Page 137 - Mexico Diving From the Caribbean to Pacific Isles

Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park

T he 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 larg-
est 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 Interna-
tional Pier and continues down and around Punta Sur and up just a small
portion of the east side of the island. On July 19, 1996, under the direc-
tion of president Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León, Arrecifes de Cozumel
was declared a National Marine Park. The park size is 120 km2 (46 sq mi).
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, Logger-
head Sea Turtle, and the Hawksbill turtle ), the Queen Conch, and black
coral.

T he park is most known for scuba diving and snorkeling. Popu-
lar 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 ).