Cozumel & the Reefs National Marine Park

Ally · 09-06-2006, 02:28 PM

Cozumel, a Caribbean island 19 km (12 mi) east of the Quintana Roo coast, is Mexico's largest island with a territorial extension of 647.33 km2 (258.93 mi2). The average temperature is 26º C (79º F) and the climate is warm and humid, with strong rainfall in the summer.

The island is covered with lush jungle vegetation and surrounded by rocky coastlines, white-sand beaches, lagoons and mangroves. The waters encircling the island have an impressive group of coral reefs that are part of the Great Mayan Reef, the second largest reef system in the world. Marine reserves of great ecological importance, such as Parque Marino Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel (Cozumel National Reef Marine Park) and Parque Natural Chankanaab (Chankanaab Nature Park), were created to protect areas with a wide diversity of marine life, and they have drawn the attention of researchers and marine biologists such as Jacques Cousteau. Moreover, they are great places to do scuba diving and ecotourism outings.

The island's only town is San Miguel de Cozumel, which has a relaxed Caribbean atmosphere and Mexico's most important international cruise dock. Tourists flock to Cozumel looking for the peace, quiet and comfort that the island?s hotel zone offers. During your stay, you can also enjoy excellent golf courses, spas, and restaurants serving up a wide array of regional fish and seafood dishes. And of course there's the thriving nightlife in the bars, where one can drink national and exotic beverages with new friends under a moonlit sky.

Ally · 09-06-2006, 02:31 PM

For several decades now Cozumel has been considered an ideal place to scuba dive, thanks to its biodiversity of marine life. In its waters you can see countless schools of angelfish and parrotfish, as well as sponges and manta rays that inhabit the Great Mayan Reef. The reef system is the second largest in the world, spanning from Isla Mujeres to Costa Rica. In Cozumel's National Reef Marine Park you'll find 25 reefs where you can scuba dive, some of which are excellent spots for novice divers due to the calm waters.

Palancar. Located in Parque Marino Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel, 13 km (8 mi) south of San Miguel and 2 km (1.2 mi) off the coast. It has one of the island's most visited reefs with depths ranging from 6 to 37 meters (20 to 122 feet). Here you can also do cave diving, as it has some spectacular caverns and impressive abysses that will put your endurance to the test and let your imagination run wild.

San Francisco. Located in Parque Marino Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel on the southern part of the island, 11 km (7 mi) from San Miguel and 2 km (1.2 mi) off the coast. One of the main sights at this place is a vertical wall encrusted with coral and large, yellow, tube-shaped sponges. For the best view, the recommended depths range from 18 to 37 meters (60 to 122 feet). As you follow the wall downward, it begins to slope gently and it becomes bright green, at which point you might be able to spot some large manta rays.

Santa Rosa. Located in Parque Marino Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel, 9 km (5.5 mi) from San Miguel and about 2 km (1.2 mi) off the coast. Here you can scuba dive at average depths of 15 to 24 meters (50 to 80 feet). At one point, the reef here drops off into a huge abyss. As you descend, some of the wall's apertures provide shelter from the currents. Along the wall, you'll find various caves that house sea fans and large sponges.

Paraiso Bajo. Located in Parque Marino Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel, 3 km (nearly 2 mi) from San Miguel and about 2 km (1.2 mi) off the coast. This barrier reef begins at the Caleta Lagoon in the north and runs parallel to the coast until reaching the Terminal Maritima del Sureste pier. Here you can scuba dive at depths ranging from 20 to 30 meters (66 to 100 feet).

Paraiso Norte. Located in Parque Marino Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel, 2 km (1.2 mi) from San Miguel and about 2 km (1.2 mi) off the coast. At this spot you can dive at a maximum depth of 14 meters (46 feet), making it ideal for beginners. Here you'll find long reefs that run parallel to the coast with coral, sponges measuring 2 meters (6.6 meters) in diameter, and schools of bright blue fish.

Paraiso Sur. Located in Parque Marino Nacional Arrecfies de Cozumel, 5 km (3 mi) from San Miguel and 2 km (1.2 mi) off the coast. This spot has two barrier reefs, each stretching about 500 meters (1,650 feet). In these waters, you can spot angelfish, longspine squirrelfish and sea cucumbers. It has a maximum depth of 14 meters (46 feet), which is ideal for novices.

Balones de Chankanaab. Located in Parque Marino Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel, about 9 km (5.5 mi) from the city center and 2 km (1.2 mi) off the coast. This reef, which is more than 14 meters (46 feet) deep, gets it name (The Balls of Chankanaab) from the many round coral formations found in its waters. Here you'll find crags measuring 4 to 10 meters (14 to 33 feet) with abundant cavities full of marine life such as lobsters, eels and manta rays. Maximum depths range from 18 to 21 meters (60 to 70 feet).

Parque Natural Chankanaab. Located at the Chankanaab Lagoon on the southeastern part of the island, 9 km (5.5 mi) from the town of San Miguel. This protected area has a body of water that is connected to the sea by an underground tunnel. At this place you'll find numerous coral reefs and an underwater statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Offered as part of the park's services, you can take diving classes with licensed instructors. You can also do snorkeling, which allows you to explore underwater gardens at a shallow depth. Open daily from 7:00 to 5:00.

Reserva Ecologica Parque Punta Sur. Located on the island's southern coast, 30 km (18 mi) from the town of San Miguel. Has virgin beaches and wonderful jungle landscape, such as mangroves, marshes and dunes. At these reefs you can find coral formations such as the so-called Tormentos and you can spot sea bass and eels at depths ranging from 10 to 18 meters (33 to 60 feet). Here you can also see the famous Garganta de Diablo, a cave that lies 15 meters (50 feet) below the surface and leads to an incredible abyss that is 40 meters (132 feet) deep. Open daily from 9:00 to 5:00.

stephaniepacific · 11-29-2006, 08:55 PM

Greetings
I would love to hear comments on the positives & negatives of diving off the mainland coast near Playa del Carmen. Friends have invited me to join them for a week near Playa, but my priority is diving ... alot!

Last summer I spent a week diving in Cozumel - which I loved. At that time I also took the ferry to Playa then a shuttle to dive the cenotes.. which was great fun. I don't think it is realistic to ferry to Cozumel from Playa every day so was wondering if the diving from Playa is comparable to Cozumel!

Any feedback will be welcomed.

James Goddard · 11-30-2006, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ally

The island's only town is San Miguel de Cozumel, which has a relaxed Caribbean atmosphere and Mexico's most important international cruise dock.

Actually there are 2 towns on Cozumel. El Cedral was once the largest but has been reduced to a small village.

diverdowndh · 03-20-2007, 08:48 PM

Cozumel still has the largest lobsters I've ever seen (at least in the Caribbean)... and if you haven't dove the Columbia Wall or the Palancar Caves, you really should! Also, make your way to the East side of the island - there is a bar over there called Coconuts that is one of my favorite places in the world!