What is the best time of day to snorkel in Palancar Reef?

Snorkel in daylight, if possible in the morning before the wind picks up. Currents are often weaker near high slack tide. SnorkelForecast scores each daylight hour for Palancar Reef.

What is the best tide for snorkeling?

High slack tide, within about an hour of the high-tide peak, often has weaker currents. Strong low tides and tidal flow near channels or headlands reduce the score.

Where are the best snorkeling conditions near Palancar Reef today?

The nearby spots with the best forecasts later today are Chankanaab. Check each spot page for hourly wind, wave, tide and water temperature detail.

MARINE REPORT / 72 HOURS

Palancar Reef Snorkel Report Today

Mexico · Updated Mon 02:11 (EST) · Source: Snapshot

The skinny

Go in the best window Data updated Mon 02:11 (EST)

Palancar Reef has a usable snorkeling window around Mon 07:00. The main thing to watch is waves.

Right now (forecast)

Poor · 0.0/10

Mon 04:00 (EST)

Later today

Good · 5.9/10

Mon 11:00 (EST)

Next three days

Good · 6.0/10

Wed 14:00 (EST)

Model estimates using Open-Meteo; not observations or safety guarantees. Check official advisories and conditions at the beach.

Score: 5.9/10

Best time: Mon 07:00

Main risk: Waves

Best morning signal: Mon 11:00 (Good).

Best afternoon signal: Mon 18:00 (Good). Peak afternoon wind is about 2.1 m/s.

Email me when it is good Compare nearby spots

Best nearby spots later today

Chankanaab 7.6/10 Excellent · Mon 18:00

Sunrise

06:50

Sunset

18:12

Water

29.3°C

Max air

30.9°C

Sky

Clear

1% cloud

Good model window in the next 72 hours

Next good model window: Mon 07:00–12:00 (48% of the next 72h meets the model threshold)

3-day planner Best available Show data

3-day planner

Monday

✅ Good conditions

Main blocker: Waves

Tuesday

✅ Good conditions

Main blocker: Waves

Wednesday

✅ Good conditions

Main blocker: Waves

Best available hours

The next good model window starts at Mon 07:00 and lasts until 12:00.

Why this verdict

Main blockers across the next 72 hours:

Waves (69 hours)
Tide/current (69 hours)
Darkness (33 hours)

Jellyfish drift risk

Drift estimate from wind, swell, current and warm water.

Low · 34/100

Low drift risk now.

warm water supports seasonal jellyfish activity; surface drift/current is noticeable; local shoreline exposure is not mapped yet.

Sightings override the model: if you see small purple jellyfish with long trailing tentacles, treat them as sting-capable and give them space.

Upcoming high tides

Next early morning high tide: Wed 06:00

Tue 17:00, Wed 06:00

Nearby snorkel spot map

Compare nearby spot forecasts for later today before choosing a beach.

Chankanaab Excellent · Mon 18:00 7.6/10

Forecast spot map

Use the map to see where the compared spots sit. Open a card for the hourly forecast.

Chankanaab

This is a location diagram, not a marine chart. Check the shore and local signs in person.

Nearby alternatives in Mexico

Chankanaab

11 km away

✅ Good

Cozumel

14 km away

✅ Good

Akumal

30 km away

✅ Good

Playa del Carmen

31 km away

✅ Good

Advanced forecast data

Viewing historical data

Mon 04:00 – Thu 04:00 (EST)

Previous day Yesterday Next day Live

Snorkel Score (selected 24h)

Best snorkel score is 0.42 around Mon 10:00; 12 of 24 hours are good, fair, or excellent.

Score trend, higher is better. Excellent ≥ 0.72, good 0.55–0.72, fair 0.35–0.55.

Conditions (24h trends)

Tap a chart to load just that series.

0/24 sampled hours stay at or below 0.36m (range 0.88m to 1.02m).

Wind is at or below 5.4m/s in 24/24 sampled hours (range 3.01 to 5.08m/s).

Tides range from 0.17m to 0.3m; 1 of 24 hours are in or near peak slack windows.

72-hour historical overview

Mon 04:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Mon 05:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Mon 06:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Mon 07:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Mon 08:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Mon 09:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Mon 10:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Mon 11:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Mon 12:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Mon 13:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Mon 14:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Mon 15:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Mon 16:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Mon 17:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Mon 18:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Mon 19:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Mon 20:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Mon 21:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Mon 22:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Mon 23:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Tue 00:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Tue 01:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Tue 02:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Tue 03:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Tue 04:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Tue 05:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Tue 06:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Tue 07:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Tue 08:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Tue 09:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Tue 10:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Tue 11:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Tue 12:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Tue 13:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Tue 14:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Tue 15:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Tue 16:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Tue 17:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Tue 18:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Tue 19:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Tue 20:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Tue 21:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Tue 22:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Tue 23:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 00:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 01:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 02:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 03:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 04:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 05:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 06:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 07:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Wed 08:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Wed 09:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Wed 10:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Wed 11:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Wed 12:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Wed 13:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Wed 14:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Wed 15:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Wed 16:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Wed 17:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Wed 18:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Wed 19:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 20:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 21:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 22:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 23:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 00:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 01:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 02:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 03:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Scoring methodology (for technical users)

We score each hour from 0 to 1 using daylight and these weighted components:

Wave height (35%): best below 0.36m, then decreases as it rises.
Wind speed (25%): best below 5.4m/s, lower is better.
Sea surface temperature (15%): best within 20.6°C to 30.4°C.
Tide and currents (15%): best around slack/high-tide windows.
Daylight (10%): visibility is better in daylight, so night hours score lower.

Detailed hourly data table

Time	Wave (m)	Wind (m/s)	Sea temp (°C)	Status
Mon 04:00	0.88 · high	3.91 · good	29.80 · good	Poor
Mon 05:00	0.88 · high	3.01 · good	29.80 · good	Poor
Mon 06:00	0.92 · high	3.26 · good	29.80 · good	Poor
Mon 07:00	0.94 · high	4.11 · good	29.90 · good	Fair
Mon 08:00	0.94 · high	4.10 · good	29.90 · good	Fair
Mon 09:00	0.94 · high	4.32 · good	30.00 · good	Fair
Mon 10:00	0.94 · high	4.63 · good	30.00 · good	Fair
Mon 11:00	0.96 · high	5.08 · good	30.10 · good	Fair
Mon 12:00	0.98 · high	4.71 · good	30.10 · good	Fair
Mon 13:00	0.98 · high	4.49 · good	30.10 · good	Fair
Mon 14:00	0.98 · high	4.51 · good	30.10 · good	Fair
Mon 15:00	1.00 · high	4.74 · good	30.10 · good	Fair
Mon 16:00	1.00 · high	4.88 · good	30.20 · good	Fair
Mon 17:00	1.00 · high	4.74 · good	30.10 · good	Fair
Mon 18:00	1.02 · high	4.40 · good	30.10 · good	Fair
Mon 19:00	1.02 · high	4.11 · good	30.10 · good	Poor
Mon 20:00	1.00 · high	4.40 · good	30.10 · good	Poor
Mon 21:00	1.00 · high	4.42 · good	30.10 · good	Poor
Mon 22:00	0.98 · high	4.42 · good	30.00 · good	Poor
Mon 23:00	0.98 · high	4.42 · good	30.00 · good	Poor
Tue 00:00	0.98 · high	4.22 · good	30.00 · good	Poor
Tue 01:00	0.98 · high	4.09 · good	29.90 · good	Poor
Tue 02:00	0.96 · high	3.41 · good	29.90 · good	Poor
Tue 03:00	0.96 · high	3.47 · good	29.90 · good	Poor
Tue 04:00	0.94 · high	3.40 · good	29.90 · good	Poor
Tue 05:00	0.94 · high	3.36 · good	29.90 · good	Poor
Tue 06:00	0.88 · high	3.83 · good	29.80 · good	Poor
Tue 07:00	0.86 · high	3.48 · good	29.80 · good	Fair
Tue 08:00	0.86 · high	3.60 · good	29.80 · good	Fair
Tue 09:00	0.84 · high	3.73 · good	29.90 · good	Fair
Tue 10:00	0.84 · high	3.92 · good	29.90 · good	Fair
Tue 11:00	0.84 · high	4.04 · good	29.90 · good	Fair
Tue 12:00	0.90 · high	4.14 · good	30.00 · good	Fair
Tue 13:00	0.90 · high	4.23 · good	30.00 · good	Fair
Tue 14:00	0.90 · high	4.07 · good	30.00 · good	Fair
Tue 15:00	0.92 · high	4.27 · good	30.00 · good	Fair
Tue 16:00	0.92 · high	4.08 · good	30.00 · good	Fair
Tue 17:00	0.92 · high	4.37 · good	30.00 · good	Fair
Tue 18:00	0.94 · high	4.26 · good	30.00 · good	Fair
Tue 19:00	0.94 · high	4.26 · good	30.00 · good	Poor
Tue 20:00	0.94 · high	4.88 · good	30.00 · good	Poor
Tue 21:00	0.96 · high	3.86 · good	29.90 · good	Poor
Tue 22:00	0.96 · high	4.02 · good	29.90 · good	Poor
Tue 23:00	0.94 · high	4.21 · good	29.90 · good	Poor
Wed 00:00	0.94 · high	4.10 · good	29.90 · good	Poor
Wed 01:00	0.92 · high	3.73 · good	29.90 · good	Poor
Wed 02:00	0.90 · high	3.56 · good	29.90 · good	Poor
Wed 03:00	0.88 · high	3.20 · good	29.80 · good	Poor
Wed 04:00	0.86 · high	2.82 · good	29.80 · good	Poor
Wed 05:00	0.86 · high	3.15 · good	29.80 · good	Poor
Wed 06:00	0.90 · high	2.51 · good	29.80 · good	Poor
Wed 07:00	0.88 · high	3.03 · good	29.80 · good	Fair
Wed 08:00	0.88 · high	1.80 · good	29.80 · good	Fair
Wed 09:00	0.80 · high	1.50 · good	29.90 · good	Fair
Wed 10:00	0.80 · high	2.84 · good	29.90 · good	Fair
Wed 11:00	0.80 · high	3.05 · good	29.90 · good	Fair
Wed 12:00	0.78 · high	3.31 · good	30.00 · good	Fair
Wed 13:00	0.78 · high	3.76 · good	30.00 · good	Fair
Wed 14:00	0.78 · high	3.47 · good	30.00 · good	Fair
Wed 15:00	0.76 · high	4.05 · good	30.00 · good	Fair
Wed 16:00	0.76 · high	3.81 · good	29.90 · good	Fair
Wed 17:00	0.76 · high	3.54 · good	29.90 · good	Fair
Wed 18:00	0.74 · high	2.96 · good	29.90 · good	Fair
Wed 19:00	0.74 · high	3.12 · good	29.90 · good	Poor
Wed 20:00	0.74 · high	3.70 · good	29.90 · good	Poor
Wed 21:00	0.72 · high	3.94 · good	29.90 · good	Poor
Wed 22:00	0.72 · high	3.98 · good	29.80 · good	Poor
Wed 23:00	0.72 · high	4.12 · good	29.80 · good	Poor
Thu 00:00	0.74 · high	3.69 · good	29.80 · good	Poor
Thu 01:00	0.74 · high	3.46 · good	29.80 · good	Poor
Thu 02:00	0.74 · high	3.18 · good	29.80 · good	Poor
Thu 03:00	0.74 · high	3.17 · good	29.80 · good	Poor