Cancun and the Riviera Maya boast some of the well-nigh heady places to scuba swoop and snorkel in the world. From the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere to shipwrecks, and even an underwater museum, in that location is no shortage of amazing options for scuba divers and snorkelers – whether you're a beginner or yous accept your diving certification.
If y'all're not certified to dive, only would like to attempt it during your holiday, yous can accept a short class (normally around 4 hours) that will allow you to dive to xl feet under the supervision of a certified scuba instructor.
The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which is habitation to 65 species of coral and more than 500 species of fish, runs along the entire Yucatan Peninsula and correct past Cozumel, It's besides the second-largest barrier reef in the earth. The warm waters of the crystal clear Caribbean Sea are the ideal place to explore what lies beneath the surface.
Other pop places to snorkel or dive on the Yucatán Peninsula are cenotes (natural sinkholes). The peninsula has an extensive freshwater underground river organization and the footing is fabricated of porous limestone. So, cenotes were formed when the limestone collapsed and the groundwater was exposed, a miracle that's unique to this region.
Lagoons and inlets are also common here and are wonderful places to explore if yous don't experience comfortable in the open ocean.
There is something mysterious, haunting and romantic virtually a shipwreck. You tin can't dive downwardly to the Titanic, but the C58 Minesweeper Wreck Dive is only about 80 feet below the surface and is accessible past boat from Cancun. It'due south an old Navy vessel from World War II that was sold to the Mexican Navy in 1962 and somewhen sank for the purpose of becoming an bogus reef. It is recommended that defined be experienced, as the currents on the way down to the ship can be quite strong. The area is frequented by groupers, hawkeye rays, barracuda and manta rays. You can swim around the entire send and even enter the wreck where Hurricane Wilma tore it in two in 2005.
Recommended for Scuba Diving & Snorkeling because: The C58 Minesweeper Wreck serves as an bogus reef, thereby giving natural reefs a break.
Kristin's practiced tip: Article of clothing a wetsuit, particularly during winter months. Despite the h2o temperature being in the 80s, you may be common cold.
Read more about C58 Minesweeper Wreck Dive →
Punta Nizuc is an isolated beach located at Kilometer 24 at the south end of Cancun'south Hotel Zone. There is plenty of public parking or you can take the omnibus and get off at the last stop, which is across the street from the Westin Regina. Exist certain to bring h2o, snacks, towels, sunscreen and anything else you recollect you might need or want. Perhaps even an umbrella for shade, considering this beach is completely without shade. Of form, yous will also need to bring your own snorkel equipment. Then, just walk a few feet offshore where the h2o is shallow and start exploring.
Recommended for Scuba Diving & Snorkeling because: At Punta Nizuc, visitors can bring their ain gear and explore on their own.
Kristin's skillful tip: Become it alone. There is no reason to pay a bout operator if you lot desire to snorkel at Punta Nizuc.
Read more about Punta Nizuc →
Photo courtesy of DanSchmitt/iStock
About 50 years ago, Isla Mujeres resident Carlos Garcia Castilla found a cavern deep in the waters off of the isle. Within the cavern he found many sharks that appeared to be sleeping. These days, divers ofttimes visit the cave to witness its inhabitants remain motionless for hours, so render to dry out land to tell their story. The Cavern of the Sleeping Sharks is approximately 65 feet below the surface. The phenomenon baffled marine biologists because sharks must be in abiding motion in social club to exhale, until it was discovered that the caves had an extremely high amount of oxygen and reduced salinity, and these conditions probably made it easier for the sharks to breathe without moving.
Recommended for Scuba Diving & Snorkeling because: C'mon! Sleeping sharks? What could be libation than diving in an underwater cave to come across sleeping sharks?
Kristin's skilful tip: There are not ever sharks in the cave, so ask your tour guide about electric current conditions before you reserve and swoop.
Read more about Cave of the Sleeping Sharks →
More unforgettable experiences in Cancún
This eco-park is part of the Grupo Xcaret family unit (Xcaret, Xplor, Xenotes, Xoximilco, Xenses and Xavage). Xel-Ha boasts the "largest, most beautiful natural aquarium in the world." You can swim in grottos & cenotes (natural sinkholes) and encounter local marine life, explore Mayan ruins, jump off the Cliff of Courage, cantankerous the floating span, ride bikes or fly kites. There are plenty of other activities and exhibits to keep you occupied for the entire 24-hour interval or you can only spend your time relaxing in the sun or napping in a seaside hammock. Xel-Ha also features a delicious buffet restaurant and a children'south area.
Recommended for Scuba Diving & Snorkeling because: Xel-Ha offers a 24-hour interval of snorkeling for the unabridged family unit.
Kristin'south expert tip: Combine your tour to Xel-Ha with a end at the Mayan ruins of Tulum. Tulum can be seen in about an hour, so information technology won't add much more time to the length of your tour, and it's a great allure to see.
Read more than about Xel-Ha →
Beautiful Yal-Ku Lagoon is located in Akumal, which is approximately 65 miles south of Cancun on Highway 307. It's continued to the Caribbean Sea, which means yous can see barracuda, parrot fish, stingrays and sea turtles, but its waters are at-home and serene. Larger sea animals are found closer to where the lagoon meets the sea. The depth ranges from six to 15 feet. The limestone bottom gets very slippery, so be careful. There are stairs to enter and go out the water. No guide needed here. The area surrounding the lagoon is very natural but includes sculptures, restrooms with showers and a small snack bar.
Recommended for Scuba Diving & Snorkeling considering: Yal-Ku Lagoon is a flake of a hidden treasure and an amazing place to cool off on a hot twenty-four hour period.
Kristin's expert tip: After you snorkel the lagoon, catch a cold beer from the snack bar and take a walk along the paths that wind around the edge of the lagoon.
Read more about Yal-Ku Lagoon →
This is one of Cancun's nearly unique attractions. The Underwater Museum (MUSA) is made up of hundreds of sunken statues sculpted by artist Jason deCaires Taylor. The statues are covered in coral, which benefits the environment in 2 means... past creating an "artificial reef" and by directing some of the traffic away from the natural reefs. Snorkel and dive tours are offered by many Cancun vendors, including Aquaworld Cancun, which has been a big supporter of the Cancun Underwater Museum project from its inception. There are three locations of the underwater museum; off of Punta Cancun, off of Punta Nizuc and off of Isla Mujeres.
Recommended for Scuba Diving & Snorkeling because: Cancun'south Underwater Museum is simply amazing and tin be viewed by snorkeling or diving.
Kristin'south skillful tip: Make a reservation with Aquaworld Cancun, or some other reputable supplier, considering yous tin can only attain this site by gunkhole.
Read more about Underwater Museum (MUSA) →
Photo courtesy of Simon Dannhauer/iStock
Cenotes, or natural sinkholes, are a phenomenon unique to the Yucatan Peninsula. These pools, some completely hush-hush and some open, are connected by an underground river system and are filled with cool fresh water, perfect for escaping the hot Caribbean sun. There are then many different types of cenotes that both divers and snorkelers tin notice the perfect one to explore. Cenote Dos Ojos, located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, is shallow on one side and deeper on the other and is bang-up for snorkelers of all ages. Cenote Chikin Ha, located approximately 12 miles from Playa del Carmen, is the first in a system that connects several cenotes through more than than six miles of underwater passages.
Recommended for Scuba Diving & Snorkeling because: Dos Ojos offers spectacular snorkeling and diving for both novices and experts.
Kristin's expert tip: The water is very cold, divers definitely demand a wetsuit.
Read more about Cenote Dos Ojos →
Akumal is known as the "place of the turtle" and is made upwardly of 3 bays: Half Moon Bay, Akumal Bay and Aventuras Akumal Bay. There are both shallow and deep reef dive sites, near only a few minutes from shore by boat. Depending on the site, you tin run across eels, barracuda, groupers and squid during a swoop. Check out the coral-overgrown motorbike where y'all will find schools of fish, crabs and rays, or Xaak, a deep dive site where coral reaches up to 30 feet from the ocean floor. Marine turtles, nurse sharks, rays and many different types of fish are common here. Snorkelers only have to swim most 100 yards off the sandy shore of Akumal Bay to see sea turtles in their natural habitat.
Recommended for Scuba Diving & Snorkeling because: Visitors can get upwards shut and personal with sea turtles in Akumal.
Kristin's good tip: Never touch or disturb coral or marine animals.
Read more about Akumal Bay →
Photograph courtesy of Kristin Busse
The Mesoamerican Bulwark Reef, the second-largest coral reef in the world, runs parallel to the Yucatan Peninsula. The Great Bulwark Reef in Australia is the only reef that is larger. At the National Reef Park of Puerto Morelos, the reef is closer to the shore than in other areas of the Riviera Maya, and in 1998, this section of the reef became a protected surface area. Snorkeling tours and scuba diving trips are available from several swoop shops in the small, seaside boondocks of Puerto Morelos. Information technology's illegal to swim out to the reef from the shore. To protect the reef, all snorkelers and defined must get out to the reef with guides.
Recommended for Scuba Diving & Snorkeling because: At the National Reef Park of Puerto Morelos, visitors can explore the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef only a few meters off shore.
Kristin'due south expert tip: Book a snorkel or dive tour. Individuals are not allowed to swim out to the reef on their ain. You must go with an accredited guide.
Read more virtually National Reef Park of Puerto Morelos →
Photo courtesy of eaglerayjoel/iStock
Cozumel, a snorkel and dive mecca, is an island located approximately eleven miles off the coast of Playa del Carmen and is home to the second largest coral barrier reef in the world, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. There are both shallow reefs, great for snorkeling and deep dives available for experienced scuba defined. Visitors will see both colorful coral and ocean inhabitants. It'southward important to note that hitting or kicking the reef, fifty-fifty by accident, can harm years of coral growth, then it's very important to be careful and follow all instructions given past your guide. Many different dive shops offer tours to the Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park.
Recommended for Scuba Diving & Snorkeling considering: Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park boasts some of the best snorkeling and diving on Globe.
Kristin's adept tip: Bring an underwater camera (even a dispensable one). The body of water surrounding Cozumel is crystal articulate.
Read more about Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park →
0 Response to "Family Run and Scuba Diving and Fort Myers"
Post a Comment