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