Cheap Cozumel snorkeling tips

[matthewhaag]

Hey, guys. I'm new to this board.

I'm going to Cozumel on a cruise in late August and will be in Cozumel for one day. I'm trying to go there and spend as little money as possible. Because of ear problems, unfortunately, I can't scuba dive.
But I'm hoping to snorkel.

So my question is whether anyone knows of any good (and cheap) locations to snorkel. I read that Dzul Ha beach offers $10 snorkeling and has nice reefs a short distance from the shore. Is that a good place to go? What are some other places?

Also, outside of snorkeling, do you guys know of any fun (once again, and cheap) adventures or activities?

I'm trying to spend a day in Cozumel for under $100, which most include taxis. I think it's possible, but I need your help!

Thanks.

 

[georoc01]

If you are going to the Punta Lagosta pier.

If marine life is what you are looking for, and you have your own snorkel gear (or can rent it on the boat), get off and head down to Margaritaville. Just to the north of their swim area is a pooling area for a variety of fish, including Blue Tangs. Its within walking distance. If you are looking for somewhere a little less wild with the same water access, I'd check out Jeannie's Waffle House.

If I came into the International pier, just north of there is a bar called Aqua. Its right next door to Del Mar Aquatics. Its also where some of the boat excursions bring their snorkel groups, and generally where you can find their catamarans tied up at night. Its a short swim from shore and not bad.

Either options would be cheap and could easily be done for free, giving you money for food and drink if you choose to have a servesa off the ship.

 

[mississippidiver]

One day on Cozumel from a cruise ship and only $100 to spend?

You can snorkel all day long at different spots on the island AND eat food that is MUCH BETTER than the mass-production kitchens on the boat provide for well under $100...

Here's how:

Rent a vw bug from Rentadora Isis for $35 per day which will allow you to drive to the better snorkeling sites on the island. Head down to Palancar Beach club(Playa Palancar) and take their offshore snorkel tour for about $35-$40. You will experience the very best in offshore snorkeling that Cozumel offers on that tour to Palancar Reef.

Then drive a few miles further south to the southern point of the island which is known as Punta Sur Parque. For only $10 per person you get a tour of the alligator swamp, you can climb the lighthouse for some absolutely fabulous photo ops and then finally you can sample what is probably the best shore snorkeling on the island. The coral reef is very close to the shore there and there are some floating platforms in the water to assist you with your snorkeling.

Then drive north up the eastern shore of the island and stop at Coconuts Bar for the best fish tacos on the island. It also offers more fabulous photo ops.

Then take the transverse road back to the town and turn your car in and get back on the ship and regret taking the cruise instead of staying on Cozumel and sampling even more of what the island has to offer...

If you decide that you don't really want to rent a car and explore the island then just take a taxi down to Playa Palancar and snorkel there. They offer some really good food too.

All of this can be done for under $100...

 

[rorhound]

Ditto the Coconuts food and scenery. While you're there leave a shirt for the ceiling and check out the photo albums they have on the bar (if you're over 18 ).

 

[redacted]

Dzul Ha was very nice but took a real beating in the storms. Grasses and soft stuff were wiped out and coral heads, some 10 ft in diameter, looked fairly lifeless. If you have your own gear and enter/exit at the playa it shouldn't cost anything other than the taxi trip. I used to enter there and drift (current permitting) about 1/4 mile down to Fiesta Americana. You should be able to flag down a taxi again there.

 

[sarita75]

We went snorkeling off the coast, south of the main part across from Pirata's Restaurant and Bar. It is super shallow there and - free. There are really no operators to rent from there, etc. Just park and walk out.

You can also snorkel at UVAS Bar - see: Cozumel island map-Cozumel Mexico I am not sure if you have to snorkel with a group, although our DM gave us the impression that you can just go. There is a current there, so maybe sit and watch what the snorkel groups are doing, and the imitate.

We had a great snorkel at Caleta*, which is just south of there, past Chankanaab. You enter the harbor of Caleta*, go to the end and continue out onto the dirt road. It goes deep fast - down to about 30'. There are divers there doing check out and snorkel boats drop off. That was a bit irritating to be inundated with "party" boats, etc. but there are a lot of fish (used to being fed, so they come up pretty close), you can free dive down, etc. It is the outskirts of Paradise Reef (on the map).

 

[ggunn]

We had a great snorkel at Caneta, which is just south of there, past Chankanaab. You enter the harbor of Caneta, go to the end and continue out onto the dirt road.

That would be the Caleta, and it's nowhere near as far south as Chankanaab. It's just north of the Presidente, between it and the southern cruise ship dock(s). There is a snorkel spot just past (south of) Chankanaab, but that's Playa Corona.

 

[sarita75]

Thanks for the correction GGun. Regretably, my sense of geography is marred by the fact that we headed from the south towards Caleta so I remembered passing Chankanaab en route ....

 

[CozzieDive Laura]

Ditto MississippiDivers plan to drive around the island, however, I would also stop the rented bug at the Money Bar at Dzul Ha. They don't charge admission, and for the price of a drink (since you really should consume something while there) you can use their access points to the reef, clean bathrooms and fresh water showers.

 

[OSUcowboyinSPFD]

Ditto on Mississippi Diver and Laura. The Money Bar is very nice. In April, it was my opinion that the reef at Dzul Ha is coming back slowly, but surely. It is kind of neat to see all the coral polyps out there.

Playa Palancar is nice. The snorkel trip there is good, but Columbia Shallows is in about 25-30 feet of water, so it is viewed from a distance.

Go to Coconuts and Mezcalitos. Turn in your car, hit your boat and hit the hay. You will sleep like a baby that night.