Cozumel Snorkeling Experience
My experience in Cozumel was an interesting one for sure. I arrived there on a Carnival Cruise ship in August of 2015. It was my first experience with a cruise line, and this was the first port stop on the trip. For this reason, I had no idea what to expect when we arrived.
Arrival in Cozumel
We pre-booked our Cozumel excursion on the ship. There were a lot of options to choose from. From parasailing to boat tours to wildlife encounters to snorkeling, the options were endless. We ultimately chose clear-bottom kayaking and snorkeling. Our tour guide met us on the ship and led us through customs.
The Cozumel Taxi Driver
Once out in the Cozumel port, the tour guide arranged for two taxis to take the group over to the beach club where we would begin the adventure. I went in the second taxi, which the tour guide was not. I remember an argument between the guide and driver outside the taxi right before we left. The driver entered the taxi in a huff, clearly annoyed.
Cozumel Beach Club Number One
After a short drive, we arrived at the entrance of a beach club. The driver immediately sped off after we got out. Myself, my travel companion, an older woman, and a younger boy (who I later learned was her grandson), found ourselves in front of an empty club. No cars in the parking lot, no people walking around, and no attendants at the gates.
We knocked on the closed doors and a lone security guard answered. He informed us that this beach club was closed on Mondays, which was this particular day of the week. We told him that we were from a cruise ship and were supposed to be kayaking and snorkeling, but this obviously was not the right place.
Cozumel Beach Club Number Two (The Right One)
Thankfully, the grandmother with us had a brochure of the tour, so we knew where we were supposed to be. The security guard walked us about a quarter-mile down the road to another beach club. This time, the correct one! The tour guide met us and apologized profusely. After arranging for refunds, for our inconveniences, he set us up for kayaking.
Clear-Bottom Sea Kayaking
The beach and water were absolutely beautiful! The kayaking was a unique experience for sure. I kayak frequently, as I own my own and live near water. This, however, was different. For one, it was uncomfortable. My kayaks have padded seats. The clear bottom kayaks are seatless and hard. Regardless, seeing the coral beneath us as we glided along with the crystal clear blue waters was pretty cool.
Snorkeling
The snorkeling was next and this was definitely my favorite part. I never went snorkeling before, so the entire experience was brand new to me. What I found below the water in Cozumel amazed me. There were fish of every color of the rainbow, and so many of them! We saw eels, sea urchins, crabs, stingrays, nurse sharks, and seahorses. We stayed out there, finding amazing sea life under the sea, for close to forty minutes. I would have stayed out there forever if the sun didn’t go behind the cloud and cause me to start shivering.
Relaxing on the Shores of Cozumel
We spend the rest of the day lounging on the beach, drinking cocktails, and eating some delicious Mexican food. I personally remember having the best quesadillas in the world! The area we were located in was quiet. Besides our little tour group, we were by ourselves. It was a lovely experience!
Return to Port
After the tour, we headed back to the Cozumel port, where we wandered around, checking out the vendor stalls selling every kind of souvenir imaginable. We picked up a few things, took some photos, had another drink, then made our way back to the cruise ship. Despite the first few bumps that met us on arrival, it ended up being a great day in Cozumel, Mexico!
If you want to read another one of my stories on travel mishaps, try this one. I’d also love to hear your own stories! Comment below, or contact me. I’d love to hear from you!
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Owner and creator of Travels with Kayy. Travel blogger and adventure enthusiast, creating content to inspire and help fellow travelers plan amazing itineraries and explore all the corners of the earth!
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