Snorkeling Ship Side in Cozumel

Easy Snorkeling at the End of the Pier

I think by now its evident that I love snorkeling.  I've written about snorkeling in the Bahamas, Hawaii, and the Gulf of Aqaba.  I am sure I will write about many more snorkeling excursions before I am done with this blog, but today I want to focus on one of the easiest snorkeling opportunities I've ever experienced, the cruise dock in Cozumel, Mexico.

Snorkeling and swimming adjacent to the Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruise Ship docks in Cozumel.

To say I am not a fan of Cozumel is an understatement.  I hate all of the stalls peddling junk to cruise ship passengers, and the concrete that stains the beauty of the ocean.  However, the last time I went to Cozumel I actually enjoyed myself.  We almost always bring our snorkeling gear on Caribbean cruises, because we never know when a snorkeling opportunity will present itself.  So we were well prepared when we bought a beer at the end of the pier, at a bar (not Señor Frogs) and the bar tender told us that by buying a drink we were allowed to snorkel in the water adjacent via accessing their stairs.

Access to the snorkeling area is free with the purchase of a drink from one of the bars at the end of the Cozumel dock.

What a deal, and it fell in our laps.  It was one of the cheapest and easiest snorkeling opportunities we've ever had.  We didn't even have to drive.  So we headed back to the ship, changed into bathing suits and went back to the bar, snorkel gear bag in hand.  

Fish swimming in the snorkeling area, that is shallow enough for adults to stand in most places, ideal for beginner snorkelers.

The snorkeling at the end of the pier wasn't the best I've ever experienced.  Sea turtle not included, it was on par with Hawaii.  One of the characteristics of this snorkeling location that I cannot say of the others I've written about is that this location is ideal for beginners.  There are plenty of fish to see close to shore, limited waves, and it's shallow enough to stand in most areas.  Even for non-beginners it offers an easy swim for those who want to take it easy.

Schools of small fish are the dominant attraction in the dockside snorkeling.

Some fish hiding in a manmade submerged structure in one of the deeper areas.

The water was a little chilly at first as it was winter.  My wimpy cold dealing ability led to me inching my way into the water balancing on rocks as I went.  I lost my balance and cut my foot on a sharp rock.  The cut was small enough to not even need a bandage, but it gave me the courage to dive in and adjust to the cool water, which happened quickly once I was fully submerged.

I cut my foot on one of the sharper rocks, a hazard in most snorkeling locations.

In all I finally enjoyed Cozumel, and would revisit this snorkeling location again for a few margaritas and swimming, although I'm not rushing back.