Cancun's Underwater Sculpture Museum
A Few Caribbean Spots Make the Top 10 Snorkel List
Dean's Blue Hole, Long Island, Bahamas
A blue hole is created when the ceiling to an ancient cave system collapses in the ocean -- Dean's is thought to be the world's deepest. Fin your way off the powder-white beach and watch the sand go from 5 to more than 600 feet deep in just a few kicks.
On-site secret: I found I could circumnavigate the entire blue hole by swimming along the cliff base and sandy shoals. On a light-wind day, it's easy to snorkel the protective reef near the mouth of the small bay.
Keep an eye out for: jacks, tarpon, turtles, the occasional dolphin or porpoise -- almost anything can wander in. Small reef fish stay in the shallows. Coastal Living: 2009 best seafood dives
When to go: all year; 242/338-0011 or reeldivers.com.
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Snorkeling in Akumal Mexico
Snorkeling and scuba diving are perhaps the best activities to pursue during a visit to Akumal, but snorkeling is a less physically demanding and technical option. With a short instruction course and a ideal site choice, snorkeling is quite easy for even first-time novices.
One popular site for snorkeling in Akumal is the Yal-ku lagoon. This site is an extremely rare environment where fresh water coincides with salt water from the ocean. The combination of the two types of water is called a "halocline" effect.
Only very specific species can survive and prosper in this halocline lagoon, and the mixture of salt and fresh water supplies creates an changed appearance of the water itself. Many fish found in this area are not found anywhere else in the world, and have been featured on many travel channel specials in recent years.
Casa Cenote is a lagoon featuring mangroves and bright fish displays. Some snorkelers find the fossils in Cenote at Dosojos quite fun for a day of exploration. Many of the fossils seen at Dosojos date back to original civilizations that once occupied the area.
Snorkel lessons are always a good thing forbeginners prior to traveling to one of these sites. Although the activity is easy, some find that they are uneasy with the equipment or unsure how to best observe the underwater scenery while safely using the equipment.
A popular activity for locals and tourists alike is night snorkeling. Typically, a light is used in conjunction with traditional snorkeling equipment for this activity.
Many fish which are not viewed during daylight hours can be viewed when snorkeling after nightfall. This is typically because they are night-feeders or resting during the daytime.
The octopus is a perfect example of this spectacle. Octopuses only come out to feed at night, and change color when a light shines on them. Virtually all of the life seen at night are safe for snorkelers, so night snorkeling is a safe activity as well.
Plant life and some types of fish are also luminescent after dark. This creates greenish lights glowing either continuously or flashing at night - quite a show for someone who is only used to snorkeling during the daytime!