Our friends recommended Cozumel to us, and we are glad they did! Cozumel is a popular stop for cruise ships, and its easy to see why. The island is home to beautiful beaches, dramatic coastlines, adventure activities (including some of the best scuba diving) and some amazing places to eat. Best of all, if time is tight, you can get around the entire island in less than a day!
We spent 2 days in Cozumel and here is what we think you should do to make the most of your time! (You can see our short video of all the action here).
Scuba Diving
Home to the start of the second largest coral reef in the world, the great Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, Cozumel is a mecca for scuba diving.
It is well known that Cozumel has beautiful, bright coral, a diverse range of stunning marine life and crystal-clear waters. After our visit, we could not agree more.
Back in 2011 we completed our PADI Open Water qualification in Koa Tao. This meant we could do what is known as a fun dive (your equipment is set up and you just follow the dive master). We completed two dives during our stay and can definitely see why people make a special effort to come here instead of diving from Cancun or Playa del Carmen.
Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys
The red flags you saw were probably marking turtle nests. The east side beaches are always dangerous for swimming because of the currents but are fine for wading and sunning. (We’ve been in Cozumel almost 30 times.) I’d also recommend doing a little research about the dive operations. You definitely want a “fast boat,” but some of the operators specialize in sites that aren’t appropriate unless you’re an advanced diver. If you’re doing the island tour, you have to stop at the Paraiso (Paradise)reggae bar at Punta Sur.