Great Mayan Reef in Mexico
The Great Mayan Reef in Mexico is a true wonder of nature that houses a vast ecosystem in which the passage of time and the particular dynamics of nature have combined in an amazing way.
Coral reefs and rocky-looking coral formations of enormous interest to divers.
mesoamerican barrier reef
The reefs are the home of different species of animals and plants from the deep sea, which have a harmonious coexistence in this very special habitat. Scientists consider that 25 percent of marine life is made up of ecosystems such as those of the Great Mayan Reef.
The biodiversity that develops in the Great Mayan Reef has a valley complexity that can be comparable to that found in a large tropical jungle area.
characteristics of the Great Mayan Reef
Also, this barrier reef serves as a wall that protects the coasts from the dynamics of erosion, hurricanes and very intense waves. Due to its vast extension (2,500 km), the Australian Reef is the largest on the planet.
Next, the Great Mayan Reef appears, located in the Caribbean waters. in maritime zones of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. It has an area of approximately one thousand kilometers.
One of the main characteristics of the Great Mayan Reef has to do with the clarity of its waters, which allow the passage of sunlight without problems. There is a valuable special extra to the development of this huge barrier reef. Year after year this maritime attraction manages to attract a large number of tourists from different parts of the world.
It is a true sanctuary for life in the deep sea, since there are at least half a thousand species of crustaceans, mollusks, fish and corals.
Great Mayan Reef in Mexico
The task of preserving the rich biodiversity of the Great Mayan Reef is not something simple, although it is of primary importance.
It has a too fragile structure that can be seriously affected by global warming, pollution and excessive industrial activities. Fortunately for everyone, little by little a very valuable ecological awareness is spreading globally and wild areas such as the coasts of Quintana Roo are being protected by international laws.
Scuba diving on the Great Mayan Reef in Mexico
The most favorable sites for diving and snorkeling in the Riviera Maya of the Great Mayan Reef are Tulum, Banco Chinchorro, Xcalak, Puerto Aventuras, Puerto Morelos, Cancun and Cozumel.
Exploring these marine directions to better understand their fascinating biodiversity is an incomparable experience that no one should miss.
It is worthwhile to vacation frequently in the directions of the Mexican Caribbean and thus get to know in depth the many tourist surprises that the Great Mayan Reef treasures.
Reasons to visit the Great Mayan Reef in Mexico
For those who do not want to get their feet wet and enjoy the beauties of the underwater world, there are glass bottom boats and even submarines in some tourist destinations.
Other popular water sports in the Mundo Maya are windsurfing, water skiing, sport fishing, and angling. There are also cruises that travel the coasts of the Mayan World.
Second largest and most beautiful on the planet
The second largest reef in the world after Australia, is this wonderful coral reef, also called Mesoamerican, which is born in Cabo Catoche, north of Quintana Roo, and borders the coasts of Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.
The Mexican part measures 300 kilometers, and more than a thousand in its totality.
In many of its sections it reaches great depths, which is not common, but here, thanks to the fact that the water is very transparent, it does reach sunlight, which is essential for coral growth. The Great Mayan Reef in Mexico is not only a scene of calcium carbonate and a fun multifamily of marine life where flora and fauna coexist in a burst of colors and shapes that sway to the swaying currents, but it also serves as a barrier to the waves caused by the passage of storms and hurricanes, which favors the development of plants, dunes and mangroves on the mainland.
The most transparent waters of the Caribbean Sea
The Great Mayan Reef, surrounded by blue Caribbean waters, runs from southern Mexico to Honduras and is home to the world-renowned Great Mayan Reef, underwater caves, canyons, sunken ships and multicolored marine life.
The Cave of the Sleeping Sharks, which was featured in the documentaries of the famous French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, is located east of Isla Mujeres and is suitable for expert divers.
Further south is the Chinchorro bank, a huge coral atoll that due to its steep reefs is a cemetery for ships, during the time of the Conquest several Spanish galleons ran aground on its sharp reefs.
Today, diving excursions to Chinchorro are offered from Xcalak and Cozumel.
Tips for visiting the Great Mayan Reef in the Mexican Caribbean
From the northern part of the state of Quintana Roo, along the paths of Cabo Catoche and up to the beautiful Honduran bays, the formidable Great Mayan Reef extends. This attractive submarine is also known as the Mesoamerican Reef System. Visitors will find this wonder of the Caribbean Sea is an excellent site where ancient wrecks, canyons, underwater caverns and a rich underwater biodiversity are concentrated.
It is worth mentioning that the Mesoamerican Reef System is home to one of the largest manatee populations, which has approximately 1,500 copies.
Otherwise, the Great Mesoamerican Reef is a valuable refuge for different species that are under official protection or at risk of extinction.
In the same way, certain marine areas located in the vicinity of Isla Contoy are frequented by numerous specimens of the whale shark, another fascinating creature from the deep.
Visit Puerto Morelos.
