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9th MAY 2009 - SNORKELLING IN COZUMEL....I SAW A SEA TURTLE...TOTALLY AWESOME DUDE!!!!!
Got up at around 7am...the early bird catches the worm and all (or at least the best pick of the breakfast offerings)!! After stocking up on breakfast so that we wouldn’t be hungry until at least lunch time, we browsed the net for directions to a couple of hostels in Cozumel and then set off to the bus station at around 9.30am!! The buses ran every 10 minutes and so we managed to jump on one straight away for the hour long journey to Playa De Carmen. So nice to be on a bus sometimes - cool air and snooze fest!! We arrived in Playa De Carmen at around 11am and had 40 minutes to kill there before the ferry ride across to Cozumel.
Playa De Carmen seemed nice…a bit like Cancun but with more shopping. Once again everything was in American dollars…so annoying!! Not everyone is American!! Other than that, there was a nice beach, hotels lining the front and loads of tourist shops. A real holiday place! It was a shame we didn’t really have time to look around properly before heading to Cozumal!
Before we could board the ferry we had to fill the usual form in about whether we had any pig flu symptoms. The forms were advertised as helping you determine whether or not you were ill. Not sure about you but I don’t usually need a form to tell me if I am ill or not…made me laugh anyhow. We also had our hands checked under a red laser beam…hadn’t a clue what it was supposed to do but I didn’t argue as the guard had a big black dog with him!! Loads of people queuing up for the ferry…mostly Americans going across for a day trip! Not many travellers at all and we hoped it wasn’t a sign that things were expensive!!
The ferry ride across lasted for about 40 minutes and was pretty cool. A bit rocky when you stood up but other than that it was good. A few tour guides on board giving us information about snorkelling trips and scooters for hire to tour the island on. Snorkelling…maybe but a scooter? After my unsuccessful test drive crash in Thailand??! I don’t think so!! I did not have a death wish and I certainly did not
have enough money to pay for the inevitable damage I would cause! Looked like my shoes were made for walking! Off the ferry, we collected our bags and made our way to the hostel. Along the way we were stopped by so many people selling snorkel tours and jewellery and souvenirs etc. A couple of new lines were thrown in as well as the customary “nearly free”. We also got “come look just for the hell of it” and “anything you want we have princess.” Would a princess really be carrying her own backpack and staying in hostels? I doubt it!! We eventually managed to sidestep them all and made it to the hostel.
The hostel was ok. One big dorm with lockers for our bags. Not many people in there and so we had our pick of the beds and booked to stay for 2 nights. Nat really wanted to do a snorkelling tour but they all seemed on the expensive side at 350 pesos. We decided to head out and price check a few to try and get a better deal. We got a couple of guys down to 250 and then on guy offered 220. I
thought we could get it for 200 and so I tried to barter. He wouldn’t budge so we did the waling off trick. It worked a treat as he came chasing us and agreed to 200! Deal done!! Noel Edmonds would be proud!
We quickly ran back to the hostel to get changed and grab everything we needed before heading back to the pier. We had to walk by all the others who we had been to price check. Felt like such traitors we kept our heads low and moved quickly. The guy whose trip we were on did not help matters as he waved to the other tour operators and laughed. So much for being inconspicuous!!
A family of 6 Americans were already in the boat (mum, dad, sister, brother and 2 partners) as well as the river and our snorkel guide. We joined them, claimed our free water and set off. After a short boat ride the driver stopped the boat and gave us our snorkel masks and fins…we were good to go. The boat guide came in with us and showed us all the best spots. It was sooooo cool! The water was really calm
and visibility was awesome. Loads of fish too…like the ones that pointed the way on Nemo. Not much coral at all though and I doubted that this was the second biggest reef in the world after the Great Barrier. Think our snorkel man told us a little white lie…tut tut!! We had about 30 minutes in the water and gave our underwater camera an airing. The American mum from our boat was funny. She kept squealing and shouting that a huge amazing fish was below us. Every time I looked down there was an average joe fish swimming about…the kind you would have battered with chips and certainly not anything to marvel at. Loved her enthusiasm though! There was a professional photographer in the water too…he took mine and Nat’s photo and made all the fish swarm around us by throwing food near us. We literally couldn’t see the water for the fish. Loved it!!
Back in the boat we drove a little further along to a second spot. Very shallow; only about 3 metres. The guide took us out and again showed us the best spots. He was a little crazy and kept diving down to poke at different fish with his snorkel pipe to get them to come out. Worked for me as I got to see loads more than if he left them in their houses. Saw a barracuda this time out and a few needle fish. The sun was behind a cloud on this stop and it as bloody cold. I think I did more swimming than snorkelling in order to keep warm but still good fun!
Back in the boat we cracked open the Coronas (included in trip price). Not sure if drinking is the safest thing to do when going out snorkelling in the ocean but I was sure one or two wouldn’t hurt. We chatted to the family from Texas for a bit which was so confusing as they kept changing languages from American to Spanish. Mum and dad were like a comedy act as they kept bickering in a nice way. She kept moaning about her mask misting up and demanded some de-mist spray. He took them from her, spat in them and said that was the best de-mist spray he could find. Her face was a picture but she didn’t moan again so it must have worked!
Our last snorkel spot was in the national park and was my favourite stop of all. We saw another barracuda, a sting ray (deadly animals…just ask Steve Irwin) and best of all a sea turtle!! I got so excited when I saw it and began to follow it. I half expected it to chat to me in a spaced out Aussie accent but it didn’t. I dived down to him for a photo and it really was ‘totally awesome dude!!’ Made my trip…I was happy!! Saw loads more fish too but after the turtle nothing compared!! Back on the boat we were handed another beer and were driven back to the pier. I had really enjoyed the trip and thought it well worth the money. Not usually a snorkel fan but changed my mind after that trip!
Back on dry land we were starving and so after a quick change we headed straight out to the square for some fodder. We ate in Fat Tuesdays and had some really ice iced cocktails and a Mexican meal. Another meal out…another treat!! Not good for the bank balance or the waistline but not to worry as only 3 weeks travelling left!! Food eaten, we went to check out the sunset and had a wander around the square. As it got later we headed back to the hostel, spent an hour on the net and then went off to bed. I had really enjoyed my day!!
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