Unsurpassed only by the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Cancun is home to the second-largest barrier reef on earth. It runs more than 700 miles along the eastern shores of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, along the Yucatan Peninsula, and is regarded as the most extensive barrier reef system in the Western Hemisphere.
The larger M.A.R., as it is sometimes called, is more than just a sub-oceanic reef; it also includes lagoons, mangrove forests, sand dunes, coastal wetlands, and more. It is home to more than 500 different species of fish, 60 different coral species, four different kinds of sea turtles, saltwater crocodiles, and the largest whale shark walkway in the world, giving us the greatest whale shark snorkeling opportunity.
All the great flora and fauna variety is the reason number one why Cancun is among the world’s most well-liked snorkeling and diving places among some other water activities in Cancun, like enjoying some jet ski adventures or parasailing.
Cancun Wildlife You’ll Encounter While Snorkeling
We assure you that diving or snorkeling in Cancun is a rewarding experience, even if you’re a beginner because of all the Cancun wildlife you may interact with and the beautiful marine sights. So let’s have a look at the marine species you might expect to see while exploring the waters around Cancun.
There are hundreds of species in these seas, but the whale shark is the one that draws the most tourists each year. Despite their gigantic size that can reach 10 meters and intimidating appearance, these enormous fish are actually just friendly whale sharks. They are docile and most importantly, they don’t even eat with their teeth, they just gulp water to swallow the tiny plankton and minuscule marine life, making whale shark snorkeling a very pleasant and safe activity.
Manta rays are another fantastic species found here, and they are quite similar to whale sharks in that they both feed on plankton and are migratory species that often move together. A gigantic manta ray can grow to be up to 9 meters long, but in these waters, you’re more likely to encounter their smaller relatives, the rays. Stingrays and manta rays may appear frightening but are actually harmless.
You may also come across fire coral, a type of fake coral native to the Caribbean. It takes on various shapes depending on its location and feeds on plankton and microalgae found in its tissues. When snorkeling in Cancun, avoid touching the fire coral because direct contact with it can inflict stings. Also, rainbow parrot fish, barracuda, various billfish, seahorses, starfishes, blue angelfish, damselfish, and turtles are some of the other wildlife species you might see while snorkeling in Cancun.
Nevertheless, don’t forget it’s best to avoid approaching marine animals up close or even attempting to touch them, because we should not forget, that even if they look cute, they’re still wildlife, also, keep in mind that you shouldn’t take with you any marine life or objects from the ocean floor.
You Can Visit The Underwater Museum of Art
The Underwater Museum of Art, also known as MUSA founded in 2009, is located beneath the waters of the Mexican Caribbean Sea, near Cancun, Isla Mujeres, and Punta Nizuc. The museum has nearly 500 life-size symbolic sculptures. The museum was officially opened in November 2010 and is now one of the world’s largest and most ambitious underwater attractions. With an average of 400,000 tourists every year, it contributes more than 36 million dollars to Cancun’s tourism industry.
Because of the natural alteration of the sculptural work by aquatic life, it can be considered a co-creation between humans and nature. The artistic element of the inert sculptures mutates as they mix with the life under the sea. The sculptures cover an area of 420 m2 of the sterile substrate and weigh more than 200 tons. They are ecologically designed in all aspects to stimulate coral growth, including the materials used to create them, their placement on the seafloor, and the manner visitors are invited to tour the museum.
According to an oceanographic study, just 10 to 15% of the seafloor contains enough substrate for spontaneous reef regeneration. As a result, MUSA has relied on a specialist crew of marine biologists to supply the elements required for the reef to rebuild naturally. The museum is intended to be visited from the sea’s depths, by diving, or snorkeling, so if a tourist chooses to jump into the sea, they can observe the sculptures in their natural setting and admire their magnificence.
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