Best Spots to snorkel Mayan Riviera and Coz

[Queenkatleen]

I will be in that area for 3 full days in mid-July so I need the 'fast track' approach to the best snorkel spots...and any other 'expert' information that your experienced subscribers can provide to me. I am a Mother travelling with my 17 yo daughter. We have snorkeled before but not extensively.

 

[driftwood]

Akumal Bay, at the north end of the bay, you are almost guaranteed to see turtles. About an hour south of Playa Del Carmen. The Akumal Dive shop, Akumal Dive Shop, Riviera Maya, Akumal, Caribbean Scuba Diving, Mexico, has a very good snorkel tour. Good snorkel tours, but I don't like the dive op.

 

[Queenkatleen]

Thank you very much. Do you really need to pay for a tour to go snorkeling? Can you just go off the shore? If one does go off the shore, do you need booties?
Thanks, Kathleen

 

[Dave C]

I was in Akumal a couple of years ago and snorkeled extensively. It's probably the best place on the Riviera Maya for dependable, off-the-beach snorkeling because there is a protective reef close inshore. Although not world-class snorkeling - typical visibility when I was there was 30 ft and a lot of the hard coral is dead - it's very easy, there are still plenty of things to see, and you are virtually guaranteed of seeing turtles. There is a resident population of 10-15 green sea turtles that feed on sea grasses in Akumal Bay. There is also good snorkeling in Half Moon Bay, which is about half a mile north of Akumal Bay, but it is not quite as protected there.

There is absolutely no reason to take a tour because the reef is close to shore and where the turtles hang out isn't that far either. The only exception might be if you are a totally novice snorkeler and didn't have any gear of your own or perhaps are afraid of the water. The Akumal beach is some of the softest white sand you will find anywhere so no reason for booties. Booties would be useful for Half Moon Bay because the beach is somewhat rocky.

You will find very extensive info about Akumal at this website: Riviera Maya Hotels, Resorts, Rentals: Mexican Caribbean Vacation
In particular, look at this bulletin board on the website: Akumal & Riviera Maya message boards
There used to be an aerial photo of the bay somewhere on that site that showed you where the turtles usually are.

If you should decide to go to Cozumel you will find clearer water (50 ft+ vis right off the beach) and more diverse marine life, but most likely will not see turtles. The best off-the-beach snorkeling spot is called Dzul-ha, and all the taxi drivers and car rental places know where it is.

Here are a bunch of snorkeling pics I took in Akumal that will show you what it looks like: Akumal Mexico 2007 underwater Photo Gallery by Dave_Clausen at pbase.com
Above water pics are here: Akumal Mexico 2007 above water Photo Gallery by Dave_Clausen at pbase.com
Also, if you have the time do not miss snorkeling in at least one of the freshwater cenotes (sinkholes) that are located all along the Riviera Maya. They are gorgeous spots with fantastically clear water.
My cenotes pics are here: Akumal Mexico 2007 cenotes Photo Gallery by Dave_Clausen at pbase.com

 

[kenword]

I agree with the Akumal beach suggestion. No need to pay for a tour. If you get a chance just up the road is Dos Ojos Cenote , while not the most pristine cenote in the area it is convenient and is a fun snorkel.

 

[driftwood]

Thank you very much. Do you really need to pay for a tour to go snorkeling? Can you just go off the shore? If one does go off the shore, do you need booties?
Thanks, Kathleen

There is no real need to pay for a tour to snorkel Akumal Bay. If you do decide on a tour, that needs to be set up in advance. The tour does give you a boat and guide to other places along the coast. IMHO, the money you pay for the guide is worth it. On our first trip with them, before we were certified, asked to see turtles. We were parked 30' away from a turtle feeding on grass. Next, he pointed us to a bait ball of silversides that swirled around us. Not a bad snorkel trip. That was just Akumal Bay, Xaac and Yal Kul Chico were equally good

The north end of Akumal Bay is very sandy and no booties required.

 

[mtamborra]

does anyone have any input of the Cozumel part of the OP's post?

Thanks

 

[Queenkatleen]

to all of you for your expert advice:
thanks so much..went to ya ku but it was ng...and im going to do cenotes and head out to cozumel...most likely as recommednded dzul-ha...some 30 years ago we dove Isla Mujeres and it was fantastic ...wonder if that has changed?
thanks again
kathleen

 

[driftwood]

The only time Yal Ku is any good is early in the mornings before the vans from Cancun start showing up. Personally, I have never been impressed with the place but a lot of people seem to like it.

 

[docmartin]

funny, i am also not that crazy about yal-ku but everyone else i talk to seems to love it. the blurriness of the halocline is a pain when you are trying to observe pretty fishies. a lot of people snorkel out i.e. toward the ocean. that's pretty much a wasteland. the most fish at yal-ku are actually inland. btw, i have never seen vans from cancun or any other place there but i don't go during high season.