For those of you who like nothing more than donning a mask and fins and going in search of Nemo and his friends, we would like to hear from you. Tell us about your favorite snorkeling spot in the Mexican Caribbean and your most memorable sighting.
With the world’s second longest coral reef on our doorstep we are blessed with a variety of shallow water reefs and sheltered bays and inlets that are perfect for snorkeling. Whether it’s Punta Nizuc, Puerto Morelos, Xel-Ha or even Chankanaab Park on Cozumel you choose as your window on the underwater realm, you are bound to see a host of fish large and small and corals festooned with sea fans, anemones and algae. From blue tangs (the Dory character) and angel fish to lone parrot fish and schools of French grunts, the reef is an ever-changing swirl of rainbow colors and silvery scales.
Here’s one snorkeling story to get you started. Akumal is a long-time favorite for scuba and snorkeling; divers head for the offshore reefs while snorkelers are content to explore the bays and the Yalku inlet. Akumal means “place of the turtle” in Maya and I’ll never forget the August morning that I first saw one of these creatures grazing on the sea grass. I kept quiet and watched from a distance as it swam past me, close enough that I could see every detail of its face, shell and graceful movements. I have been back to Akumal many times and whenever I see a turtle it is just as magical as the first time. Turtles aside, the very same day at sunset I also witnessed a pair of mottled eagle rays leaping from the shallows.
