| Ever since famous oceanographer and filmmaker | | | | Cozumel's diving sites are located within the |
| Jacques Cousteau revealed Cozumel's | | | | Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park, a |
| underwater beauty to the rest of the world in | | | | protected underwater environment, where the |
| a 1961 documentary, Cozumel, Cancun and the | | | | Mexican government has implemented a |
| Riviera Maya region have consistently ranked | | | | conservation program to keep the reefs in a |
| among the diving community's favorite | | | | pristine state, funded by a daily $2 fee from |
| destinations. What the world saw through the | | | | divers. To accommodate the diving and |
| late Cousteau's camera lenses was a natural | | | | snorkeling enthusiasts, many of the area's |
| aquarium beyond compare, with swaying coral | | | | top hotels offer diving facilities, equipment |
| gardens, waves of colorful tropical fish, | | | | rental and their own docks. Many hotels offer |
| steep walls that fall deep into the ocean | | | | SCUBA lessons for beginners, and dive |
| floor, sunken galleons and tunnels that seem | | | | certification is available from most dive |
| to go on forever. With a visibility of up to | | | | operators. These operators offer |
| 200 feet, miles of coral reefs, and water so | | | | certification through the Professional |
| clear that scuba divers seem to fly instead | | | | Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), a |
| of swim, Cozumel and the Riviera Maya region | | | | leading certification organization. Many |
| attract thousands of divers per year. | | | | hotels have diving tours that will take |
| | | | divers out twice a day, with a lunch provided |
| Cozumel is the region's most popular scuba | | | | by the hotel in between dives. Most dive |
| diving area, due to the 20 miles of | | | | trips start out at less than $50, and include |
| unspoiled, protected reefs just offshore. | | | | the equipment rental. |
| Divers in Cozumel use the technique of drift | | | | |
| diving, which allows divers to drift with the | | | | The El Cid La Cieba is a hotel that caters to |
| current while exploring a site, the most | | | | the diving community, with a private dock and |
| famous of which is Palancar Reef - with its | | | | a dive shop on the property. The Occidental |
| vast series of caverns and canyons, its | | | | Grand, and its sister hotel, the Occidental |
| marine life and sea coral. The mammoth Santa | | | | Allegro also have docks and a full dive shop. |
| Rosa Wall is also a favorite dive spot. The | | | | There are dozens of boats and dive masters to |
| slow 2-3 knot current carries divers along on | | | | choose from, as well as over 50 dive shops on |
| an underwater adventure, while the dive boat | | | | Cozumel alone. Many diving tours are also |
| follows along on the surface. | | | | available from Cancun, located just 30 miles |
| | | | from Cozumel. Cancun offers superb |
| Depths along these fabulous underwater | | | | snorkeling, as well as diving opportunities, |
| locations range from 50 to 120 feet and even | | | | with its calm, clear water and a myriad of |
| deeper. Shallow water formations at 70 to 80 | | | | sea life waiting to be discovered by the |
| feet , which stretch along a half mile in | | | | adventurous visitor. |
| this amazing underwater landscape, allow | | | | |
| divers to sometimes swim alongside large | | | | Cozumel and the entire Riviera Maya's |
| schools of grouper and yellow jack. More | | | | spectacular reef formations and exceptionally |
| experienced divers will want to explore the | | | | clear waters have contributed to make this |
| spectacular coral-covered tunnels of | | | | paradise on the Mexican Caribbean one of the |
| Maracaibo Reef, circling the southern tip of | | | | most popular underwater destinations in the |
| the island. Maracaibo descends to depths of | | | | world. |
| 130 feet or more along its walls. Most of | | | | |