Resort dive in Cancun, Mexico

The Krystal Cancun hotel.
After our wonderful trip to Mexico, Marie and I decided we to go there again. This time we wanted to take Hardy with us, so we did. Same procedure as last time. We flew to Cancun via New York and included a stop over in New York on the way back. New York is amazing and this trip will be another few posts. In Cancun, we stayed in the same hotel, the Krystal Cancun. Great hotel and very affordable. All of the rooms have sea views and the view is amazing. Beautify white sandy beaches and crystal clear, blue seas. The stuff of dreams.


One of the activities we had planned was to take Hardy on a "resort dive" . Both Marie and I are PADI certified scuba divers but it had been quite some time since we last did a dive. The waters around Cancun are regarded as one of the world's great dive destinations, so lets do a dive. Hardy does not have his PADI certification, but we could arrange for a "resort dive". This is basically were a diving instructor gives you a crash course in Scuba diving in a pool - which is basically to see if you can breath underwater and get the basics of going down sorted out. So Hardy spent an hour in the pool and once the instructor was happy that he would be OK, we headed for the open water.

As this was a resort dive, it was pretty shallow only about 10 meters. The first dive was not great. Not too much to see. Most of the dive was over the bottom, with very little coral, rocks or anything else which attracts fish. Once back on the boat, we got really cold. Poor Marie was shivering uncontrollably. It was time for the second dive. Marie decided not to dive - she was just too cold. Hardy and I took the plunge. After freezing on the boat, the water felt like falling into a warm bath! This was a MUCH better dive. Lots of coral and lots of beautiful fish. Part of the resort dive package was a photographer, so we got some good underwater photos on the dive. A great experience.
Marie in her element
Hardy wanted a beer
Lots of coral on the second dive. Not my photo - me in the photo

Staying on the underwater theme, one of the day trips we did was to Xel-Ha (www.xelha.com). This was along the cost from Cancun. This is a massive bay, which the Mexicans have turned into another all inclusive resort, although there is nowhere to sleep at Xel-Ha. There is some very good snorkeling in the bay and when you get closer to the opening to the open ocean, there were some pretty impressive massive fish under the bridge.

Once in the resort, all food and drinks are included. Some lovely buffet lunches which amazing Mexican food. There were all sorts of water activities in the park, including a cenote. So what is a cenote you might ask. There is basically no surface water on the Yucatan Peninsula, but there is a lot of water! This is all in underground rivers and lakes. The whole Yucatan Peninsula is cris crossed with these underground rivers. A cenote is when there is an opening to the surface. So basically a cenote is a hole in the ground to the underground water systems.


On the way back to Cancan, the tour also stopped at the ruined Mayan city of Tulum. There are some really beautiful Mayan ruins and one of the most iconic images of the area is the ruined temple overlooking the beautiful bay. There are also quite a few other ruins in the complex.
Iconic temple at Tulum

There is just so much to see and do in the Yucatan Peninsula. We did another trip to Xcaret (www.xcaret.com). This place is just too good for one trip and will be in a separate post. Hardy and I also did a day trip to Chinten Itza as well.

We just loved our time on the Yucatan Peninsula and I would love to go back there. It is a great place. Just very very hot!
After the dive

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