Early Playa del Carmen Ferry Service Returns

PLAYA DEL CARMEN -- Officials in the Riviera Maya have reported the reinstatement of the 6am ferry run from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel. The service was suspended on May 4, with the decrease in demand caused by concerns over the flu outbreak.

Demand had dropped by approximately 70%, from an average of 6000 daily riders down to only 700. That number has increased back to nearly 4000, which makes it worthwhile to add the earliest service back to the schedule. In the interim, the first ferry from Playa to Cozumel had been 8am.

This early ferry run makes it possible for workers living on the mainland to get to jobs in Cozumel and also helps tourists get an early start for daytrips to Cozumel for scuba-diving, sportfishing, snorkeling and other activities. One-way and round-trip tickets can be purchased at the ferry dock at the center of town.

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300 People Reenact Canoe Trip to Cozumel

XCARET - Around 300 participants made a pilgrimage to Cozumel like their Mayan ancestors did hundreds of years ago. The group left in traditional canoes from Xcaret to the island of Cozumel, approximately 15 miles away. They later returned to Xaman Ha, just south of the town square in Playa del Carmen. A large crowd was on-hand to greet them when they returned.

The local mayor, Román Quiana Alcocer and the head of the Riviera Maya Tourism Promotion Fund, Javier Aranda Pedrero, were part of group at the beach. The mayor noted that this sacred journey served to reinforce the cultural identity of the region and serves to "preserve our traditions and share the history of our ancestors."

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Photos of the Day

Today's Theme: On the Water in Cozumel




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Cozumel Diving Report

The San Antonio Express News published the following report, which describes the conditions of the Cozumel reef system one year after Hurricane Wilma.

"With frequent high winds and rough seas, the reefs are used to strong currents. Perhaps that's why there wasn't as much reef damage as one might expect from the hurricane, which wrecked so many man-made structures. The reefs have been subject to repeated blows from storms for thousands of years.

While Wilma cropped some sea fans and dislodged corals (especially in shallow waters), sea life has returned to normal, according to dive instructor and Akumal Dive Shop co-owner Pablo Diaz.

Our first dive was at the Palancar reef, in the waters near southwestern Cozumel. The ocean floor's wave action was strong, not surprising since dives in Cozumel are drift dives. The surf carries the divers with the current, while the boat follows along, meeting the divers when they pop up out of the water.

On the sea floor, though, we didn't notice any of the destruction of areas above. At the Palancar Caves, we dove down 80 feet, seeing turtles, schools of fish and a bat ray. We swam through small tunnels and gazed at colorful corals and sponges that survived the storm."

Read the complete story.

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