SCUBA DIVING / SNORKELING IN COZUMEL

If you have ever had the desire to explore the depths, or even if you are an accomplished diver, the opportunities you will find in Mexico are probably some of the best you will ever have. Virtually every beach destination features scuba diving and snorkeling to some extent. Several offer spectacular adventure. And one is considered the finest dive destination in the Western Hemisphere.

Cozumel's reefs are nestled along the leeward west shore of the island, lining a vertical drop-off into the 12-mile-wide Yucatan Channel. With a steady northward current blowing through this deep trench, drift diving here is as effortless as an afternoon siesta. Shallow patch reefs and narrow coral ridges run parallel to the drop-off, home to a 'Who's Who' of Caribbean reef fish, including the splendid toadfish, found in no other region of the world. Closer to the edge of the wall, rolling hills of medium-sized corals shelter the biggest marine life: NFL-sized black grouper and six-foot green moray eels.

Cancun, and nearby Akumal, present an overwhelming variety of undersea life, plus sunken Spanish galleons and several reefs. You can even try fresh water diving in the area's 'cenotes', where underground rivers have carved fascinating underwater formations. There are also boat excursions to Isla Mujeres and Yelapa Island. And for beginning snorkelers, the aquarium-like lagoons of Xel-Ha, just outside of Tulum, offer a beautiful introduction to the sport.

There are some 20 miles (32.2 km) of reef, including the second longest in the world, The Gama Reef. More than 200 species of neon-bright tropical fish. Undersea limestone caves and tunnels. A sunken aircraft wreck. And if you dive in the right spots, you will even get to see some rare black coral. Please note that divers are expected to leave the natural environment intact.

Many hotels have snorkeling equipment for rent. And dive shops abound in most locations. (U.S. standard equipment is used.) There are even complete dive vacation packages available. Generally speaking, you will find that diving is more affordable in Mexico than most other locations around the world. You will need to have either national or international certification to make the more challenging dives, but many destinations offer 'resort courses' that will allow you to make limited, supervised dives. Again, check with your travel agent for details. Then take the plunge. You will find that the water is indeed very fine. 

Cozumel itself was a sleepy little fishing community until 1961, when a Frenchman by the name of Jacques Cousteau declared us one of the most beautiful scuba diving areas of the world. Since that time Cozumel has become an underwater marine park to protect the delicate balance of it's dazzling coral reefs and abundant variety of tropical fish. The underwater wildlife is absolutely amazing here & due to the clarity of the water ( 100 - 200 ft visibility,depending on the season ), you do not have to be a diver to enjoy it. Simply put on a mask & snorkle and jump in & you will feel like you have been dropped into a tropical fish tank !!

In addition to the spectacular open water diving, the region of Cozumel and Akumal are well-known for the underground rivers that honycomb the porous limestone of the Yucatan which provide some of the most beautiful cave and cavern or 'cenote' diving in the world. Many of these caves are highly decorated and are like floating through the finest dry cave you have ever seen, simply filled with water that is as clear as air. Because they are supported and protected by their water filled enviornment, they are pristine and each has its own particular marine life, unique to a cave enviornment.