Cozumel is surrounded with stunning coral reefs and considered as one of the best dive destinations worldwide.

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Cozumel Island is one of the world's best dive destinations; a 50km long and 15km wide island surrounded with a fringing coral reef. Isla Cozumel or Ah-Cuzamil-Peten (land of the swallows) in Mayan received its name from an indigenous bird. Cozumel is easily reached after a 40 minute ferry ride from Playa del Carmen, Yucatan just south of Cancun.

The Mayans who lived on the island had worshipped the goddess Ixchell (fertility) for hundreds of years before they welcomed Juan de Grijalva when he first landed on the shores of Cozumel in 1518. Unfortunately he brought smallpox erasing much of the Mayan community and selling the rest as slaves. Pirates ruled the island during the 17th century until it was largely abandoned. Today Cozumel has become a popular tourist paradise with many beach resorts, hotels, bars, thriving nightlife, excellent shopping and all water activities you can think of. Highlights on the island are interesting Spanish-Colonial architecture in the city of San Miguel, archeological remains from the Maya's, the ruins of San Gervasio and El Cedral. The beaches on the west shores are calm sandy gold colored while those on the east are filled with rocks and rough. Parque Chankanaab offers a huge natural aquarium complete with all sorts of aquatic life; its botanical gardens are filled with subtropical flora and fauna. In the south you can climb the steps of the Celarain Light-house and take a breath taking view from the top all over its bays and forests. The Wildlife Reserve on the south side of the island offers sights of colorful birds and turtles.

It was 1961 when Jacques-Yves Cousteau pointed out to the world what a gem was laying at the ocean floors surrounding Cozumel. Most diving sites are on the western side as done as deep drift dives with strong ocean currents, but towering steep pinnacles, tunnels and swimmthroughs are common as well. There are over 250 different fish species living in the warm azul colored waters surrounding Cozumel. Marine life especially interesting is the indigenous Toad fish and the beautiful Queen Angelfish. Elephant ear and barrel sponges can grow up to 3 meter in size, just another example of one of the world's richest underwater habitats.

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