How's the snorkeling in Isla Mujeres?

[MikeB12]

Planning a trip to Isla, so how's the snorkeling there? Is Garrafon Park the only shore snorkeling available and if so, how was it?
Thanks, Mike

[BeckyTV]

We stayed at the Avalon Reef Club where they had a bay that was some what protected and it was ok, a few coral heads and some fish. They also had a place on their property that they called the "Kings Bath" (it may be open to the public) it was a great place for someone who has never snorkeled since it was more like a pool in the ocean, we saw quite a few things there.
We didn't go to the Garrafon Park but did go to the place next door (can't remember the name) which I believe was only $5 and they had places to hang out such as a bar and food, and chair service. The snorkeling there was average but for the money was worth it.
If you are looking for a place to shore snorkel in the Riveria Maya (south of Cancun area), try Akumal and stay at the Akumal Beach Resort (all inclusive)
The bay there is very protected and the currents are not to strong, I have been known to snorkel for hours at a time there. Green sea turtles are every where and a very large selection of fish and sea creatures.

[Manuel Sam]

I recommend that you avoid Garrafon. Altho it's been more than 20 years since I went there, Garrafon used to be a favorite place for Cancun snorkeling operators to dump their "cattle" into the water. Consequently, the coral was pretty much dead, there wasn't much to see, and I can't imagine that it has gotten any better.

As indicated by BeckyTV, there is some snorkeling off of the Avalon Reef Club, a strip of rocks extending north from the resort. However, when I was last in Isla Mujeres 2010, I saw that a lot of snorkelling boats congregating on the bay (sheltered) side of these rocks on Playa Norte (North Beach) during the day, so it can't be that good anymore. On the other hand, if the conditions allow, and you can get yourself on the outside of these rocks, then you might have a nicer experience. But getting outside is not always easy and I don't know what your experience and comfort level is in the face of waves.

Some snorkeling operators might also take you to the lighthouse area on the bay that faces Cancun. It's not a trivial swim out there and there is quite a bit of boat traffic in those waters so I would discourage you from doing that on your own.

I would also suggest that you consider going in the Summer, when the annual congregation of whalesharks occurs offshore. You won't see much of anything else but the experience of being in the water in a whaleshark soup is quite unique. Look in the Mexico Forum for threads on this subject. Upon return from the whaleshark snorkeling, most boats stop at those rocks in front of the Avalon anyway, so you'd be killing two birds at a time.

[texspeleo]

The place next door to Garaffon is Garrafon de Castilla, and it has a nice little restaurant/bar and some nice snorkeling for very reasonable prices. Garrafon is a bit garish, and makes you wear a PFD to snorkel, and last I looked charged $55 US to spend the day there. The buffet included for this price is pretty nice and includes drinks, and there is a lot of entertainment for the kids such as a zip line and sit on top kayaks (though they must remain within the roped area). Farralon is the small point with the lighthouse at the southern side of the bay where the ferry arrives, and is probably the best snorkeling on the island, but you have to book a boat to get there (again, not unreasonable prices). Swimming there from the main part of the island would be ridiculously unsafe given the heavy boat traffic. If you are staying at the Avalon reef club or Maya Kiin, there is cool little stuff all over the little bay described above. Last year I found an old dead coral head washed in by a storm in a foot or two of water that had a small green moray, a clown shrimp, a stone fish, and lots of small but colorful species of juveniles all within 4 feet of one another. I've also run into eagle rays at the end of the pier to the north from Avalon. Any distance from the shore, and you will encounter some potentially heavy current. I've done a little drift snorkeling on the north end of west (ocean) side of the island, but the current is heavy, there is a lot of private beach that would be impolite to cross, and you must be strong swimmer. The current at the south end of the island is also quite strong, and will take you away from land at times much faster than probably anyone can swim. Have good trip. I'm headed down in 5 days.