Larry M
02/08/2000, 08:13 AM
Hi gang--back from 4 days in Cozumel, we should have stayed longer. :) The weather was great except for Saturday, which was kind of windy and cloudy. Still shorts weather, though, so we used the opportunity to drive around the island.
Anyway, for the snorkeling: it was awesome. This was the first time I had snorkeled, so it wouldn't have taken much to impress me, but there were lots of fish around us at most times. We went on three separate occasions, once on a deserted beach on the windward side, once from shore at the Chakaanaub (sp) Marine Park and once from a snorkeling boat (glass bottom). Both times I had fish swimming inches away from me. We saw sargeant majors, lots of niger triggers, queen triggers (one huge) parrotfish (gorgeous) blue tangs, trumpetfish, rays, a snappper about 5 feet long, moray eels, queen angelfish, and a ton of fish I couldn't identify. There would have been more corals on the deeper dives, I'm sure, we did see a lot of gorgonians, seafans, favia, some nice sponges, and a lot of encrusting types that looked like porites (not sure what they were)
All in all, the trip was great. Two surprises, though: It was definitely not cheap. We had heard from a lot of people that Mexico was a cheap destination. I can tell you that at least Cozumel is no longer cheap so be warned if you haven't traveled there for a few years.
Secondly, the local people could be unfriendly, downright rude at times. We found this to be the case mostly downtown, the shopkeepers are very aggressive. Everyone is after your pesos. We stayed at Casa Del Mar south of town, the people were friendlier there, and the local restaurant's waiters got to know us by the end of the 4 days and we very friendly and helpful. The local people say the cruise ships are raising the prices, burning everyone out, and ruining the place.
I got stung by something the on the first snorkel, my leg stung for about 8 hours. :)
I stepped on a rock while walking around on the beach like an idiot without shoes on and stepped on a mostly-submegered sharp rock. Punctured a toe joint pretty good. :) But we loved it, and I can't wait to go back and put on the bcd. :D
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Larry M
See my tanks at Northern Reef (http://www.reefcentral.com/northernreef/index.htm)
Anyway, for the snorkeling: it was awesome. This was the first time I had snorkeled, so it wouldn't have taken much to impress me, but there were lots of fish around us at most times. We went on three separate occasions, once on a deserted beach on the windward side, once from shore at the Chakaanaub (sp) Marine Park and once from a snorkeling boat (glass bottom). Both times I had fish swimming inches away from me. We saw sargeant majors, lots of niger triggers, queen triggers (one huge) parrotfish (gorgeous) blue tangs, trumpetfish, rays, a snappper about 5 feet long, moray eels, queen angelfish, and a ton of fish I couldn't identify. There would have been more corals on the deeper dives, I'm sure, we did see a lot of gorgonians, seafans, favia, some nice sponges, and a lot of encrusting types that looked like porites (not sure what they were)
All in all, the trip was great. Two surprises, though: It was definitely not cheap. We had heard from a lot of people that Mexico was a cheap destination. I can tell you that at least Cozumel is no longer cheap so be warned if you haven't traveled there for a few years.
Secondly, the local people could be unfriendly, downright rude at times. We found this to be the case mostly downtown, the shopkeepers are very aggressive. Everyone is after your pesos. We stayed at Casa Del Mar south of town, the people were friendlier there, and the local restaurant's waiters got to know us by the end of the 4 days and we very friendly and helpful. The local people say the cruise ships are raising the prices, burning everyone out, and ruining the place.
I got stung by something the on the first snorkel, my leg stung for about 8 hours. :)
I stepped on a rock while walking around on the beach like an idiot without shoes on and stepped on a mostly-submegered sharp rock. Punctured a toe joint pretty good. :) But we loved it, and I can't wait to go back and put on the bcd. :D
------------------
Larry M
See my tanks at Northern Reef (http://www.reefcentral.com/northernreef/index.htm)