Snorkeling in Akumal, Mexico
Akumal Bay is known for its assorted species of sea turtles which use the area for breeding, feeding and rearing their young. This provides an optimal chance to see the animals in their natural habitat, including the many colorful species of fish and plant life.
Snorkeling and scuba diving are perhaps the favorite activities to pursue during a trip to Akumal, but snorkeling is a less physically demanding and technical option. With a brief instruction course and a good area choice, snorkeling is relatively easy for even first-time beginners.
One popular area for snorkeling in Akumal is the Yal-ku lagoon. This area is an extremely rare environment where fresh water meets with salt water from the ocean. The combination of the two types of water is called a "halocline" effect.
Only very specific species can survive and prosper in this halocline bay, and the mixture of salt and fresh water supplies creates an changed appearance of the water itself. Many species found in this area are not found anywhere else in the world, and have been shown on many travel channel specials in recent years.
Casa Cenote is a lagoon featuring mangroves and unusual fish displays. Many snorkelers find the fossils in Cenote at Dosojos quite fun for a day of exploration. Many of the fossils seen at Dosojos date back to Mayan civilizations that once occupied the area.
Snorkel lessons are usually a good idea forfirst-timers prior to going to one of these sites. Although the activity is easy, some find that they are uncomfortable with the equipment or unsure how to best view the underwater scenery while safely using the equipment.
A popular activity for locals and tourists alike is night snorkeling. Typically, a flashlight is used in conjunction with traditional snorkeling equipment for this activity.
Many species which are not seen during daylight hours can be seen when snorkeling after sunset. This is typically because they are night-feeders or resting during the day.
The octopus is a perfect example of this spectacle. Octopuses only come out to feed at after dark, and change color when a flashlight beam is focused on them. Virtually all of the life seen at night are safe for snorkelers, so night snorkeling is a safe activity as well.
Plant life and some types of fish are also luminescent at night. This creates greenish lights glowing either continuously or flashing at night - quite a view for one who is only used to snorkeling during the day!
M Gravlee is a retired newspaper publisher who spends several months a year traveling.
http://vacationsurfer.net/Mexico/
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http://EzineArticles.com/?Snorkeling-in-Akumal,-Mexico&id=1881038
Bull Shark – Appearing Out of Nowhere
October 16, 2008 by mj
Filed under SCUBA Related Articles
By Tommy Hayes
One day, while free diving with a friend, the largest Bull shark I have ever seen swam under us. The problem was that we were a half-mile from the beach and Bull sharks are the most aggressive type of shark in the world. Luckily, for us, he wasn't hungry at the time and slowly swam away after a few tense moments of observation.
The Bull, Tiger, and Great White are considered the top three sharks most likely to attack humans. Growing up to 11.5 feet in length and weighing up to 500 pounds coupled with the Bull shark's very aggressive behavior means it can be extremely dangerous if a person happens to unknowingly enter into its territory or cross its path.
Although sharks are commonly known to hunt individually, I have two friends who have been SCUBA diving and seen three Bull sharks hunting as a pack in both instances (in Galveston, Texas and Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands). When the first two sharks passed my friend, diving off of Jost Van Dyke, the third one, bringing up the rear of their formation, took a bite at one of his fins. Luckily, the shark continued after its companions who were chasing a large school of fish.
The Bull shark is unique in that it is commonly seen throughout the world swimming in fresh water. Sightings and attacks have occurred in the most improbable locations such as Lake Nicaragua, 2,200 miles up the Amazon River in Peru, near St. Louis in the Mississippi River, and in Lake Michigan off the coast of Chicago. After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, there were numerous sightings of Bull sharks in Lake Ponchartrain. If a river or inland body of water connects with the open ocean, there is always a possibility that Bulls could investigate and appear where it is least expected.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tommy_Hayes
http://EzineArticles.com/?Bull-Shark---Appearing-Out-of-Nowhere&id=1568613
Planning a dive trip for 2008?
I have just posted two dive trips planned for 2008 by Adventure Sports in Kansas City. For details please look at the links below. These are within this site.
http://www.jepsnet.com/adventure-sports/saba-oct-11th-18th/
-MJ
