Known for its shallow reefs, dazzling color, and diversity of life, Cancún is one of the best places in the world for beginning scuba diving. Punta Nizuc is the northern tip of the Great Mesoamerican Reef (Gran Arrecife Maya), the largest reef in the Western Hemisphere and one of the largest in the world. In addition to the sea life along this reef system, several sunken boats add a variety of dive options. Inland, a series of caverns and cenotes (wellsprings) are fascinating venues for the more experienced diver. Drift diving is the norm here, with popular dives going to the reefs at El Garrafón and the Cave of the Sleeping Sharks -- although be aware that the famed "sleeping sharks" have departed, driven off by too many people watching them snooze.
A variety of hotels offer resort courses that teach the basics of diving -- enough to make shallow dives and slowly ease your way into this underwater world of unimaginable beauty. Scuba trips run around $64 for two-tank dives at nearby reefs, and $100 and up for locations farther out. Scuba Cancún, Paseo Kukulkán, Km 5 (tel. 998/849-7508 or 998/849-4736; www.scubacancun.com.mx), on the lagoon side, offers a 4-hour resort course for $64. Phone reservations are available from 7:30 to 10:30pm using the fax line, 998/884-2336. Full certification takes 4 to 5 days and costs around $350. Scuba Cancún is open daily from 9am to 6pm, and accepts major credit cards. The largest operator is Aquaworld, across from the Meliá Cancún at Paseo Kukulkán, Km 15.2 (tel. 998/885-2288 or 998/848-8300; www.aquaworld.com.mx). It offers resort courses and diving from a man-made anchored dive platform, Paradise Island. Aquaworld has the Sub See Explorer, a submarine-style boat with picture windows that hang beneath the surface. The boat doesn't submerge -- it's an updated version of a glass-bottom boat -- but it does provide nondivers with a look at life beneath the sea. This outfit is open 24 hours a day and accepts all major credit cards.
Scuba Cancún also offers diving trips, in good weather only, to 20 nearby reefs, including Cuevones (9m/30 ft.) and the open ocean (9-18m/30-60 ft.). The average dive is around 11m (35 ft.). One-tank dives cost $55, and two-tank dives cost $65. Discounts apply if you bring your own equipment. Dives usually start around 9am and return by 2:15pm. Snorkeling trips cost $35 and leave every afternoon after 2pm for shallow reefs about a 20-minute boat ride away.
Besides snorkeling at El Garrafón Natural Park, travel agencies offer an all-day excursion to the natural wildlife habitat of Isla Contoy, which usually includes time for snorkeling. The island, 90 minutes past Isla Mujeres, is a major nesting area for birds and a treat for nature lovers. Only two boats hold permits for excursions, which depart at 9am and return by 5pm. The price ($70) includes drinks and snorkeling equipment.
The Great Mesoamerican Reef also offers exceptional snorkeling opportunities. In Puerto Morelos, 37km (23 miles) south of Cancún, this reef hugs the coastline for 9 miles. The reef is so close to the shore (about 455m/500 yd.) that it forms a natural barrier for the village and keeps the waters calm on the inside of the reef. The water here is shallow, from 1.5 to 9m (5-30 ft.), resulting in ideal conditions for snorkeling. Stringent environmental regulations implemented by the local community have kept the reef here unspoiled. Only a select few companies are allowed to offer snorkel trips, and they must adhere to guidelines that will ensure the reef's preservation. Cancún Mermaid (tel. 998/843-6517 or 998/886-4117; www.cancunmermaid.com) is considered the best -- it's a family-run ecotour company that has operated in the area since the 1970s. It's known for highly personalized service. The tour typically takes snorkelers to two sections of the reef, spending about an hour in each area. When conditions allow, the boat drops off snorkelers and then follows them along with the current -- an activity known as "drift snorkeling," which enables snorkelers to see as much of the reef as possible. The trip costs $45 for adults, $35 for children, and includes boat, snorkeling gear, life jackets, a light lunch, bottled water, sodas, and beer, plus round-trip transportation to and from Puerto Morelos from Cancún hotels. Departures are Monday through Saturday at 9am or noon, a minimum of four snorkelers is required for a trip, and reservations are required.
