Can we snorkel without doing a "tour"?

[MikeNBec]

We are going on the Sensation in June, and we were looking into doing some snorkeling. We stayed at the Aventura Palace in Cancun a couple of times in the past few years, and you could snorkel right off the beach. We enjoyed laying around catchin' some rays (i.e. RELAXING DOING NOTHING! LOL), and we were wondering if you can find a good place to snorkel when we get to Cozumel without doing a "tour". Thanks! :)

[bruce-r]

There are places in Cozumel where you can snorkel from shore, and you don't need to go on a ship's excursion to do it. The Beaches section from cozumelinsider.com tells which "beaches" have good snorkeling. Beaches is in quotes because when the word beach is used, people generally think of a a place where there is sand on shore that goes out into the water. In reality, the better snorkeling will not be found at sandy beaches, but at "beaches" where the shoreline is rocky. The rocks give a hard surface for coral and sponges to attach to and the coral and sponges are what attract the many fish.

 

Dzul Ha would be my choice for good, close to the ship snorkeling. Taxi there will be $6-8 depending where your ship docks. Be aware that this is a rocky shoreline "beach", but if you are going there to snorkel, you'll be in the water anyway.

 

The Cozumelinsider also has a Do It Yourself snorkel tour guide page. If you want to do this, you will probably need to rent a car.

 

Don't forget the sun screen and have a great time.

[MikeNBec]

Thanks a bunch, Bruce.........we want to be able to go snorkel on our own time without having to be anywhere at one time and another place at another time...sorta to explore, I guess. Thanks for the info!

[Cruisechik]

Chankanaab Park in Cozumel has great snorkeling and a nice beach. They also have the dolphin swim, sea lions, a restaurant, etc. It's a great place to spend the day. Take a taxi from the port (I think we paid $10).

[Bonnie J.]

Chankanaaub is really good. It is a $10 cab ride there, then $10 @ adult to get in. They have trees on the beach for shade and just watching the people swim with the dolphins is fun. Plus snuba, sea lion show, big iguanas walking around and a nice beach if you have kids or- beyond the beach, ladders down the coral for snorklers! You won't be sorry going here.

Are you going to Cayman? If so, you tender in and walk about two blocks to Eden Rock. Its a coral beach but snorkling is very good! And its free!

[bruce-r]

Chankanaaub is really good. It is a $10 cab ride there, then $10 @ adult to get in. .....

 

Yes, Chankanaab is a nice destination. Just an update, the admission is $12 for adults, $6 for young kids, cash only, no plastic. There is more to do than snorkle. There is mini-golf, reproduction mayan ruins, botanical gardens, decent restaurant, 3-4 dive operators for guided dives or discover scuba, gift shops, free lockers, showers, and of course, the dolphin exploitation experience.

[PaperSniper4]

If you don't do to Chankanaab Park in Cozumel you are really missing a great place! A fairly short taxi ride ($5?) and you're right there. It's the same distance from the cruise ship docks to downtown Coz.

 

Cost to enter the park is about $10 for the day and they have WONDERFUL snorkeling, a georgeous lagoon with marine iguanas, some ruins, a lovely garden, TERRIFIC beach with shade areas and launge "chairs", and even bar service from your spot at the beach.

 

If you go, get there early for the best beach spots.