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Guide to Cozumel Beaches |
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Cozumel island has three distinct types of beaches:
- Sandy walk-in beaches on the west or leeward side of the island generally have calm water. Snorkeling may be disappointing in the sandy areas since any disturbance on a sandy bottom [waves, walking, jumping, playing] suspends sand particles in the water which decrease visibility and make it very hard for coral polyps to thrive. Without coral for camoflage and protection, one will not see as much marine life.
- Beaches with a rocky limestone shoreline on the west coast are the best forsnorkeling or shore dives since less sand is disturbed so visibility and coral growth are better.
- Sandy surf and large waves alternating with rocky limestone coastlines on the east or windward side of the island are beautiful but can be dangerous. The roaring surf creates strong breakers and undertows. Never enter the water alone. Swimming is not recommended on most of the east side beaches. There are now many areas where flags are displayed showing the level of safety for a particular area. Despite the dangerous swimming conditions, these beaches are stunning and serene for those wanting sunbathing, long walks or playing in the water very close to shore.
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| Cozumel Insider Beach Chart |
Here is a Beach Chart with descriptions, photos, hours of operations and amenities! Just click on the names of each of the beaches for complete descriptions. May we suggest our: Do-it-youself Snorkel Tour
| Beach Conservation |
Cozumel has a protected Marine Park area that extends from the southern cruise ship piers southward and all the way around the tip of the island and up the other (east) side to Punta Chiqueros. Inside this area, the taking of ANY items from the SEA OR BEACH is prohibited by federal law and punishable with fines and/or imprisonment if caught. Even shells that wash up on the shore can become a home for some critter so please leave them in place in order to help preserve the natural beauty of the area.
There are many stores and kiosks in town that sell shells however no one really knows the origin of these shells and if they were harvested from a protected area of the island or an open one. So in general, if your desire is to help our conservation efforts, it's best not to purchase shells at all. For this only encourages poaching and illegal harvesting when naturally available supplies are depleted.
I know it's very tempting to say "well it's only one shell so..." but if you keep in mind that according to Carnival cruise lines recently, there will be a couple of MILLION cruise ship visitors this next year to Cozumel, then you can see the impact if each person elects to take just one shell!
Perhaps consider adopting the SCUBA DIVER'S CREDO WHEN TRAVELING THE WORLD: "Take only pictures and memories and leave only bubbles behind!" ~ Sherri |
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A few beachy things you might be interested in!
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I got my beautiful map today and it is great -- thanks! It is for hanging on the wall in my daughter's room. They both look forward to visiting Cozumel again some day if we can. Kay H. ~ St. Louis, MO
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Thank you very much - I got my map yesterday and it's everything that was promised - I'm most pleased! R. Metituk ~ Wembley, Canada
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As a published underwater photographer with 15 years experience, I was amazed by how much I learned from your underwater photo course. Your depth of knowledge, friendly teaching style and technical tips made the day a great investment for me. I would highly recommend your course! Thank you! Fox Hill Underwater Photography Class M. Cowman ~ Fla
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The material presented was so much more than I would expect. Everything was explained clearly. The manner in which it was taught made the concepts easy to understand and follow. I learned a tremendous amount and I look forward to significantly improving my photographic efforts and experience. Fox Hill Underwater Photography Class Ryan Meglathery ~ Not Given
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Just want you to know that everything worked out great with LessPay! They honored their web price, let us pick up a day early, and when the car had problems (bad brakes & clutch), they happily swapped it out for another car the next day, no questions asked. We were very impressed with how efficient they were with paperwork, and they even offered to drive us to the ferry when we turned the car back in! We will definitely use them again and will recommend them to others. Their prices were reasonable and they were very friendly (and spoke English, too). R. Wolf ~ Mimon, MA
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| Beach Safety is Important! |
Please consider all beaches to be "SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK"
 Bring life vests for any persons with limited water skills wishing to partake in water activities.
Observe all beach signage and warning flags posted on beaches which indicate current swimming conditions.
There are lifeguard towers and lifeguards at some beaches but do not count on this assistance for Cozumel's lifeguard program is in it's infancy and continues to develop. Read more here about our Lifesaving Program.
Should you encounter automotive problems while on your journey around the island look for Cozumel's Green Angels. The green trucks with uniformed personnel patrol the highways especially during high season to render aid to those who find themselves stranded road-side. They carry basic car/moped repair items and are friendly and eager to help vacationers get back to having a fun time in Cozumel. Tips are always appreciated. |
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All website content is the property of Cozumel Insider and cannot be used, displayed or reproduced
without express written permission from Cozumel Insider. |
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