Out of Vegas: Cozumel Seas

One of the main reasons visitors come to Cozumel, Mexico is to snorkel or dive in the Mesa-American reef system.  The barrier reef is the second largest in the world and runs 175 miles along the Mexican coast between the Gulf of Mexico and Honduras.  When Jacques Cousteau came to the region in 1961, Cozumel was mostly deserted.  The island had had a vibrant Mayan community before it was discovered by Cortez.  But the population was soon decimated by disease and nearly abandoned.  For many years it was used by pirates who hid among its many coves.  When Cousteau arrived, there was a small population, but little economic activity.  When people saw his documentary on the rich coral reefs, hidden caves and brilliant tropical sea life, it became a must –see diving destination.

We took a small boat to snorkel over the famous coral.  In 2005, however, a hurricane had torn up much of the coral beds and even while environmentalists has planted new coral, it still has a while to come back.  Nonetheless, we got a taste of the variety of fish and formations of the island.  The water was also a little cloudy the day we went out.  One of the most amazing experiences, however, was swimming over the boundary between the 100+ coral reef and the steep drop off where the land ends and the deep ocean begins.  There, the water is a deep blue and you can see the sun streaking down into its midnight depths.  Nothing came up to bite me, but it wasn’t hard to imagine strange oceanic creatures lurking just beyond the light.  It was spooky and thrilling and just the right end to the day.

This is the second in a series of stories about my trip to the fabled island of Cozumel.

Image and stay courtesy of Royal Holiday.

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