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Despite busy beaches and the relatively small size of the closest reefs, there’s still lots to see here. “Jungle” snorkeling tours take you through man-groves in Laguna Nichupté and to the reef off Punta Nizuc (seeCancún).

A fascinatingly varied reef, 1 km (half a mile) long, but only 10 m (30 ft) deep for much of it. The Sac Bajo area, just off the lagoon south of Isla Town, is excellent for snorkeling, and there are spectacular reefs farther from the island (seeIsla Mujeres).

Cozumel offers the greatest extent and variety of reefs for snorkelers and divers of every level of experience, and visibility is ideal. Paraíso and nearby Chankanaab are “must-sees”, with parrot fish, silver shoals of snappers and strangely shaped coral just below the surface (see Cozumel).

An extraordinary coral mountain riven with giant canyons that seem to fall straight from the surface to the invisible depths of the ocean. Nearby, the Yucab and El Cedral reefs are also famous for their colonies of moray eels and groupers, and tree-like coral heads (see Cozumel).

One of the most vibrant of the mainland beaches and now officially protected as a parque maritimo . The reef is unusually close to the shore, and so is great for snorkel tours and introductory diving. The few dive and snorkel operators in Puerto Morelos give personal, friendly service.

Playa is the base for several very high-standard dive operators, who take beginners’ groups and experienced divers to the reefs nearby and elsewhere along the Riviera.

The superb reefs offshore here are a favorite destination for Playa del Carmen dive operators. Angelfish, triggerfish and parrot fish are abundant, along with a luxuriant range of coral (see Cozumel and the South).

The beaches here are an important breeding area for sea turtles, which coexist with the development along the bays. The reefs fringing the beaches are wonderful for snorkeling and diving. Akumal is also an important cave-diving center, with the Villas de Rosa Hotel (see Aquatech – Villas de Rosa, Akumal).

A less well-known beach with just a few hotels (see Tankah Dive Inn) that’s great for relaxed snorkeling and diving away from the crowds. As at Akumal, the reef comes quite close to the shore.

This is the Riviera’s biggest center for cave-diving(see Cenotes and Caves), but dive operators also take snorkelers and divers to the reefs nearby, in a deliciously clear sea.