JUNGLE `SNORKEL' TOUR

On Tuesday I talked with my friend, Cesar, at the travel agency and I booked a Jungle Tour. Every town seems to have a `Jungle Tour•. I guess that is to be expected since the Yucatan Peninsula is, mainly, jungle.

2002 May 15. Wednesday was sunny and bright. (Isn't every day, in paradise?) I took the bus to Zone Hotel ($6.00) till I was past Senor Frogs and then walked back. Whether open, or not, you walk through the main entrance of Senor Frogs, through the dinning area, out the other side, and down to the wharf. Here you will find the ticket booth for the snorkel tour.

THE HOTEL ZONE	FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF MEXICO.

They have a selection of fins and masks but, as usual, you will probably be more comfortable with your own, if you have them.

Unlike Xcaret, if you use their equipment, you don't get to keep the snorkel.

I joined four Filipinas from L. A. (Los Angeles), California, USA. and a couple from Kent, Washington, USA.
After being equipped with our dive gear we were assigned to our 2-man boats and given a quick lesson in how to drive them.

FELLOW ADVENTURERS TRY ON FINS	BEAR (ME) IN A BOAT.

When traveling out one must follow the leader. The leader may be far ahead and, after going slow for awhile to let you get used to the boat, will travel at top speed.

The boats are quite safe. They are wide and unlikely to tip over. They are fairly smooth if you stay in the center of the wake, the waves behind a boat.

THE HOTEL ZONE	HEADING FOR THE JUNGLE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE LAGOON. IT IS A LARGE LAGOON.

When traveling, you try to keep up with the boat in front, if he slows down, you slow down, and you raise your hand to let the boat behind know that you are doing so.

I was the last boat and usually far behind as I was constantly slowing to take pictures.

When approaching the bridge, to pass from the lagoon to the open ocean, everyone must slow as other boats, or seadoos, may be coming beside you.

Also the channel is fairly narrow and there may be other tours coming towards you.

THE FUZZY CENTER OF THE PICTURE IS WATER.
BUT IT IS OK,
MY CAMERA IS INSIDE AN UNDERWATER CASE.

When we arrived at the dive site, Ramon, our guide, who was in the lead boat, tied his boat to a buoy and then tied all the other boats to his.

RAMON SITTING IN BOAT WHILE WE GO DIVING.	WHILE WE WERE DIVING WE WERE JOINED BY OTHER TOUR GROUPS.

The dive area is roped off. Ropes are held afloat by small floats and held in place by anchors.

The ropes are to keep the divers away from the coral, to protect it for the pleasure of future generations of divers.

I dove under the rope that separated our boats from the dive area. As I was adjusting my gear, I felt a bite on my elbow. I turned quickly and snapped a picture of the culprit.

Now, I have never heard, of a diver being bitten by a fish, though I have know minnows to nibble at my skin if I sit still in shallow water.

I have a fungal growth on my elbow, which is being treated with stuff the doctor prescribed. At that time, before having visited a doctor, it was dry and peeling. I believe the fish caught a piece of the protruding skin and tore it off.

Maybe that fish is, or believes he is, a type of clearer fish.

A CLEANER FISH?	ROPES PROTECT THE CORAL FROM DIVERS.
THOUGH RESTRICTED TO A ROPED AREA	YOU CAN STILL GET CLOSE ENOUGH FOR GOOD VIEWING.
RAMON HELPS THE LADIES FROM L.A. OUT OF THE WATER.	MAKING MEMENTOS.
THE SHORELINE BY THE DIVE AREA.	THE SHORELINE WEST OF THE DIVE AREA.

Leaving the area, after passing under the bridge, we took a different channel through the jungle.

On one side we could see a mother, Bald Headed, eagle. On the other side we could see her nest and from it we could hear the cries of her young.

After leaving the jungle we followed the edge of the lagoon back to where we started.

COMMERCIAL AREA.	HOME PORT.

Crew members will be on the dock to help you ashore, shake your hand, thank you for coming, and one, or more, will be holding a container for you to deposit a tip.