| You've thought about taking a dive
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| | scuba packages, instruction, and rentals.
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| vacation, but you're having a hard time
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| picking a destination. It isn't easy,
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| | Visit Cozumel
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| with all the wonderful scuba spots in the
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| | Cozumel is in Mexico so be sure to bring
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| world. To make your decision a little
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| | proof of citizenship, such as a birth
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| easier, consider one of these five prime
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| | certificate or passport. You will also
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| locations.
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| | need a valid photo ID and A Temporary
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| Cozumel
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| | Tourist Card.
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| In many circles, Cozumel is considered
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| | Fiji
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| the best place to dive in the Caribbean.
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| | Taveuni is probably the most preferred
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| A claim that's hard to dispute. Nearly
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| | island for diving in Fiji, but there is
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| all the diving is drift diving because
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| | no shortage of dive spots.
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| the Gulf Stream sweeps around the island
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| | Fiji is nicknamed "Soft Coral Capital of
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| from south to north. The best spot is on
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| | the World" because of the famous soft
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| the outer reef off the southwest tip of
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| | coral that thrives in the region.
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| the island, known as Palancar Reef.
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| | Naturally, the coral grows in strong
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| You'll discover all kinds of stuff here:
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| | current areas, so you should be
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| arches, tunnels, sea fans, corals,
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| | thoroughly comfortable diving in those
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| lobsters, parrot fish, and much more.
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| | conditions. The Great White Wall is a
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| Since Cozumel is such a popular dive
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| | thrilling attraction. Not only will you
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| destination, it isn't difficult to find
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| | discover soft corals here; you'll also
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| travel package deals.
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| | see tropical fish such as butterfly fish,
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| Cozumel is Mexico's largest Caribbean
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| | parrot fish, and unicorn fish.
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| island, located off the northeast tip of
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| | Great Barrier Reef
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| the Yucatan Peninsula. Its culture is the
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| | The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is the
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| legacy of the Mayan Indians. Legend says
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| | greatest living thing in the world. All
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| the island was the home of Ixchel, Maya
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| | together, it is about the same length as
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| moon goddess and deity of childbirth and
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| | the West Coast of the U.S. It is so big
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| fertility. You can visit Mayan ruins on
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| | that it can be seen from space. The reef
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| the island.
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| | is most accessible from northern
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| Cozumel's rich history doesn't end there.
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| | Australia, where the GBR is closer to the
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| In 1518, Juan de Grijalv discovered the
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| | shore. Many of the towns thrive on the
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| island en route to Cuba and it became a
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| | tourist industry that the reef brings, so
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| sanctuary for pirates. In the mid 1800s,
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| | all your diving needs won't suffer. You
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| mainlanders began to resettle the island,
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| | can either book a live aboard or take a
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| which became popular for its supply of
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| | day boat out from your hotel. The GBR is
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| zagote tree. The tree provided chicle for
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| | ideal for all divers, from novice to
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| the American chewing gum industry. In
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| | advance.
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| 1961, Jacques Cousteau introduced the
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| | Galapagos Islands
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| island to the world.
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| | These islands are located 600 miles west
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| Diving Cozumel
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| | of Ecuador right on the equator. Ninety
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| Cozumel is famous for its reef diving,
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| | seven percent of the islands are national
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| which makes up the second largest barrier
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| | park areas. In the midst of three ocean
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| reef in the world, the Belizean Reef.
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| | currents, the waters are unpredictable,
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| In 1996, the Mexican government
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| | but support plenty of action. Thousands
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| designated a 25-mile tract of reef as a
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| | of species thrive under water, including
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| national marine park. Rules and
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| | hammerhead sharks, rays, angelfish, bat
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| regulations were established to protect
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| | fish, crabs, etc. The Galapagos are
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| the abundance of tropical marine life and
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| | rugged islands and lack the reefs and
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| plants. There are also caves and a wreck
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| | lagoons of other tropical destinations.
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| for those who get bored with the reefs.
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| | It's not ideal for beginners.
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| The dive sites fall into three basic
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| | Sting Ray City
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| categories: shallow near shore coral
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| | Just off from Grand Cayman, Sting Ray
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| gardens (such as Paradise Reef South for
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| | City offers a diver to get up close and
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| novices), vertical walls with dramatic
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| | personal with rays. The sandy bottom and
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| drop-offs (such as Santa Rosa Wall for
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| | clear waters attract a large population
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| intermediates and Maracaibo Deep for
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| | of rays. The rays are pretty much used to
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| advanced), and coral pinnacles with
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| | divers hanging around, but you should
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| labyrinths of eaves and tunnels (such as
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| | still consider them a wild animal. They
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| Palancar Horseshoe for intermediates).
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| | don't like to be harassed and they have
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| Cozumel thrives on the tourist industry
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| | venomous barbs on their tails that they
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| and there are many resorts to choose
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| | won't hesitate to use to defend
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| from. Many of the resorts run their own
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| | themselves.
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| dive operations. The dive operators offer
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