A school of Sailfish hunting - Photo by Alberto Friscione

When they spy a school of smaller fish, sailfish circle and gradually close in, unfurling their impressive dorsal fins or sails and using them to herd their prey into a smaller area until they are trapped. The panicky fish cling together forming a swirling bait ball of shimmering scales designed to confuse enemies. The sailfish dart in from every side, tearing the bait ball apart and picking their disoriented prey off one by one using their rapier-like bill to stun and slash in a graceful underwater “ballet” that is incredible to watch.

As swift as silver arrows, hunting sailfish gleam and flash; when excited their normally gray or blue skin is transformed into a mesh of iridescent stripes which pulsate as the beast speeds through the water, Scientists believe that the color change is designed to startle their prey and also to warn other sailfish to keep their distance, thus avoiding collisions.

School of Sailfish closing in on their prey - Photo by Alberto Friscione

The sailfish hunting grounds lie to the northeast of Isla Mujeres, Contoy and Cabo Catoche in an area of the sea that is rich in plankton and other marine life due to the convergence of ocean currents swirling in from the Gulf of Mexico and upwellings of colder waters from the depths. Indeed, this oceanic highway is always busy, attracting other migrants during the year such as rays, dolphins, sea turtles and the biggest of them all, the whale shark. The world’s largest living fish, this gentle giant gathers in the clear, warm waters from mid-May to mid-September to feed on plankton and fish roe.

Set sail with Thomas More Travel for a day of adventure on the high seas and snorkel with the sailfish. You will be accompanied by a knowledgeable guide at all times and will watch from a distance in the water as the sailfish hunt their prey. During the boat ride you’ll also spot frigate birds, pelicans, flying fish and even dolphins, a thrill in itself. This unforgettable Snorkeling with Sailfish trip is only available from January to March, you can book online at Thomas More Travel or ask at the tour desk in your resort during your next trip to Royal Resorts.  Whale shark tours can also be organized during the summer.

Watching Sailfish hunt, a unique experience! - Photo by Alberto Friscione

Jason de Caires Taylor working on a sculpture

When complete, the museum will be the largest of its kind in the world and will have more than 400 sculptures. Apart from their artistic appeal, the figures will provide an artificial habitat for reef dwellers such as corals, sponges and algae to colonize, in time attracting other creatures such as small fish and crustaceans. Park authorities hope that the museum will alleviate some of the visitor pressure on some of the most popular local reefs, giving coral communities a chance to recover.

The Lost Correspondent - Cancun Underwater Sculpture Museum

(Image taken from Jason de Caires Taylor’s Website)

Heres a video from Royal Day about the Cancun Underwater Sculpture Park

Do you like corals, reefs, & scuba diving? Thomas More Travel has scuba diving tours in Cancun available for your enjoyment.

More Cancun scuba diving tours

Did you liked this information? Then you’ll love our underwater world post.

Diving in the Mexican Caribbean, An Overview

Around Contoy
The reef system begins just to the south of the island of Contoy in the northern reaches of the Mexican Caribbean. The waters between Contoy, Cabo Catoche and the island of Holbox are rich in nutrients borne by oceanic currents and the upwelling of colder water from the depths. Plankton and other microscopic organisms at the bottom of the food chain flourish, attracting a wealth of other species, including some ocean-going giants. The largest living fish, the whale sharks, gather here to feed on plankton and fish eggs during the summer; manta rays, sea turtles and dolphins can often be spotted and sailfish hunt schools of sardines in the spring. Every year, thousands of lobsters can also be seen walking across the seabed on an annual migration to their breeding area.

Cancun-Isla Mujeres Area
Protected by a marine reserve, the chain of shallow water reefs in the bay between Isla Mujeres and Cancún and south to Punta Nizuc, is an excellent place to start exploring the Mesoamerican Reef. The reefs are so accessible that divers can literally board the boat at 10 o’clock in the morning for the trip out to the site and still be back in time for lunch after having done a two-tank dive. Marine life ranges from elk horn and brain coral and gardens of sea fans to sergeant majors, jacks and other fish, rays, sea turtles and moray eels.
In the deeper waters to the east of Isla Mujeres are a series of much more challenging reefs famous for the huge shoals of fish that hover over truly spectacular coral formations and the Cave of the Sleeping Sharks. Discovered by a local fisherman and filmed by Ramón Bravo, the Mexican Jacques Cousteau, the cave is a spot where sharks literally “sleep” for hours in a fast-flowing current, lulled by the oxygen in the bubbles.

Another attraction for divers and snorkelers in the Cancun-Isla Mujeres area is the Underwater Sculpture Museum (MUSA) with sunken galleries at different locations in the National Marine Park. The largest of its kind in the world, it is the creation of British sculptor Jason de Caires-Taylor. More than 400 of his impressive statues have already been submerged in the vicinity of Manchones Reef and Punta Nizuc and aquatic galleries are also planned for Carbonera and Aristos reefs. Apart from their artistic appeal, the figures provide an artificial habitat for corals, sponges, algae and other reef dwellers such as fish and crustaceans to colonize and divers report that they are already doing so.

Puerto Morelos
Next stop is Puerto Morelos where a stretch of barrier reef hugs the shoreline. Protected by another national park, the reef is a popular dive site and local fishermen and scuba centers also offer snorkeling trips to the shallower areas.
The reef is impressive: huge coral heads and buttresses are covered with sea fans and algae and are pitted with caves where lobsters and moray eels lurk. Schools of yellowtail snapper, Atlantic spadefish and French grunts swim over the crest of the reef and fairy basslets and spotted drum dart among the corals, ready to slip into a crevice when danger threatens.

Playa del Carmen area
Most divers embarking from Playa del Carmen make straight for the deeper reefs at a depth of between 80 and 100 feet. Turtles can be seen all year round and in January huge tarpon congregate at one of the local reefs. Yet divers on the mainland are also drawn to Cozumel, an island girdled by breathtaking reefs that were made famous by Jacques Cousteau.

Cozumel
A short boat ride from Playa del Carmen in the Riviera Maya, lies the island of Cozumel, one of the world’s leading dive destinations. Cozumel owes its fame to the clarity of the water – visibility can be up to 200 feet –, the mighty Palancar reef and the drop offs or walls that tumble down into the impenetrable dark of an ocean trench thousands of feet deep. However, there are 25 different reefs with names such as Paraíso, Santa Rosa, Colombia, Punta Sur and Maracaibo scattered along the west coast of the island, some with drop offs, caves and coral buttresses two stories high. Marine life is abundant, ranging from sponges, sea fans and black coral in deeper waters to schools of blue chromis, regal angelfish and lone gigantic groupers. An additional attraction in spring is the presence of thousands of eagle rays, which migrate to Punta Norte to breed.
The current is so strong in the Cozumel Channel that drift diving is the order of the day. Divers do not have to swim, they let the current take them and literally “glide” along the reefs.

Akumal
Further south in the Riviera Maya, Akumal has breathtaking fringing reefs and underwater canyons. Forty-seven species of hard and soft corals have been identified in the area and marine life is abundant. Turtles are the most famous reef inhabitants and give Akumal its name, in Maya Akumal means “place of the turtles.” Look closely at the corals and you’ll see an endless parade of reef dwellers such as butterfly fish, tangs and parrotfish in vibrant shades of yellow, blue, purple, orange and green. Spotted eagle and bat rays, peacock flounders and trigger fish can also be seen.

Sian Ka’an Reefs
The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve extends to a system of fringing reefs that stretches for 68 miles along the shoreline. Star, brain and lettuce corals are common, along with giant sponges and 150 different species of fish have been identified in the reserve. Sea turtles, manatees, whale sharks, manta rays, reef, lemon and nurse sharks can also be observed.
Sian Ka’an is an important area for lobster and conch fishing and biologists believe that it may be a breeding zone for other species such as Caribbean grouper and snapper since hundreds of these fish gather at several sites in the reserve ten days before full moon during the winter months. This in turn attracts other species that feed on the fish spawn.

Banco Chinchorro
A two-hour boat ride from Majahual and Xcalak on the Costa Maya in southern Quintana Roo, lies a huge atoll that every experienced diver dreams of exploring, Chinchorro. Apart from its spectacular reefs, a crystalline lagoon dotted with brain corals and tiny cays, huge sponges and wealth of marine life, Chinchorro jealously guards another secret.
Its jagged corals have been the downfall of many a ship through the centuries. Mayan merchant canoes, Spanish galleons, British schooners and even modern-day cargo ships have all foundered in this ships’ graveyard. A local legend even rumors that a German submarine sank here during World War II although no traces have ever been found of it. Diving Chinchorro’s wrecks is an unforgettable experience.

Where to go Snorkeling
If you can swim you can snorkel and after a practice session in the pool you’ll be raring to go. Many of the area’s reefs lie in shallow sheltered waters where you can don your snorkel mask and flippers and jump right in. If you have never snorkeled before why not try it? It is a fun activity for the whole family and it will open a window to the underwater world so that you can see life on the reef.
Several of the reefs in the Cancún-Isla Mujeres Marine Park are suitable for snorkeling and include El Farito and Garrafon off the coast of Isla, and the coral formations in front of Punta Nizuc, Cancun’s southern headland. You can also charter a boat and escape fellow swimmers on your own snorkeling adventure.
Ask local people about their favorite snorkeling spots near Cancún and many of them will give their vote to Puerto Morelos National Marine Park. Combine a morning on the barrier reef with time on the beach followed by a leisurely lunch in one of this filling village’s waterfront restaurants.
Further south, the Riviera Maya has several spots for snorkeling adventures. Start with a trip to Maroma or Paamul. Next stop is Akumal, a classic dive destination where the reefs come close to shore. You’ll see sergeant majors, French grunts, parrotfish and even turtles in the shallows. These peaceful creatures gather here to graze on the beds of sea grass. In Half Moon Bay you can actually see them popping their heads out of the water.
Head north along the coast road from Akumal and you’ll reach Yalkú, a turquoise-colored caleta or inlet of crystalline waters fed by cenotes and underground rivers. Yalkú is a good place to spot angelfish, surgeonfish, blue tangs and butterfly fish.
Recently voted one of Mexico’s top ten natural wonders, the chain of turquoise inlets, lagoons and cenotes at Xel-Há is a huge natural aquarium. Fish of all shapes and sizes from the nearby reefs seek food and shade among the rocks. You’ll find yourself surrounded by schools of fish that are just as curious about you as you are about them. Spend a day here with your family. Apart from snorkeling, you can float down the waterways in oversized inner tubes, swim with dolphins (additional charge), leap into a pool from a cliff and swim in a cenote.

Save the Reefs
You can help preserve the fragile coral reef ecosystem, here’s how:
* Do not touch anything! Even the lightest touch can cause damage that will take the reef hundreds of years to recover from.
* Do not take shells, sea fans, coral, fish or any other creature living or dead from the reef.
* Keep your distance from the reef and avoid kicking or stirring up the sand. Sand can clog up the coral polyps and block life-giving sunlight.
* Use a t-shirt for sun protection instead of suntan creams and oils which kill coral and marine life.