Snorkeling Excursions in Cozumel?

[lgh]

We will be sailing with Celebrity in September.
Is any one familiar with the different snorkeling excursions in Cozumel?
1) There is a "Cozumel Reef Snorkeling by Boat" that apparently is for "advanced snorkerlers only". Does any one know why that is?
2) There is also "Snorkeling Columbia Reef". It says you will "drift snorkel". What is that?
3) There is also "Shore Snorkeling". Has any one done this?
We have snorkeled at Chakanaub and enjoyed it, but we were wondering if there was even better snorkeling on one of these excursions. Your help is appreciated.

[K dog]

[quote name='lgh']We will be sailing with Celebrity in September.
Is any one familiar with the different snorkeling excursions in Cozumel?
1) There is a "Cozumel Reef Snorkeling by Boat" that apparently is for "advanced snorkerlers only". Does any one know why that is?
2) There is also "Snorkeling Columbia Reef". It says you will "drift snorkel". What is that?
3) There is also "Shore Snorkeling". Has any one done this?
We have snorkeled at Chakanaub and enjoyed it, but we were wondering if there was even better snorkeling on one of these excursions. Your help is appreciated.[/QUOTE]

We just recently returned from our 1st cruise Aug. 9. (Galveston to Cozumel aboard the 'Celebration') While in Cozumel, we went on a 'catamaran sail/snorkel/beach party' excursion aboard the Fury catamaran. This was also our 1st snorkeling experience, so we have nothing to compare it to, but we had such a good time, I just booked us on another cruise for March of next year. The snorkeling was such an amazing experience, we plan on doing it again in March. This time, we are thinking about renting a car, & exploring the island on our own, armed with a good map, & our own snorkeling gear.
The Fury excursion was a lot of fun, tho, and well worth the money in our opinion. ($55. p.p.) The crew kept us entertained, & made us feel we were in very good hands. The reef, like the beach, was beautiful. We also got to see some flying fish as they raced along in front of the boat. Too cool. After the snorkeling, they cranked up the music, opened the bar, & headed to their own private beach for the beach party. Oh yea, they had restrooms & fresh water showers on the boat. At the beach, you could play volleyball w/ the crew, putt around on kayaks, or floats, or just take in the view, while doing nothing at all. There is also a grill at the beach, but the food is kind'a expensive. ($8.00 burgers, etc.)
All in all, a very good time. (excluding the sunburn) If we don't do the car rental thing next time, we may well do this again.

[lory]

Mayan Paradise Tours offers a great snorkeling trip on the Zorro catamaran. It's $45 for a 4 hour trip. You visit 3 beautiful reefs (Columbia, Cielo and Palancar). The crew is amazing. They'll take great care of you and keep you entertained the entire time. They offer snacks (fruit and chips) and an open bar after the first snorkel. I've been out with them a bunch of times. They are a great bunch of guys. I highly recommend their trip.

[MGoBlue2]

I agree with K dog, if you want some decent snorkeling and a good party, the Fury Catamaran is hard to beat.

[BellaCruiser]

Hi Igh:
Going to Cozumel in September too....on the Celebrity Century. What will you be on?

[jkloni]

IMHO shallow water snorkeling is so much better than deep water. Not so shallow that inexperienced snorkelers step on and destroy the coral (you have to float above it, not stand up in it!) but you can see so much better.

We just returned from a repositioning cruise that included Bermuda. We went deep water snorkeling which I did not enjoy as much as others.

I also agree about the Fury. Very Very fun time. We've gone 5 or 6 times because as new people join our group they want to go so we all go again.

Another beautiful shallow snorkeling was in Cancun with the powerboats. We probably were in 6 feet of water. The fish were so close you thought you could touch them.

[cc cruiser]

Also consider Eagle Ray Divers. Chellie got in the water with us and pointed out and identified the fish. We've been snorkeling twice before in Cozumel(Catamaran and a the park) but Eagle Ray was so much better. Check them out at eagleraydivers.com