Newsgroups: rec.scuba

/ hpdmd48:rec.scuba / m16532@mwunix (Steven Bayer) / 12:53 pm  Aug  6, 1992 /
There is a park called Chankenaub (sp?) which is excellent for snorkelling;
we use it for check out dives whenever we go to Cozumel. This is your
best bet for snorkelling. If you go over to the mainland to checkout the
Mayan ruins, you can stop at a place called Akumal that has a nice cove and
is also good for snorkellers (there are also other, similar locations on the
mainland that would be good as well, I just have not been to them).

I have been to the ruins on the island and they aren't much to write home about;
although, if you simply stay on Cozumel, they are worth visiting. The ruins
at Tuluum (sp?) are much larger and fun to visit, but the best things there
are the view out to sea and the cochinita pibil tacos sold nearby (I believe
these were meant for the locals and not us touristas, but they were the best
food I've had on any of my Cozumel trips. If you go to Tuluum, you can hop
into a bus at Playa del Carmen (usually very packed and unreliable) or jump
in a taxi (I remember paying about $15 U.S. to get to Akumal which isn't as
far as Tuluum). The time I went to Tuluum, we rented a car. It took us 
about an hour walking around Playa del Carmen to find the rental place. It
was at the movie theater (!) which was a simple, unmarked, cement block
structure, open at the top (no roof). There was only one car and fortunately
it was available; a very nice VW bug. I'm told there are other car rental 
places there now. Renting a car would be the best thing to do because after
Tuluum you can go a little further to the much more interesting Coba. Coba 
is not completely excavated; you walk through the jungle and can see mounds
where pyramids and temples wait excavation. When I was there there were
several large pyramids and a game court excavated that you could scale. Coba
is much larger than Tuluum; if it's ever completely dug up it will be rather
grand.

If this is your first trip to Cozumel, check out these restaurants (avoid the
main square and main strip places that try to lure you in):
  La Choza (family run with wonderful Yucatan dishes; great breakfasts)
  Karen's Pizza (really!; good pizza, better fajitas, margies, and music)
  Ernesto's (esp. the one out of town; the best fajitas)
  Santiago's Grill (excellent steak and seafood; bread with garlic dip, yum)
  There are several good bakeries on the island as well.

Good luck and have fun.

                     __o                                          
                    ~\<,                                          
___________________()/ ()______________________________________________________
Steve Bayer                                          bayer@galileo.jsc.nasa.gov
The MITRE Corporation                                            (713) 333-0978
1120 NASA Road One, Suite 600                                Houston, TX  77058
_______________________________disclaimers ad nauseum__________________________ 

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From: peterson@hpl.hp.com (Chris Peterson)
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 21:11:23 GMT
Subject: Re: Need Diving Industry Stats (# divers/etc)
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, Palo Alto, California