Snorkeling in Cancun Reefs
Have the Time of Your Life Snorkeling in Cancun reefs
Nestled in the glorious city of Southeastern Mexico lays the coastal city of Cancun. This city, which is a popular tourist haven, is located on the Northern part of Mexico’s Caribbean coastline known as the Riviera Maya. Major attractions to this famous stretch of sand and sea are its resorts, hotels, upscale restaurants and luxurious villas.
Guests and vacationers can indulge in various activities, which include snorkeling in Cancun, jet skiing, swimming with the dolphins, scuba diving, horseback riding, zip lining, sailing and guided tours in the jungle.
The Wonders of Snorkeling
Snorkeling is an underwater activity where one swims through the water wearing a minimum amount of gear. The equipment used in snorkeling include:
- a diving mask
- a tube-like contraption called the snorkel, which allows the diver to breathe with the face in the water.
- a wetsuit and a set of fins
Many people love this activity because there is no bulky equipment to wear while exploring the underwater surroundings. You don’t have to be a certified either to enjoy the wonders of the ocean. The remarkable clarity of the sea and the many magical colors of the underwater world make snorkeling as a very popular activity for a lot of people.
Snorkeling & Diving
What differentiates snorkeling and diving are the kinds of equipment that a person uses and one is at the surface and the other one is underwater, which implies breathing underwater. Also Scuba Diving uses heavier equipment such as pressurized gas tanks, wetsuit.
Snorkeling, on the other hand, is best done within shallow reefs from 3-12 feet, when the person is usually closer to the surface, Many water lovers, however, do both activities for recreational and professional purposes, With our Discover Scuba Diving Cancun Course you can combine booth for the price of one.
What to Expect When Snorkeling
Upon arriving to snorkel in Cancun, expect a Certified by Cancun National Marine Park Guide to give you snorkeling equipment, The guide will teach you how to use the equipment and guide you during the snorkeling activity at the reef from 30-40 minutes. Pay close attention to all instructions given and you are all set for a most awesome adventure of a lifetime.
Adventures are Waiting
There are a lot of places offering numerous Cancun adventures particularly in snorkeling. These places beckon with promises of colorful reefs filled with amazing inhabitants that make every experience a memorable one. Whether enjoying blissful moments or vigorous ocean adventures with friends or loved ones, the following are the most fabulous places to go snorkeling in Cancun:
- Manchones
Manchones is a wonderful snorkel area in Cancun and is situated just south of the island’s tip. This area is nearest to numerous hotels in the region. Many turtles, lobsters, starfishes and other small sea critters that proliferate among the algae and corals make their home in Punta Nizuc. The reef is part of the Mesoamerican Reef, which is the 2nd largest reef in the whole world.
Another thing that made this place truly remarkable are the many gorgeous sculptures of the Underwater Museum (MUSA. The crystal blue waters whisper and coax many adventurers to discover the hidden beauty beneath the surface.
This underwater museum is subdivided into two and holds as many as 470 pieces of life-sized sculptures. These sculptures were gradually immersed in the ocean depth since 2009 and serves as a worthwhile eco-project to provide a natural habitat for its many sea creatures.
The second underwater room contains 17 Jason DeCaires Taylor statues and are a visual delight to many who go snorkeling in Cancun. This underwater wonder generated worldwide interest for its commitment to preserve the coral reef and is worth visiting when traveling to Cancun. Nothing will ever prepare you for the wonders that await your trip.
Many couples opt to get married underwater amidst the creatures of the deep with the giant statues serving as witnesses to many lovely beginnings. It makes for memorable photo opportunities that will serve as conversation starters for future generations. Not everyone can say that they have all these marvelous sea creatures for their guests.
It is no wonder that nature lovers are agog with the wonderful mix of wildlife, flora and fauna that can be found in Manchones and the island. The area is teeming with the following:
- 30 types of birds
- 43 kinds of mollusks
- Over a hundred fish species
- 4 kinds of sea turtles
- 37 types of soft corals
- over 30 types of corals
- over 225 kinds of water fauna
Jungle tours are a must where tourists can experience a different side of the reef. Driving a speedboat through the mangroves and into the open ocean gives you a breathtaking view of nature at its finest. Tourists can snorkel in the area and is usually the highlight of a wonderful Punta Nizuc adventure in Cancun.
- Isla Mujeres
This interesting island can be explored in a day and measures just five miles in length and half a mile wide in scope. Just off the coast of the island is Manchones Reef where tourists can do many activities such as diving and snorkeling. An underwater camera is recommended if you plan to snorkel in Cancun and in the many islands of the region. Sea turtles can be observed and are a fascinating sight to behold.
Head North to Playa Norte and experience the tranquil and clean waters of the area. Lying between the Caribbean and the Mia Reef Resort is a small cove that offers the best snorkeling area for many visitors. The shallow and turquoise waters flow directly from the ocean and guides can often be seen luring the numerous fishes with food.
Once a small fishing village, Isla Mujeres means Island of Women and are a favorite of many who desire serenity, tranquility, untouched beauty and a much slower pace in island life. All year round, tourists flock the Isla for its exciting sport fishing, swimming and snorkeling. During the height of the tourist season where vacationers go to this place for a taste of island life, expect the island to be bristling with hagglers and vendors offering numerous products of the natives. Popular services include hair braiding and massage that tourists eagerly get for a minimal fee.
Permanent residents of the island make their living peddling fish and selling food outside their residences. Islanders converse in Spanish and they often tell of wonderful exploits and interesting history of this tiny Island. It is natural to spot dolphins, turtles and nurse sharks at Playa Lancheros, which is located on the island’s western portion. Boat and ferry can be used for travel between the islands. Golf carts, bicycles and moped can be utilized to go around the isle.
- Isla Contoy
This tiny island is a protected sanctuary where the number of visitors is regulated to preserve the beauty of the place and the safety of its flora and fauna. Many bird-watchers find this perfect haven since the place is abundant with more than 150 species of birds that nest and breed in the Isla. Numerous bird species include hawks, pelicans, cormorants, petrels, cranes, flamingos, ducks, doves, quail, spoonbills, herons, and gulls. While a great number of these bird species are dwindling due to human traffic, the island is still a bird watchers’ dreamland.
Along the eastern coast of the island, 70-foot sand dunes can be seen rising above the land. Coral reefs and black rocks border these dunes and often take the breath away of many visitors of the island. Coconut palms, shrubs and sand blanket the western portion of the island where many people have picnics and rest peacefully amidst all the beauty of the place.
Isla Contoy is rich in sealife as well and is a wonder place to go snorkeling. Many will discover colorful fishes, corals, lobsters, shrimps, flying fishes, mackerel and trumpet fishes. At shallow waters, expect to see Mantra rays that measure as long as five feet swimming magnificently amidst other tiny sea creatures.
- Cozumel Island
A short stop from Cancun lie the Cozumel Island, home of vibrant coral formations that can be found serenely lying in its shallow waters. Marine life loves the reefs of the island, the home of many diverse species of fishes and natural fauna. Water sports, snorkeling and diving are some of the favorite water activities of tourists who frequent this charming island.
Fishing is a favorite sports in the island teeming with more than 200 species of fishes. This makes Cozumel Island one of the top destinations for deep-sea fishing. During the months of April to June, it is not uncommon to see white and blue marlins, as well as sailfish.
Aside from the numerous adventures available, vacationers who don’t want to go snorkeling can avail of submarine tours that are popular, even with children. People who are curious on what is underneath the Island of Cozumel can benefit from this exciting adventure ride. Most submarine rides last for an hour and a half exploring the Chankanaab Reef and its peripheral areas. Diving deeper than most scuba divers go, the submarines descend lower than a hundred feet and opens up a vibrant world under the sea.
- Bahia de Mujeres Beach
Bahia de Mujeres Beach is located just north of Cancun’s hotel beachfronts and boasts of white, powdery sands, tranquil blue waters and endless expanse of blue skies. It’s a perfect place to go snorkeling and swimming because of its proximity to many residential hotels in the area. Though the northern part of Cancun is not as impressive as its southern counterpart, the place is still a favorite hangout of visitors who love nature and the convenience of nearby hotels, shops and restaurants.
- Cenotes
Cenotes are sinkholes or natural pits that are filled with groundwater. They are usually found along the region of the Yucatan and are considered to be natural swimholes. Formed by the collapse of porous limestones, these cenotes are very ideal for snorkeling because of its shallow depth, clear and placid waters. These sinkholes are usually connected to many subterranean rivers and underground caves. Be sure to get guides and go on tours where the organizers are aware of safe areas where activities for snorkeling can be done.
Lovers of Cancun
For people who love snorkeling in Cancun, this city north of the Caribbean is a natural wonder and an Eden for adventure-seekers and visitors all over the world. Not only does Cancun boasts of natural flora and fauna, diverse wildlife and exciting adventures, it also teems with wonderful memories that family, friends and loved ones can enjoy. Whether you are looking for new places to explore, or returning for the umpteenth time, Cancun is the destination to beat. It is undeniably, a paradise on earth.
