costa rica or cozumel snorkeling

[in2movyz]

Anyone have any ideas for snorkeling in Limon Costa Rica or Cozumel we don't want to do any of the excursions from the ship would like to go on our own.

[AryMay]

Anyone have any ideas for snorkeling in Limon Costa Rica or Cozumel we don't want to do any of the excursions from the ship would like to go on our own.

 

Can't say that I've heard much about snorkeling in Costa Rica (we just did this route in July). However when we were in Cozumel we took a taxi to Dzul Ha and spent the day snorkeling from the shore. I'm sure you could find better snorkeling from a boat, but this was very inexpensive and I liked the idea of not being tied to a tour schedule. (Actually we saw many of the snorkel tours bringing people to Dzul Ha.)

 

The cab was $8 each way and since we had our own gear the snorkeling was free. We did buy some food and drinks from the Money Bar since we were using their chairs. The order of nachos we got was huge and very good.

 

I have a few underwater photos from Dzul Ha as well as pictures of the Money Bar in my cruise report. The link is below in my signature.

[Stevesan]

Anyone have any ideas for snorkeling in Limon Costa Rica or Cozumel we don't want to do any of the excursions from the ship would like to go on our own.

 

The snorkeling in Coz is excellent. Take a "full" day trip. The half day trips visit only the near shore reefs which were badly damaged by Hurricane Wilma.

The outer reefs suffered only minor (@ 20%) damage. If a trip offers Punta Sur as an add on to Palancar and Columbia, jump at it.

 

There are a number of first rate independent operators. I usually go with Eagle Ray, but there are others.

 

http://www.eagleraydivers.com/

 

http://cozumelinsider.com/

 

Have you visited the Cozumel and Costa Rico Ports Of Call board?

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=587

[2112]

There is no competition here. Cozumel will offer far superior snorkeling. Think about what all that water/runoff from the Costa Rica rainforest will do to water clarity.

[Moochanator]

I did not snorkel when I went to Cozumel but my dad told me that it's actually tolerably sufficient to walk of the ship with your fins+snorkel and go for it. (assuming you brought fins) The added benefit is that Cozumel seems, to me, to have a very low opportunity cost associated with snorkeling since there isn't that much else to do there. (A previous comedian noted that in Cozumel even the fish come up to you trying to sell you silver) If I had to do Cozumel again, I would skip Tulum and snorkel instead and not get my wallet stolen.

 

I've been researching Costa Rican Snorkeling (this would be on the Caribbean side) for some time and, thus far, I've hit an impasse. There are no Ship Excursions, at least through Carnival, and I'm not sure why. I have learned so far

 

1) Cauhita National Park has a reef and is only 42 km south of Puerto Limon

2) the reef is heavily damaged close to the shore from earthquakes banana plantation runoff.

3) You can't (not supposed to) go snorkeling in the water without a guide.

4) The water clarity is good Jan-April and Sep-Oct.

 

After all that I would think there would be something offered. I did find a third party shore excursion that takes you to Cahuita but even they say that "you can try your luck" which isn't exactly a ringing endorsement for the snorkeling. It must be that the seasonality and marginal reef conditions are enough to make them not want to do one. I guess I'll have to limit my ecotourism to dry land in Costa Rica.

[in2movyz]

Thanks everyone for the tips snorkeling in Cozumel seems like the likely choice. Actually years ago we went snorkeling there and had our own equipment when my kids were small. My kids are big now and we would have to rent so another question about best place to go on our own for the day so the kids can snorkel and my husband and I can soak up the sun and beach and have a couple cocktails. Thanks in advance. PS were looking to NOT break the bank we have 4 kids.

[Stevesan]

Thanks everyone for the tips snorkeling in Cozumel seems like the likely choice. Actually years ago we went snorkeling there and had our own equipment when my kids were small. My kids are big now and we would have to rent so another question about best place to go on our own for the day so the kids can snorkel and my husband and I can soak up the sun and beach and have a couple cocktails. Thanks in advance. PS were looking to NOT break the bank we have 4 kids.

 

Chankanaab is your best bet. The coral's dead, but the marine life is still there.

 

http://www.cozumelparks.com/

http://www.cozumelinsider.com/BEACHES

[AryMay]

Chankanaab is your best bet. The coral's dead, but the marine life is still there.

 

http://www.cozumelparks.com/

http://www.cozumelinsider.com/BEACHES

 

You will have to pay an entry fee to get into Chankanaab Park.

 

I still think Dzul Ha is one of the best "low cost" places to snorkel. No entry fee, it is one of the closest places to where Carnival ships dock so the cab fare is lower, you can rent snorkel gear there, get food and drinks from the Money Bar and enjoy "relatively" good snorkeling.

 

The Money Bar

 

 

 

 

Eagleray Divers and others where here with tour groups

[Stevesan]

You will have to pay an entry fee to get into Chankanaab Park.

 

I still think Dzul Ha is one of the best "low cost" places to snorkel. No entry fee, it is one of the closest places to where Carnival ships dock so the cab fare is lower, you can rent snorkel gear there, get food and drinks from the Money Bar and enjoy "relatively" good snorkeling.

Eagleray Divers and others where here with tour groups

 

Absolutely in agreement. Dzul Ha is better for snorkeling, but Chankanaab offers more activities for OP's kids.

 

Just off Dzul Ha is the near shore reef that the "half" day tours visit. It's about a ten minute trip from Eagle Ray's dock. :rolleyes:

The "full" day tours go off shore to Palancar and Columbia. There's a world of difference, and not just because the near shore reefs are dead.

[in2movyz]

Thanks to both of you thats probably what we will do I actually just found in my messy basement our snorkeling gear and its easy enough to pack so Dzul Ha will be great. Can't wait to leave!!!!!

[Moochanator]

Arymay: Great pics! Thanks for posting.

 

Make sure you check that old snorkeling gear-I nearly drowned the spouse when her snorkel had a hairline crack in the silicone... :(

 

(and underinsured to boot :p)