Cozumel reefs re-opened but....

[ABQrobin]

The southern reefs have been re-opened to snorkeling and diving....however.... only registered boats are allowed.  You cannot just hire a boat to take you anywhere, it has to be a registered with the authorities.  They are enforcing this.  All registered boats will have a flag with their registration number on it.  

 

Also, El Cielo will remain closed.  This is the place where people used to go on starfish snorkeling excursions and touched the starfish..  

[JohninDC]

Thanks for the update!

[uvadover]

Is this just the reef area of El Cielo, or basically the entire water access to the beach?  

[ABQrobin]

14 hours ago, uvadover said:

Is this just the reef area of El Cielo, or basically the entire water access to the beach?  

 

From what I understand... it is the whole area of El Cielo.  It is a violation of Marine Park regulations to touch marine life and that is what people were doing there.  

[diarm]

We were just in Cozumel and chartered a fishing boat. The captain said El Cielo will be closed at least six months while they allow the reef to restore itself. We went by it and there was a park ranger boat just offshore. 

[cruisin 07]

It has always been for years that only registered boats were allowed in the marine park. 

 

 You cannot just hire a boat to take you anywhere, it has to be a registered with the authorities.  They are enforcing this.  All registered boats will have a flag with their registration number on it.  

 

This will cut down on those abusing the system. Just wish the $2 per day park fee would stay on the island to preserve it vice going to MX city or other places.

[mitsugirly]

We just returned a few days ago and the locals told us it was all still closed? I know at Punta Sur, they have buoys up and would allow you to snorkel from the beach but you weren't allowed to go any further because it was too close to the areas they had closed off. I didn't see any boats out there that day either (although Punta Sur is down a little further from El Cielo).

[uvadover]

We've changed our plans to take a private Jeep tour on the island.  From what we understand, snorkeling from the shore at Punta Sur is, indeed, still allowed.  El Cielo is definitely closed for the foreseeable future.  Shame, but hopefully improves things for the long term.