snorkel vacation in Mexico?

Maxine wrote:
> My husband and I are not divers, but really enjoy snorkelling, which we've
> mostly done on the north shore of Kauai. We're not terribly adventurous,
> and don't tend to go far from shore or dive deep. But we love to see a wide
> variety of sea life and coral.
>
> We don't enjoy big resort areas, but prefer quieter, less populated (though
> not deserted) areas.
>
> Also, neither of us has much Spanish.
>
> So, with all that said, can anyone recommend a good place for us to take a
> winter vacation Mexico, Baja or otherwise? We live in Northern California.

Take a look at Akumal and the area between Akumal and Tuluum. Akumal is
a fairly quiet place. I don't know anything about the snorkeling there,
except that I see alot of people doing it in the lagoons, and I think
at least one of the shops there takes people out in a boat to snorkel.
Snorkeling trips to the cenotes are also available, and you can also
just do it on your own if you have transportation and some knowledge of
where to go.

you can get by with little or no Spanish in the towns.

the best snorkeling I've ever encountered was out in Fiji.

It is a resort that was run by an American couple from Pennsylvania. To get
there, clients would fly from Nadi to Savusavu (Vanua Levu) and take a boat over
to this remote island -- can't think of the name of the resort just now. This
island was out in the middle of what is called "Bligh Water" as in "Mutiny on the
Bounty." Apparently Capt'n Bligh and his remaining crew from the H.M.S. Bounty
found there way through these waters.

One could also fly there in a sea plane (cost me over $500 at the time -- round
trip). They have several bures (cottages). I also heard that the water
"crossing" from Savusavu, depending on the weather -- could be quite rough! Glad
I took the plane and could afford it at the time.

Some may recall that this Pennsylvania couple once had a diving resort off Panama
and were attacked and nearly killed by drug runners. They fled and set up shop in
Fiji. The cottages and dining room were about 200 steps up a cliff --Yikes -- I
had to tote my u/w camera and gear up all those steps twice daily without any
assistance (don't ask me how I did it). Wasn't their name "Moody?"

At the end of the day and after dinner, this couple would sit in two large fan
chairs right out of a Tennessee William movie -- conversation was "difficult" and
as I left the resort -- a couple from Oakland (a judge and his wife)...the wife
turned to me, with regard to the resort and said to me in a scary, low moaning
voice --"the island of Dr. Moreau" or something like that -- referring to a novel
(or was it a film) in which the owners of the island resort, through some sorcery
or evil spirts ---turned their guests into animals! Yes, they were a hard
working couple but a bit scary! I felt a bit sorry for them -- having endured
Noriega's drug runners back in Panama and having to set up shop again in a new
place. I wonder what ever happened to them?

I acutally cut my stay there short by a couple of days to escape the atmosphere
of such foreboding. But the snorkeling was the best I ever encountered and the
bures were quite nice with spectacular views, being so high up on that pinacle or
rock and shrubs (and oh...those stairs).

Al Wells wrote:

> Maxine wrote:
> > My husband and I are not divers, but really enjoy snorkelling, which we've
> > mostly done on the north shore of Kauai. We're not terribly adventurous,
> > and don't tend to go far from shore or dive deep. But we love to see a wide
> > variety of sea life and coral.
> >
> > We don't enjoy big resort areas, but prefer quieter, less populated (though
> > not deserted) areas.
> >
> > Also, neither of us has much Spanish.
> >
> > So, with all that said, can anyone recommend a good place for us to take a
> > winter vacation Mexico, Baja or otherwise? We live in Northern California.
>
> Take a look at Akumal and the area between Akumal and Tuluum. Akumal is
> a fairly quiet place. I don't know anything about the snorkeling there,
> except that I see alot of people doing it in the lagoons, and I think
> at least one of the shops there takes people out in a boat to snorkel.
> Snorkeling trips to the cenotes are also available, and you can also
> just do it on your own if you have transportation and some knowledge of
> where to go.
>
> you can get by with little or no Spanish in the towns.

the best snorkeling I've ever encountered was out in Fiji.

It is a resort that was run by an American couple from Pennsylvania. To get
there, clients would fly from Nadi to Savusavu (Vanua Levu) and take a boat over
to this remote island -- can't think of the name of the resort just now. This
island was out in the middle of what is called "Bligh Water" as in "Mutiny on the
Bounty." Apparently Capt'n Bligh and his remaining crew from the H.M.S. Bounty
found there way through these waters.

One could also fly there in a sea plane (cost me over $500 at the time -- round
trip). They have several bures (cottages). I also heard that the water
"crossing" from Savusavu, depending on the weather -- could be quite rough! Glad
I took the plane and could afford it at the time.

Some may recall that this Pennsylvania couple once had a diving resort off Panama
and were attacked and nearly killed by drug runners. They fled and set up shop in
Fiji. The cottages and dining room were about 200 steps up a cliff --Yikes -- I
had to tote my u/w camera and gear up all those steps twice daily without any
assistance (don't ask me how I did it). Wasn't their name "Moody?"

At the end of the day and after dinner, this couple would sit in two large fan
chairs right out of a Tennessee William movie -- conversation was "difficult" and
as I left the resort -- a couple from Oakland (a judge and his wife)...the wife
turned to me, with regard to the resort and said to me in a scary, low moaning
voice --"the island of Dr. Moreau" or something like that -- referring to a novel
(or was it a film) in which the owners of the island resort, through some sorcery
or evil spirts ---turned their guests into animals! Yes, they were a hard
working couple but a bit scary! I felt a bit sorry for them -- having endured
Noriega's drug runners back in Panama and having to set up shop again in a new
place. I wonder what ever happened to them?

I acutally cut my stay there short by a couple of days to escape the atmosphere
of such foreboding. But the snorkeling was the best I ever encountered and the
bures were quite nice with spectacular views, being so high up on that pinacle or
rock and shrubs (and oh...those stairs).

Al Wells wrote:

> Maxine wrote:
> > My husband and I are not divers, but really enjoy snorkelling, which we've
> > mostly done on the north shore of Kauai. We're not terribly adventurous,
> > and don't tend to go far from shore or dive deep. But we love to see a wide
> > variety of sea life and coral.
> >
> > We don't enjoy big resort areas, but prefer quieter, less populated (though
> > not deserted) areas.
> >
> > Also, neither of us has much Spanish.
> >
> > So, with all that said, can anyone recommend a good place for us to take a
> > winter vacation Mexico, Baja or otherwise? We live in Northern California.
>
> Take a look at Akumal and the area between Akumal and Tuluum. Akumal is
> a fairly quiet place. I don't know anything about the snorkeling there,
> except that I see alot of people doing it in the lagoons, and I think
> at least one of the shops there takes people out in a boat to snorkel.
> Snorkeling trips to the cenotes are also available, and you can also
> just do it on your own if you have transportation and some knowledge of
> where to go.
>
> you can get by with little or no Spanish in the towns.

the best snorkeling I've ever encountered was out in Fiji.

It is a resort that was run by an American couple from Pennsylvania. To get
there, clients would fly from Nadi to Savusavu (Vanua Levu) and take a boat over
to this remote island -- can't think of the name of the resort just now. This
island was out in the middle of what is called "Bligh Water" as in "Mutiny on the
Bounty." Apparently Capt'n Bligh and his remaining crew from the H.M.S. Bounty
found there way through these waters.

One could also fly there in a sea plane (cost me over $500 at the time -- round
trip). They have several bures (cottages). I also heard that the water
"crossing" from Savusavu, depending on the weather -- could be quite rough! Glad
I took the plane and could afford it at the time.

Some may recall that this Pennsylvania couple once had a diving resort off Panama
and were attacked and nearly killed by drug runners. They fled and set up shop in
Fiji. The cottages and dining room were about 200 steps up a cliff --Yikes -- I
had to tote my u/w camera and gear up all those steps twice daily without any
assistance (don't ask me how I did it). Wasn't their name "Moody?"

At the end of the day and after dinner, this couple would sit in two large fan
chairs right out of a Tennessee William movie -- conversation was "difficult" and
as I left the resort -- a couple from Oakland (a judge and his wife)...the wife
turned to me, with regard to the resort and said to me in a scary, low moaning
voice --"the island of Dr. Moreau" or something like that -- referring to a novel
(or was it a film) in which the owners of the island resort, through some sorcery
or evil spirts ---turned their guests into animals! Yes, they were a hard
working couple but a bit scary! I felt a bit sorry for them -- having endured
Noriega's drug runners back in Panama and having to set up shop again in a new
place. I wonder what ever happened to them?

I acutally cut my stay there short by a couple of days to escape the atmosphere
of such foreboding. But the snorkeling was the best I ever encountered and the
bures were quite nice with spectacular views, being so high up on that pinacle or
rock and shrubs (and oh...those stairs).

Al Wells wrote:

> Maxine wrote:
> > My husband and I are not divers, but really enjoy snorkelling, which we've
> > mostly done on the north shore of Kauai. We're not terribly adventurous,
> > and don't tend to go far from shore or dive deep. But we love to see a wide
> > variety of sea life and coral.
> >
> > We don't enjoy big resort areas, but prefer quieter, less populated (though
> > not deserted) areas.
> >
> > Also, neither of us has much Spanish.
> >
> > So, with all that said, can anyone recommend a good place for us to take a
> > winter vacation Mexico, Baja or otherwise? We live in Northern California.
>
> Take a look at Akumal and the area between Akumal and Tuluum. Akumal is
> a fairly quiet place. I don't know anything about the snorkeling there,
> except that I see alot of people doing it in the lagoons, and I think
> at least one of the shops there takes people out in a boat to snorkel.
> Snorkeling trips to the cenotes are also available, and you can also
> just do it on your own if you have transportation and some knowledge of
> where to go.
>
> you can get by with little or no Spanish in the towns.

it has just come back to me...the name of the resort was "Moody's Nemena."

I wonder if they're still out there? Or did they return to Pennsyl -- tucky?

Daniel Kessler wrote:

> the best snorkeling I've ever encountered was out in Fiji.
>
> It is a resort that was run by an American couple from Pennsylvania. To get
> there, clients would fly from Nadi to Savusavu (Vanua Levu) and take a boat over
> to this remote island -- can't think of the name of the resort just now. This
> island was out in the middle of what is called "Bligh Water" as in "Mutiny on the
> Bounty." Apparently Capt'n Bligh and his remaining crew from the H.M.S. Bounty
> found there way through these waters.
>
> One could also fly there in a sea plane (cost me over $500 at the time -- round
> trip). They have several bures (cottages). I also heard that the water
> "crossing" from Savusavu, depending on the weather -- could be quite rough! Glad
> I took the plane and could afford it at the time.
>
> Some may recall that this Pennsylvania couple once had a diving resort off Panama
> and were attacked and nearly killed by drug runners. They fled and set up shop in
> Fiji. The cottages and dining room were about 200 steps up a cliff --Yikes -- I
> had to tote my u/w camera and gear up all those steps twice daily without any
> assistance (don't ask me how I did it). Wasn't their name "Moody?"
>
> At the end of the day and after dinner, this couple would sit in two large fan
> chairs right out of a Tennessee William movie -- conversation was "difficult" and
> as I left the resort -- a couple from Oakland (a judge and his wife)...the wife
> turned to me, with regard to the resort and said to me in a scary, low moaning
> voice --"the island of Dr. Moreau" or something like that -- referring to a novel
> (or was it a film) in which the owners of the island resort, through some sorcery
> or evil spirts ---turned their guests into animals! Yes, they were a hard
> working couple but a bit scary! I felt a bit sorry for them -- having endured
> Noriega's drug runners back in Panama and having to set up shop again in a new
> place. I wonder what ever happened to them?
>
> I acutally cut my stay there short by a couple of days to escape the atmosphere
> of such foreboding. But the snorkeling was the best I ever encountered and the
> bures were quite nice with spectacular views, being so high up on that pinacle or
> rock and shrubs (and oh...those stairs).
>
> Al Wells wrote:
>
> > Maxine wrote:
> > > My husband and I are not divers, but really enjoy snorkelling, which we've
> > > mostly done on the north shore of Kauai. We're not terribly adventurous,
> > > and don't tend to go far from shore or dive deep. But we love to see a wide
> > > variety of sea life and coral.
> > >
> > > We don't enjoy big resort areas, but prefer quieter, less populated (though
> > > not deserted) areas.
> > >
> > > Also, neither of us has much Spanish.
> > >
> > > So, with all that said, can anyone recommend a good place for us to take a
> > > winter vacation Mexico, Baja or otherwise? We live in Northern California.
> >
> > Take a look at Akumal and the area between Akumal and Tuluum. Akumal is
> > a fairly quiet place. I don't know anything about the snorkeling there,
> > except that I see alot of people doing it in the lagoons, and I think
> > at least one of the shops there takes people out in a boat to snorkel.
> > Snorkeling trips to the cenotes are also available, and you can also
> > just do it on your own if you have transportation and some knowledge of
> > where to go.
> >
> > you can get by with little or no Spanish in the towns.

it has just come back to me...the name of the resort was "Moody's Nemena."

I wonder if they're still out there? Or did they return to Pennsyl -- tucky?

Daniel Kessler wrote:

> the best snorkeling I've ever encountered was out in Fiji.
>
> It is a resort that was run by an American couple from Pennsylvania. To get
> there, clients would fly from Nadi to Savusavu (Vanua Levu) and take a boat over
> to this remote island -- can't think of the name of the resort just now. This
> island was out in the middle of what is called "Bligh Water" as in "Mutiny on the
> Bounty." Apparently Capt'n Bligh and his remaining crew from the H.M.S. Bounty
> found there way through these waters.
>
> One could also fly there in a sea plane (cost me over $500 at the time -- round
> trip). They have several bures (cottages). I also heard that the water
> "crossing" from Savusavu, depending on the weather -- could be quite rough! Glad
> I took the plane and could afford it at the time.
>
> Some may recall that this Pennsylvania couple once had a diving resort off Panama
> and were attacked and nearly killed by drug runners. They fled and set up shop in
> Fiji. The cottages and dining room were about 200 steps up a cliff --Yikes -- I
> had to tote my u/w camera and gear up all those steps twice daily without any
> assistance (don't ask me how I did it). Wasn't their name "Moody?"
>
> At the end of the day and after dinner, this couple would sit in two large fan
> chairs right out of a Tennessee William movie -- conversation was "difficult" and
> as I left the resort -- a couple from Oakland (a judge and his wife)...the wife
> turned to me, with regard to the resort and said to me in a scary, low moaning
> voice --"the island of Dr. Moreau" or something like that -- referring to a novel
> (or was it a film) in which the owners of the island resort, through some sorcery
> or evil spirts ---turned their guests into animals! Yes, they were a hard
> working couple but a bit scary! I felt a bit sorry for them -- having endured
> Noriega's drug runners back in Panama and having to set up shop again in a new
> place. I wonder what ever happened to them?
>
> I acutally cut my stay there short by a couple of days to escape the atmosphere
> of such foreboding. But the snorkeling was the best I ever encountered and the
> bures were quite nice with spectacular views, being so high up on that pinacle or
> rock and shrubs (and oh...those stairs).
>
> Al Wells wrote:
>
> > Maxine wrote:
> > > My husband and I are not divers, but really enjoy snorkelling, which we've
> > > mostly done on the north shore of Kauai. We're not terribly adventurous,
> > > and don't tend to go far from shore or dive deep. But we love to see a wide
> > > variety of sea life and coral.
> > >
> > > We don't enjoy big resort areas, but prefer quieter, less populated (though
> > > not deserted) areas.
> > >
> > > Also, neither of us has much Spanish.
> > >
> > > So, with all that said, can anyone recommend a good place for us to take a
> > > winter vacation Mexico, Baja or otherwise? We live in Northern California.
> >
> > Take a look at Akumal and the area between Akumal and Tuluum. Akumal is
> > a fairly quiet place. I don't know anything about the snorkeling there,
> > except that I see alot of people doing it in the lagoons, and I think
> > at least one of the shops there takes people out in a boat to snorkel.
> > Snorkeling trips to the cenotes are also available, and you can also
> > just do it on your own if you have transportation and some knowledge of
> > where to go.
> >
> > you can get by with little or no Spanish in the towns.

it has just come back to me...the name of the resort was "Moody's Nemena."

I wonder if they're still out there? Or did they return to Pennsyl -- tucky?

Daniel Kessler wrote:

> the best snorkeling I've ever encountered was out in Fiji.
>
> It is a resort that was run by an American couple from Pennsylvania. To get
> there, clients would fly from Nadi to Savusavu (Vanua Levu) and take a boat over
> to this remote island -- can't think of the name of the resort just now. This
> island was out in the middle of what is called "Bligh Water" as in "Mutiny on the
> Bounty." Apparently Capt'n Bligh and his remaining crew from the H.M.S. Bounty
> found there way through these waters.
>
> One could also fly there in a sea plane (cost me over $500 at the time -- round
> trip). They have several bures (cottages). I also heard that the water
> "crossing" from Savusavu, depending on the weather -- could be quite rough! Glad
> I took the plane and could afford it at the time.
>
> Some may recall that this Pennsylvania couple once had a diving resort off Panama
> and were attacked and nearly killed by drug runners. They fled and set up shop in
> Fiji. The cottages and dining room were about 200 steps up a cliff --Yikes -- I
> had to tote my u/w camera and gear up all those steps twice daily without any
> assistance (don't ask me how I did it). Wasn't their name "Moody?"
>
> At the end of the day and after dinner, this couple would sit in two large fan
> chairs right out of a Tennessee William movie -- conversation was "difficult" and
> as I left the resort -- a couple from Oakland (a judge and his wife)...the wife
> turned to me, with regard to the resort and said to me in a scary, low moaning
> voice --"the island of Dr. Moreau" or something like that -- referring to a novel
> (or was it a film) in which the owners of the island resort, through some sorcery
> or evil spirts ---turned their guests into animals! Yes, they were a hard
> working couple but a bit scary! I felt a bit sorry for them -- having endured
> Noriega's drug runners back in Panama and having to set up shop again in a new
> place. I wonder what ever happened to them?
>
> I acutally cut my stay there short by a couple of days to escape the atmosphere
> of such foreboding. But the snorkeling was the best I ever encountered and the
> bures were quite nice with spectacular views, being so high up on that pinacle or
> rock and shrubs (and oh...those stairs).
>
> Al Wells wrote:
>
> > Maxine wrote:
> > > My husband and I are not divers, but really enjoy snorkelling, which we've
> > > mostly done on the north shore of Kauai. We're not terribly adventurous,
> > > and don't tend to go far from shore or dive deep. But we love to see a wide
> > > variety of sea life and coral.
> > >
> > > We don't enjoy big resort areas, but prefer quieter, less populated (though
> > > not deserted) areas.
> > >
> > > Also, neither of us has much Spanish.
> > >
> > > So, with all that said, can anyone recommend a good place for us to take a
> > > winter vacation Mexico, Baja or otherwise? We live in Northern California.
> >
> > Take a look at Akumal and the area between Akumal and Tuluum. Akumal is
> > a fairly quiet place. I don't know anything about the snorkeling there,
> > except that I see alot of people doing it in the lagoons, and I think
> > at least one of the shops there takes people out in a boat to snorkel.
> > Snorkeling trips to the cenotes are also available, and you can also
> > just do it on your own if you have transportation and some knowledge of
> > where to go.
> >
> > you can get by with little or no Spanish in the towns.

I got back from Cancun 2 days ago. We dove Cozumel, and it was outstanding!
There were snorkelers on the boat and they loved it.

John

"Maxine" <mg@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:Xns984A7D12F14EBmgusenetatpcgdotnet@207.115.1 7.102...
> My husband and I are not divers, but really enjoy snorkelling, which we've
> mostly done on the north shore of Kauai. We're not terribly adventurous,
> and don't tend to go far from shore or dive deep. But we love to see a
wide
> variety of sea life and coral.
>
> We don't enjoy big resort areas, but prefer quieter, less populated
(though
> not deserted) areas.
>
> Also, neither of us has much Spanish.
>
> So, with all that said, can anyone recommend a good place for us to take a
> winter vacation Mexico, Baja or otherwise? We live in Northern California.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Maxine

I got back from Cancun 2 days ago. We dove Cozumel, and it was outstanding!
There were snorkelers on the boat and they loved it.

John

"Maxine" <mg@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:Xns984A7D12F14EBmgusenetatpcgdotnet@207.115.1 7.102...
> My husband and I are not divers, but really enjoy snorkelling, which we've
> mostly done on the north shore of Kauai. We're not terribly adventurous,
> and don't tend to go far from shore or dive deep. But we love to see a
wide
> variety of sea life and coral.
>
> We don't enjoy big resort areas, but prefer quieter, less populated
(though
> not deserted) areas.
>
> Also, neither of us has much Spanish.
>
> So, with all that said, can anyone recommend a good place for us to take a
> winter vacation Mexico, Baja or otherwise? We live in Northern California.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Maxine

I got back from Cancun 2 days ago. We dove Cozumel, and it was outstanding!
There were snorkelers on the boat and they loved it.

John

"Maxine" <mg@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:Xns984A7D12F14EBmgusenetatpcgdotnet@207.115.1 7.102...
> My husband and I are not divers, but really enjoy snorkelling, which we've
> mostly done on the north shore of Kauai. We're not terribly adventurous,
> and don't tend to go far from shore or dive deep. But we love to see a
wide
> variety of sea life and coral.
>
> We don't enjoy big resort areas, but prefer quieter, less populated
(though
> not deserted) areas.
>
> Also, neither of us has much Spanish.
>
> So, with all that said, can anyone recommend a good place for us to take a
> winter vacation Mexico, Baja or otherwise? We live in Northern California.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Maxine