Safety for swimming in ocean
#1
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Safety for swimming in ocean
We are going to Cancun for the first time for one month in November and December. We rented a condo in a small condo building with 12 units. How safe is it swimming in the ocean especially if there are no lifeguards in the beach area where we will be: should we have any concerns about sharks on the beach strip of the hotel zone? We plan to go to the island of Cozumel. Are there any great beaches there?
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Your biggest problem may be the seaweed that has been plaguing the coast there all this past year.
Unless you specify exactly which beach your condo is on/near, it would be impossible to tell you about wave conditions. There are some calmer beaches and some with bigger waves along the coast. IS it the strip where all the big hotels are? Cancun Hotel Zone itself?
No sharks.
Cozumel is for snorkling mostly.
Don't forget the cenotes for refreshing fresh water swimming, and getting out to see some Mayan ruins (Tulum, Coba, Ek Balam, Chichen Itza)and Yucatecan culture (Colonial Valladolid, Merida, the Sian Ka'an biosphere near Tulum with Maya structures and canals)
Unless you specify exactly which beach your condo is on/near, it would be impossible to tell you about wave conditions. There are some calmer beaches and some with bigger waves along the coast. IS it the strip where all the big hotels are? Cancun Hotel Zone itself?
No sharks.
Cozumel is for snorkling mostly.
Don't forget the cenotes for refreshing fresh water swimming, and getting out to see some Mayan ruins (Tulum, Coba, Ek Balam, Chichen Itza)and Yucatecan culture (Colonial Valladolid, Merida, the Sian Ka'an biosphere near Tulum with Maya structures and canals)
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I'd head to Isla Mujeres for the day, Playa Norte is very calm and sandy and you can walk out a very long way before it gets deep at all. Plus another bonus is, Playa Norte has not been plagued by any sargassum that is all up and down the entire Riviera Maya and Cancun. It is not showing much sign of letting up either. Rent a golf cart and explore the island for part of the day. Take your drivers license to use as a deposit.
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The beaches in Isla Mujeres are very calm. I stayed in the Fiesta American at the top of that peninsula, so its beach was pretty calm, also.
The beaches on the full ocean (east side) can have strong undertow and rough surf, I can't imagine there is much harm if you mean you are only going a few feet into it (playing in the waves). If you mean you are going farther out, of course, you have to be more careful. Regardless of lifeguards, if this is a real beach, it should have warning signs/flags posted about the weather/ocean safety, just pay attention to them. Red means warning, dangerous, be very careful (I wouldn't go in if I were you. Black is definitely too dangerous to go in. If this isn't a real beach area where they post the flags, maybe find one that is. But you can tell when it's rough, don't take risks.
Sharks are possible off thaty coast, they occur, but not commonly at all. It's fairly rare. I suppose they said that in NC, also. Greater risk of jellyfish stinging you.
I only went snorkeling in Cozumel, leaving near the pier where the ferry comes over. I wouldn't go all the way to Cozumel for the beaches if you are in Cancun, there are better, closer options. PDC for one, not to mention Isla Mujeres. But there are some sandy, not rocky, beach areas on that island, the ones on the west side of the island (leeward) are fairly calm. there are lifeguards/warning flags on some of them and not others.
here, this is a chart showing you which ones have lifeguards and other amenities http://www.cozumelinsider.com/BEACHES
The beaches on the full ocean (east side) can have strong undertow and rough surf, I can't imagine there is much harm if you mean you are only going a few feet into it (playing in the waves). If you mean you are going farther out, of course, you have to be more careful. Regardless of lifeguards, if this is a real beach, it should have warning signs/flags posted about the weather/ocean safety, just pay attention to them. Red means warning, dangerous, be very careful (I wouldn't go in if I were you. Black is definitely too dangerous to go in. If this isn't a real beach area where they post the flags, maybe find one that is. But you can tell when it's rough, don't take risks.
Sharks are possible off thaty coast, they occur, but not commonly at all. It's fairly rare. I suppose they said that in NC, also. Greater risk of jellyfish stinging you.
I only went snorkeling in Cozumel, leaving near the pier where the ferry comes over. I wouldn't go all the way to Cozumel for the beaches if you are in Cancun, there are better, closer options. PDC for one, not to mention Isla Mujeres. But there are some sandy, not rocky, beach areas on that island, the ones on the west side of the island (leeward) are fairly calm. there are lifeguards/warning flags on some of them and not others.
here, this is a chart showing you which ones have lifeguards and other amenities http://www.cozumelinsider.com/BEACHES
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All beaches are quite safe along the Riviera Maya as far as wave size is concerned. There are areas with a strong undertow which must be taken in account if you plan on swimming away from the beach which you should take under consideration in the Cancun area and in the Puerto Aventuras area.
Common sense is the way to go. Have not heard of sharks and the Cozumel beaches are spectacular for sunbathing and also snorkelling which is a world recognized destination for ocean bathers and snorkelers. There are many tours and people there to help you choose different areas and excursions available. You can also rent a convertible VW beetle in San Miguel Cozumel and just drive along the shoreline until you find a nice beach. You have many options at your disposal...
Common sense is the way to go. Have not heard of sharks and the Cozumel beaches are spectacular for sunbathing and also snorkelling which is a world recognized destination for ocean bathers and snorkelers. There are many tours and people there to help you choose different areas and excursions available. You can also rent a convertible VW beetle in San Miguel Cozumel and just drive along the shoreline until you find a nice beach. You have many options at your disposal...
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