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| Diver Caves |
From Scuba Diving the Blue Waters to Sunbathing on the White Sand Beaches
By Diana Rowe Martinez,
Regional Staff Writer
Perhaps it was just one of those golf days when the golf gods bonked
you on the head, one of those signs from above that maybe golf just
isn't your game. At least not today.
Or maybe you made a promise to your
wife and kids that you'd spend the day with them. Or just maybe you love
water as much as you love the golf game. Whatever the reason, the Cancun
and Cozumel waters beckon you and you can't resist all that there is to
do.
Besides the year-round average temperatures of 80, the greatest attractions
in Cancun and Cozumel has to be their beaches. And in this perfect world,
the Mexican beaches are public and your choices are unlimited. Most hotel
beaches are excellent, so put on your suit, throw a towel over your shoulder,
pack a bag for the day and check a few of them out.
The beaches are wide and beautiful, the turquoise waters gleaming, reminiscent
of the popular silver jewelry that sports the Mexican turquoise gems.
Be smart and swim in public marked beaches. Be aware that there are strong
undertows, abrupt drop-offs and pounding surf.
Talcum-soft sand make it easy to walk along the never-hot sand and to
throw a towel on the beach and recline comfortably, although many of the
hotels offer beach chairs for your comfort. Bring a bottle of sunscreen
and remember to use it, or your sunbathing days will be cut short here.
There is nonstop action on both land and sea. Take your pick from a
wide variety including Jet Ski and parasailing thrills, deep sea fishing,
scuba diving and boating. Most of these tours are easily booked through
your hotel travel desk or Aqua World, one of the resort's largest and
most long-standing local tour operators. Many marinas also offer lessons
and guided tours. Or book tour adventures ahead with your travel agent.
For those that prefer their water activities to be on the surface,
jet skiing and parasailing are as available as walking out your hotel
room and down to the beach. Windsurfing is popular here and you'll
spot the colorful sails on the horizon the moment you land in Cancun
or Cozumel.
Deep-sea fishing is a fisherman's paradise in these remote Caribbean
waters. The waters are teemed with bluefin tuna, white marlin, sailfish,
mackerel and grouper. There are daily deep sea fishing excursions or charters.
If you've never been scuba diving or snorkeling, Cancun and Cozumel
is the perfect place to leave your golf clubs behind and gather your courage
for this fascinating and addicting sport. For those bad golf days when
the clubs go flying through the air and end up in the water, snorkeling
gear is provided on your golf cart, here in Cancun and Cozumel, so a snorkeling
lesson or two can't hurt.
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| Grotto |
Cancun reef diving is spectacular on southern beaches and offshore islands,
and the over 500 dazzling rainbow colored display of tropical fish and marine
life is something you will never forget.
Known most for their coral reefs, this is an activity everyone must try
at least once. Jump on the tour band wagon, or experiment at one of the
ecological theme parks, like Xcaret. Easy snorkeling can be found in the
area off Punta Nizuc, on the south end of the island.
Take a look at the four reefs between Cancun and Isla Mujeres, where
you can see depths of 40 feet. Take in Isla Mujeres' famed El Garrafon
National Park and its shallow coral reef. In the Cave of the Sleeping
Sharks divers can pet snoozing sharks.
And for the more experienced divers, the Yucatan Peninsula is dotted
with cenotes, freshwater wells that were created where cavern roofs collapsed,
forming a natural pool that was then filled by rain and underground rivers.
The most famous cenote is Chichen-Itza's giant Sacred Well. Several cenotes
are located within an hour or two of Cancun.
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| Cancun beach |
Mexico's "dive central" is 40 miles south of Cancun and is usually
accessed by frequent air shuttles or by ferry. About half the people who
visit here come to dive. (Check with the experts before heading out as some
of these areas off the island are recommended only for experience divers.)
I'm told swimming among the coral and tropical fish in the clear Mexican
Caribbean waters is the next best thing to golf. I'm a little hesitant
about believing that, but perhaps it's the next best thing to a bad day
of golf. But no matter your experience, or hesitation, there are more
than 60 scuba diving outfits operating in Cozumel, so you're choices are
unlimited here.
Whatever your pleasures, water or land, Cancun and Cozumel will give
you more choices than can fill one vacation. So take your time, fill your
day with as many experiences as you can, but don't forget about the great
golf.
Images courtesy of the author and the Cancun Convention &
Visitor's Bureau.
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