Having weighed down our luggage with snorkel and fins we were determined to make use of them. Carlos had explained that the island of Cozumel, visible from our hotel beach was a popular destination for snorkellers and divers alike. So we, feeling like intrepid explorers, headed off to the island. The journey was long and arduous, it began with a stroll along the beach, paddling in the sea most of the way, to the ferry terminal at Playa del Carmen. There, having made the necessary checks to ensure that we were not being conned by ferry ticket touts, we purchased our tickets and boarded an air conditioned ferry. The crossing was 45mins of gentle rocking and we were both pretty much asleep the whole way. Having previously gleaned the information we required we navigated the plethora of Mexicans trying to convince us theirs was the best glass bottom boat trip ever and headed for the taxi rank. For a fair of $11 we headed to Chankanaab, a marine reserve, where the coral reef (apparently the 2nd biggest coral reef in the world) curves in close to the shoreline making it easy access for snorkellers. Beautiful, and unbelievably quiet, in fact as we walked in there didn't seem to be anyone else around. We put out bags down donned our snorkels and headed for the sea. The fish were swimming around us from the moment we entered the water, huge Jacks that kept making Diana jump which in turn mad Chris laugh, shoals of zebra fish, the occasional parrot fish and other pretty purple fish! There was also lots of beautiful healthy coral, fan, brain, stag and some others that Chris didn't know what they were called. Also for some strange reason there was a statue of Jesus under the water!
After what seemed like a very long time finning our way around the reef we headed for the beach, where a very nice man came along and offered drinks and food from the bar (which he delivered to us on our loungers! Really this life is so hard. Once we had consumed beer and pizza and waited the appropriate length of time required to digest our food we returned to the sea. Horror of horrors the sky and become overcast and the sea was a little rougher, not that this deterred the intrepid snorkellers, although the shock of being stung by a jelly fish very nearly drove Diana from the sea. Mention of peeing on the sting meant that it felt a whole lot better very quickly, then the nasty little jellyfish popped up Chris's top and stung her tummy - mean thing!
When we heard back to the beach again we sat, resting, and drying gently in the breeze. Outrageously the clouds in the sky started to drop rain, just enlighten to galvanise us into dragging our sunbeds under the shelter, and then it stopped.
We then sorted out our belongings, and headed of Barack to the port after a quick visit to see the dolphins, sadly they were ones in captivity.
Sunset over the sea as we headed back to Playa del Carmen, and it looked like the mainland had had far more tai than us. We caught our fist glimpse of the crazy fifth avenue as we headed towards the taxi rank and back to out hotel - an excitement to save for a other day.
Early dinner in the hotel and yet another early night, all the activity of the day had caught up with us despite Diana having totally intended to keep Chris up to at least 11pm every night!