OK, so it's the tourist thing to do, but we
went snorkeling.
The hotel recommended a boat from the colorful snorkeling fleet. Caution if
you are a diver or even a competent swimmer the snorkeling may bore you because
they like to herd tourists around in big groups in 8 feet of water. You are
required to wear a life vest or the captain gets suspended. Even so, it's
a fun trip on the little boat and a good way to get to know the south side
of the island.
Our snorkel trip included a beachfront fish barbeque with cervesas aplenty
(extra of course). Isla has a healthy population of "independent" felines.
These creatures are excellent judges of character. By the time our fish arrived,
Joan had 6 of them around her in a circle, waiting for scraps.
If you don't see any in the ocean, cruise by the Turtle Farm. Turtles are
raised in tanks according to size from piqeno to el gordo. These "white turtles"
(I think) have beautiful designs on their shells, probably not a survival
advantage.
For a competent (and cheap) snorkeler, a much better experience than the boats
is the reef extending from the northeast corner of the island. Walk to the
east end of North Beach. There is a abandoned hotel there just swim out along
the breakwater. This is best at high tide. Also two of the four days we stayed
there were too windy to enjoy snorkeling. This seems common in the Yucatan.
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