The first thing you have to know is that the Garrafón Natural Park is one of the most famous in the world for its natural beauty and the variety of marine fauna it has. In addition, it also has some reefs and cliffs that face the crystal clear waters of the Mexican Caribbean Sea. For this reason, snorkeling in Garrafon Park is a unique experience because you will visit pearls such as Isla Mujeres and Quintana Roo (Yucatán Peninsula). As an extra point, we have to highlight that it is only 25 minutes from Cancun.

So, if you love diving and want to meet many species of unique fish, one of the best things you can do on vacation is snorkeling in Parque Garrafón. Here we will tell what species you will find underwater; the diversity is so great that we can’t cover it completely in this article, so we will expose the most important and impressive ones.

The Species You Will See If You Do Snorkeling In Garrafon Park

You can be sure that snorkeling in Parque Garrafón will be something that will surprise you. It has practically no comparison to all the existing diversity; you will be stunned. Let us begin!

Whale Shark

There are no words to describe what it means to swim next to one of the biggest fish on earth. This species of shark can measure up to 12 meters, but despite its size, the truth is that it is very peaceful and harmless. It is not territorial, so it will not attack those who swim near it. The shark’s weight ranges from 15 tons when fully developed, and it feeds on plankton. As a curious fact, the Mexican Caribbean is where more whale sharks are sighted every year.

Loggerhead Turtle

A turtle that has been sighted in all the seas and oceans of the planet is a common species. Usually, it only reaches 90 cm with a weight of 135 kg. But it is not strange to find much larger specimens that exceed 210 cm and weigh 545 kg. Even though the loggerhead turtle has been seen in many places, it is currently in danger of extinction.

Sailfish

We come to one of the fastest fish that exists. It has been confirmed that it can reach a maximum speed of 109 km/hour while swimming and reach 3 meters. Unfortunately, it is another endangered species due to excessive hunting of it. Likewise, with a bit of luck and with the company of an expert, you can see sailfish in the Caribbean Sea of Mexico while snorkeling in Garrafon Park.

Bull Shark

This species is one of the most aggressive and territorial, unlike the whale shark. It is a fearsome predator of the Caribbean Sea. In its adult stage, it reaches 3.5 meters in height and 250 kg in weight, so it is a large fish. The bull shark is unique in its class because it can live in fresh and saltwater, and it is not uncommon for it to migrate to deep rivers to reproduce. Thanks to this quality, this type of shark have been able to expand because it has not been a victim of overfishing.

Leatherback Turtle

Observing it while you enjoy snorkeling in Garrafon Park will not be a problem. Thousands of specimens of this turtle inhabit the Caribbean Sea and are seen everywhere on Isla Mujeres. It is significant, reaching 2 meters and weighing 600 kg. Likewise, despite how common it is to see it on the coasts and islands of Mexico, it is another threatened species.

Barracuda

Many shoals come to the Caribbean Sea each year to spawn, after which they lead a solitary life. These fish stand out for being very greedy, and the largest reach is two meters, but the usual thing is that they measure around 45 cm. So you can appreciate them when snorkeling in Garrafon Park. The barracuda diet consists of feeding on other fish, such as cephalopods and shrimp. They excel in the marine world for being good hunters.

Black-Winged Stingray

Another incredible attraction that gives you more reasons to join the snorkeling in Garrafon Park. It is a species that will take your breath away because it is gigantic and beautiful. Its usual size is 6 meters. The good news is that their preferred habitat is the waters of the Caribbean Sea, so rest assured, they will be present in Isla Mujeres and other very famous tourist areas.

Now you know some of the species you will see when snorkeling in Garrafon Park. There will be a lot of variety, and best of all; the waters are crystal clear so that you won’t miss any detail, and it will be something extraordinary.