Possible to snorkle without tour around Cancun

[darsunt]

Is it possible to do snorkeling around Cancun without going on a tour? When we went to Ao Nang in Thailand good snorkeling spots are only accessible by motor boat. We fear Cancun is the same!

 

[DandyDon]

It's safer on tours. I've never dived Cancun or snorkeled any place close to it so I can't say much.

 

[Donnah]

There are public beaches in Cancun where you can snorkel. I think the best places are at the end of the hotel zone. If you don't have a car, you can take the bus instead of paying for a taxi.

 

[Dirty-Dog]

The reef off Cancun is a mile or so offshore. You can snorkel anywhere, but it's not going to be great.


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[DandyDon]

The reef off Cancun is a mile or so offshore. You can snorkel anywhere, but it's not going to be great.

I've not dived there so wasn't sure, but thought so. I bet there is boat traffic to survive.

 

[darsunt]

I've been on some bad organized tours. I prefer to snorkel on our own but in this case it doesn't seem possible.
One snorkeling trip I enjoyed, we piggy backed on a scuba tour. Would this be a good idea in Cancun?

 

[DandyDon]

I've been on some bad organized tours. I prefer to snorkel on our own but in this case it doesn't seem possible.
One snorkeling trip I enjoyed, we piggy backed on a scuba tour. Would this be a good idea in Cancun?

Scuba trips are usually to deeper reefs than snorkelers enjoy. Do you have a Dive Flag or SMB and your own snorkel vests? It's safer to have the boat there if needed, the Dive Master if needed, etc.

 

[nimoh]

If you have transportation, there is a small public beach a little south of Akumal (about an hour and a half south of Cancun) that has great snorkeling within a few hundred feet of shore and very shallow depths, if I recall correctly nothing more than 20' or so. You don't have to worry about boat traffic due to the shallow reef either. There is also pretty good snorkeling in Akumal, and although there is boat traffic, the boats stick to the "no snorkeling lanes" so it is pretty safe.

Unfortunately, I don't know of anything closer to Cancun.

I can post a screen shot of google maps for the public beach if you like.

 

[diverjen]

+1 for Akumal. You can take a collectivo or a taxi depending on your numbers and schedule. We did a week snorkeling there and it was awesome!