Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park
Encyclopedia
The Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park is off the coast of the island
of Cozumel
in the state of Quintana Roo
, Mexico
. The cozumel reef system is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System
, the second largest coral reef system in the world. Even though almost the entire island of Cozumel is surrounded by coral reefs, the park only encompasses the reefs on the south side of the island. It begins just south of the International Pier and continues down and around Punta Sur
and up just a small portion of the east side of the island.
in the state of Quintana Roo
, Mexico
. It is about 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) off the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula
in the Caribbean Sea
.
Cozumel is home to the Cozumel Splendid toadfish
(Sanopus splendidus) which is listed as vulnerable
by IUCN and is entirely endemic to the reefs surrounding the island. The park also has several species that are under some degree of protection, including sea turtles (Green turtle, Loggerhead Sea Turtle
, and the Hawksbill turtle
), the Queen Conch, and black coral
.
and snorkeling
. Popular dive sites include Columbia Reef, Devil's Throat at Punta Sur
, Maracaibo, Palancar Reef
, Paradise Reef, Paso del Cedral, San Francisco, Yucab, and the shipwreck of the C-53 Felipe Xicoténcatl
(intentionally sunk in June 2000 to form an artificial reef
). Another interesting point to visit is the MUSA Museo Subacuatico (Underwater Museum) a particular installation with reef sculptures from artists: Salvador Quiroz, Jason Decaires Taylor, Karen Salinas and Rodrigo Quiñones.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
of Cozumel
Cozumel
Cozumel is an island in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, opposite Playa del Carmen, and close to the Yucatan Channel. Cozumel is one of the ten municipalities of the state of Quintana Roo...
in the state of Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 10 municipalities and its capital city is Chetumal....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The cozumel reef system is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System
Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System
The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System stretches over 1000 km from Isla Contoy at the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula down to the Bay Islands of Honduras...
, the second largest coral reef system in the world. Even though almost the entire island of Cozumel is surrounded by coral reefs, the park only encompasses the reefs on the south side of the island. It begins just south of the International Pier and continues down and around Punta Sur
Punta Sur
Punta Sur marks the southern point of Cozumel and is part of the Parque Punta Sur, a ecological park that covers the reefs, beaches, lagoons, and the low forest of the surrounding area...
and up just a small portion of the east side of the island.
Location
The park is located in the municipality of CozumelCozumel
Cozumel is an island in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, opposite Playa del Carmen, and close to the Yucatan Channel. Cozumel is one of the ten municipalities of the state of Quintana Roo...
in the state of Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 10 municipalities and its capital city is Chetumal....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It is about 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) off the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
in the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
.
History
On July 19, 1996, under the direction of president Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León, Arrecifes de Cozumel was declared a National Marine Park.Biodiversity
Splendid Toadfish
The splendid toadfish, Sanopus splendidus, also known as the coral toadfish, is a species of toadfish entirely endemic to the island of Cozumel.Commonly found under coral outcroppings. Dens can be spotted by the sloping sand patch...
(Sanopus splendidus) which is listed as vulnerable
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
by IUCN and is entirely endemic to the reefs surrounding the island. The park also has several species that are under some degree of protection, including sea turtles (Green turtle, Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
The loggerhead sea turtle , or loggerhead, is an oceanic turtle distributed throughout the world. It is a marine reptile, belonging to the family Cheloniidae. The average loggerhead measures around long when fully grown, although larger specimens of up to have been discovered...
, and the Hawksbill turtle
Hawksbill turtle
The hawksbill sea turtle is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only extant species in its genus. The species has a worldwide distribution, with Atlantic and Pacific subspecies. E. imbricata imbricata is the Atlantic subspecies, while E...
), the Queen Conch, and black coral
Black coral
Black corals are a group of deep water, tree-like corals related to sea anemones. They are also found in rare dark shallow water areas such as New Zealand's Milford Sound where they can be viewed from an underwater observatory. They normally occur in the tropics...
.
Attractions
The park is most known for scuba divingScuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
and snorkeling
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn...
. Popular dive sites include Columbia Reef, Devil's Throat at Punta Sur
Devil's Throat at Punta Sur
The Devil's Throat is an underwater cave formation located offshore at Punta Sur in the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park of Cozumel; it starts at approximately of depth and opens up at approximately - right at the edge of recreational dive limits....
, Maracaibo, Palancar Reef
Palancar reef
Palancar Reef is a large coral reef located on the southwest side of the island of Cozumel and is part of the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park. The site is very popular with scuba divers and is divided into several sections based on depth & coral formations...
, Paradise Reef, Paso del Cedral, San Francisco, Yucab, and the shipwreck of the C-53 Felipe Xicoténcatl
USS Scuffle (AM-298)
USS Scuffle was an built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation and five battle stars for service in the Pacific during World War II. She was decommissioned in June 1946 and placed in reserve. While she remained in reserve, Scuffle was...
(intentionally sunk in June 2000 to form an artificial reef
Artificial reef
An artificial reef is a human-made underwater structure, typically built to promote marine life in areas with a generally featureless bottom, control erosion, block ship passage, or improve surfing....
). Another interesting point to visit is the MUSA Museo Subacuatico (Underwater Museum) a particular installation with reef sculptures from artists: Salvador Quiroz, Jason Decaires Taylor, Karen Salinas and Rodrigo Quiñones.