Cozumel, the island of swallows, sacred land of the Maya and coral reef wonderland is calling you.\u00a0 It only takes a few minutes from Playa del Carmen to cross a stretch of turquoise and indigo waters to Cozumel, Mexico\u2019s largest inhabited island, and you\u2019ll find incredible underwater beauty, beautiful beaches, rich history and traditions.<\/p>\n
Most visitors to Cozumel are drawn by its spectacular coral kingdom, a chain of reefs off the west coast that was made famous by Jacques Cousteau and Mexican diver Rene Cardona. Magnificent coral buttresses and walls festooned by huge red, yellow and orange sponges (47 species of coral and 48 varieties of sponge have been recorded) and gently waving sea fans are honeycombed with caves and canyons and inhabited by more than 300 species of fish and other colorful marine life of all shapes and sizes. Water visibility is as high as 200 feet and the current enables divers to practice drift diving and literally fly past coral walls and drop-offs descending into the depths, keeping pace with sea turtles, huge groupers and schools of eagle rays.<\/p>\n
Cozumel\u2019s reefs are part of the Mesoamerican Reef, the world\u2019s second longest coral reef system and there are dives for every level of experience, from beginners to advanced, open water divers. \u00a0Divers can spend a lifetime exploring reefs like Para\u00edso, Chankanaab, La Herradura, San Francisco, Yucab, Santa Rosa, El Tunel, Colombia, Maracaibo and the largest of them all, Palancar, famous for its coral pillars, caves and walls.<\/p>\n
Some shallower reefs such as Chankanaab and Para\u00edso are great snorkeling spots and swimmers have their own up-close encounters with queen angelfish, parrot fish, blue tangs, sergeant majors and jacks. For visitors who would prefer to see the underwater world without getting wet, there are glass-bottomed boats and an unforgettable immersion on the Atlantis submarine, which dives to a depth of 100 feet.<\/p>\n\n