Beneath the waves lies heaven—welcome to Cozumel!

In August 2023, my family and I escaped to the tranquil shores of El Cozumeleño Beach Resort, tucked away on the northern coast of Cozumel. The beach out front, Playa Santa Pilar, felt like something out of a dream—calm, turquoise waters that shimmered in the sunlight and teemed with breathtaking marine life.

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The first time I dipped my mask below the surface, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Yellow stingrays glided gracefully along the sandy floor, eels wove like ribbons through rocky crevices, and barracudas hung motionless in the water, staring with an intensity that felt strangely personal. Every direction revealed something new–colorful boxfish, trumpetfish that looked like they’d been plucked from a Dr. Seuss book, and parrotfish munching noisily on coral. One of the most surreal moments was feeding grunts right out of our hands, their tiny mouths gently nibbling at crumbs like they trusted us entirely.

Each morning, we’d stroll up the coast to a small, rocky cove near Villas Santa Pilar, where our snorkeling journey began. Entering the water there felt like stepping into another world. With the current gently guiding us back toward the resort, we could simply float along, taking our time to explore every nook and cranny of the reef. It was a 30- to 45-minute underwater safari that left me in awe every single time.

One day, we decided to take things up a notch and booked a boat tour to snorkel at three of Cozumel’s most famous sites: Palancar Reef, Columbia Reef, and Playa el Cielo.

At Palancar Reef, I felt like I was snorkeling through a cathedral. Massive coral structures rose like underwater skyscrapers, their vibrant surfaces alive with darting fish of every color imaginable. Over at Columbia reef, the water deepened to about 30 feet, revealing larger marine creatures like turtles and rays. The vastness of it was humbling–it felt like flying over a metropolis.

But the highlight of the tour was Playa el Cielo, aptly named “Heaven Beach.” Here, the water was so clear and warm, it felt as though we were swimming in liquid glass. At just 8 feet deep, every detail of the sandy bottom was visible, dotted with shimmering starfish that seemed to glow in the sunlight.

As the tour wound down, we anchored at a shallow sandbank where snacks and drinks awaited. Standing in waist-deep water with a cold drink in hand, I reflected on the magic of the day. Floating effortlessly in those turquoise waters, surrounded by nature’s quiet beauty, was the kind of experience that stays with you long after the tan lines fade.

If you’re ever in Cozumel, don’t miss the chance to explore its underwater wonders. Whether you’re feeding grunts by hand at Playa Santa Pilar or marveling at the grandeur of Columbia Reef, snorkeling here isn’t just an activity–it’s an invitation to see the world from a whole new perspective.

I saw yellow stingrays, eels, barracudas, boxfish, sergeant majors, conch shells, smooth trunkfish, ocean triggerfish, grunts, parrotfish, sand divers, trumpetfish, bluehead wrasse, tangs, goatfish, jawfish, flounder, blennies, scorpion fish, squirrel fish, and various crustaceans. The grunts on the beach would eat right out of our hands. We would walk up the coast to Villas Santa Pilar to snorkel, entering the ocean at a small rocky cove. We would float back to the hotel. The current worked in our favor, so we didn’t have to fight it. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes if you take your time, hugging the shoreline and exploring the crevices along the way.

We went on a boat tour to snorkel at three different sites. Our tour guides took us to Palancar Reef, Columbia Reef, and Playa el Cielo. Playa el Cielo was 8 feet deep and had warm and tranquil crystal-clear waters. Columbia Reef had corals that reached to depths of 30 feet under the surface. It is home to an incredibly diverse array of vibrant sea life forms such as turtles, rays, and many other rare and beautiful creatures. The tour was well organized and at the end there were snacks and drinks in waist-deep water on a sandbank.