After grafting on the numerous outstanding boat jobs, (see previous log entry), it was time to descend below the waves and see what Mexico’s balmy 29 degree waters had to offer.

We were not disappointed. Isla Mujeres forms part of Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) a.k.a the Great Mayan reef. It is the second largest reef system second only the the Great barrier reef in Aus, and stretches from Isla Contoy to the north of us south along Mexico’s coast to Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.

It is a biodiversity hotspot, home to five species of sea turtle, the green, loggerhead, leatherback, hawksbill and olive ridley turtle along with the largest population of manatees on earth.

Dive 1 - Musa

8.4m 45mins

A sculpture collection ranging from a VW beetle to collections of Mexican life sized human statues representing persons from Mexico teamed with sea life. It was a joy to all be diving together.

Dive 2 - Manchones Reef

9.4m 50mins

A natural reef, this stood out for the sheer abundance of sea life. We were treated to shoals of reef fish, pristine corals, and larger species of sea life. We rounded the corner of a reef head and found a nurse shark lazily resting upon it. Towards the end of the dive we passed over a stingray partially buried on the sea bed.

Freediving

In addition to the scuba dives we took time to nip out on Argonauty and snorkel and free dive the shallower areas. Here we were also treated to many interesting species including the Yellow stingray and species of Batfish, who bizarrely walked along the sea bed rather than swimming (thanks for the ID @guernseyscientist !).

Yellow stingray, painful but not deadly to humans

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