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Chankanaab used to be a place where the people of Cozumel
spent their Sundays long ago. At that time the lagoon could only be
reached by sea or trail. It was a piece of paradise.
In a short time the history changed. First the paved road
was constructed between the lagoon and the sea, collapsing the tunnels
that connected the lagoon with the sea. In 1967 the cyclone Beulah
silted the lagoon and devastated the vegetation. Tourists began to reach
the place and with them vendors. By 1980 Chankanaab looked like a
garbage dump above and below the surface.
The state and local government along with the people of
Cozumel started a successful restoration program with the purpose of
reverting the damages caused to the ecosystem.
The effort also included a life restoring program. This
and other efforts have turned the Chankanaab lagoon into a major
attraction of the island and a center of cultural and ecological
interest.
Chankanaab means little sea. It has evolved into a world
renowned ecosystem The lagoon is approximately 74 by 46 meters and its
depth varies from 1 to 3.5 meters.
Chankanaab is very likely the best known place in Cozumel.
Its crystal clear water, the reef just under the water level a few steps
makes Chankanaab one of the finest places in the world for snorkeling.
It is also the best place for you who haven't practiced your scuba
diving skills for a long time and want to get in shape again.
Many underwater rivers reach the sea at this place. These
caves had been followed several miles inland by specialized divers. The
entrance to these caves and caverns are closed for the visitors safety.
But Chankanaab is not just one of the best places in the
world for snorkeling and shallow diving. The park also has a botanical
garden where you may see many tropical trees, bushes and flowers. The
botanical garden also has many replicas of some of the best
representations of prehispanic monuments, especially Mayan.
The park has all that you might need to make your stay
more pleasant, including dressing rooms, freshwater showers, several
restaurants, full-service dive shops, equipment rental, clothing, photo
and souvenir shops. The park has lifeguards on duty all of the time.
Most of the Chankanaab waterfront is reef. But for those
that like a nice sandy beach, there is a small one. The inlet is like a
sea water pool. Children enjoy this part of the park very much.
For all of you whose dream is to swim with dolphins,
Chankanaab also hosts a Dolphins Discovery Center where you can learn
about and interact with these marvelous creatures. The program requires
an additional cost depending on the program in which you choose to
enroll. There is also a sea lion show that is performed at a special
theatre. On July 2002 the center welcomed the first dolphin born in the
park.
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