory and Cozumel Coral Reef Restoration Program to bring new life to the reef.

Today, you can already see signs of natural coral regrowth. Cristina shared that this is their best measure of success—corals coming back on their own.

That’s what long-term impact looks like.

The corals may still be young, but marine life is returning. You’ll see fish now calling the artificial structures home.

Reef Ranger Program: Raising Future Ocean Advocates

One initiative you’ll find especially moving is their Reef Ranger Program, which brings marine conservation education to kids and families in the community.

Originally launched in 2018 and rebooted after the pandemic, the program includes lectures, beach cleanups, snorkel outings, and fun activities like ecosystem-themed drawing sessions.

In 2024, they even invited relatives of their own staff to join—a beautiful way to pass on conservation values through generations.

They’ve also partnered with local schools, universities, and youth groups.

Interns from the island’s university are welcomed into the dive center and trained on reef-friendly practices—something you’ll appreciate whether you’re diving or simply supporting sustainable tourism.

Dive Briefings That Actually Brief You

As a diver, you can tell when a dive center is serious about its values. And one big indicator is the quality of the dive briefing.

At Sand Dollar Sports, the briefing wasn’t just about safety signals and dive site info. It included clear, deliberate reminders about not touching marine life, maintaining good buoyancy, and respecting the reef.

You’ll be handed a reusable cup instead of a plastic bottle. Crew members are approachable, professional, and clearly committed.

Everything—from check-in to the end of your dive—aligns with best practices in sustainable diving.

These may sound like small details, but they matter. They add up.

And you’ll feel it as a diver—you’ll feel supported and part of something that goes beyond just another fun day in the water.

👉 Planning your own dive trip? Be sure to check out my full guide: Best Scuba Diving in Cozumel: A Quick, Eco-Friendly Dive Guide for Cruise Travelers—it covers top dive sites, what to expect, and how to dive sustainably.

Protecting Villa Blanca Reef: A Fight Worth Knowing About

One thing Cristina and Catherine asked me to share—and I wholeheartedly agree—is the current threat facing Villa Blanca Reef.

If you care about reef conservation, this is something you need to know.

Villa Blanca Reef is under real threat. Two proposed cruise pier expansions are in the pipeline—projects that could destroy a living reef just steps from shore.

A reef that’s home to sea turtles, eagle rays, endangered coral species, and thriving juvenile fish nurseries.

A reef that’s been lovingly restored over the years by a dedicated local community.

In response, the team commissioned a professional marine biology report—made possible through the collective support of those who rallied behind the campaign.

The report has been formally submitted to the Cozumel government, challenging misleading claims in the cruise pier project’s Environmental Impact Report and urging science-based protection of Villa Blanca Reef.

It remains to be seen how the government will respond—but the message is clear: this reef matters.

This isn’t just about Cozumel.

It’s about standing up for one of the island’s last freely accessible reefs and showing that when a community unites, it can make a powerful statement for marine conservation.

The Wrap Up: Why I Recommend Sand Dollar Sports

I’ve dived with many operators around the world. What makes Sand Dollar Sports stand out is their consistency—from office to ocean—in embedding sustainability into everything they do.

Their posters aren’t for show. Their policies aren’t for press releases. They genuinely care—and they’ve been doing this for a long time.

If you’re planning to dive in Cozumel and want to support a dive center that puts reef protection at the core—not just in theory but in practice—Sand Dollar Sports is worth considering.

They’ve shown that even in one of Mexico’s busiest dive destinations, sustainability isn’t just possible—it can thrive.

👉 Want to know more about dive sites, what to expect, and how to make the most of your time underwater?
Don’t miss my full guide: Best Scuba Diving in Cozumel: A Quick, Eco-Friendly Dive Guide for Cruise Travelers