Akumal Bay is known for its assorted species of sea turtles which use the beaches for breeding, feeding and rearing their young. This provides an optimal opportunity to see the animals in their natural habitat, including the many different species of fish and plant life.

Snorkelling and scuba diving are perhaps the favourite activities to pursue during a trip to Akumal, but snorkelling is a less physically demanding and technical option. With a brief instruction course and a smart location choice, snorkelling is very easy for even first-time novices.

One popular location for snorkelling Mexico in Akumal is the Yal-ku lagoon. This location is an extremely rare environment where fresh water meets with salt water from the sea. The combination of the two types of water is called a halocline effect.

Only very specific species can live and thrive in this halocline lagoon, and the mixture of salt and fresh water supplies creates a changed appearance of the water itself. Many fish found in this area are not found anywhere else in the world, and have been shown on many travel channel specials in recent years.

Casa Cenote is a lagoon featuring mangroves and bright fish displays. Many snorkelers find the fossils in Cenote at Dosojos quite worth while for a day of exploration. Many of the fossils seen at Dosojos date back to original civilizations that once occupied the area.

Snorkelling in Mexico have lessons are always a good idea for first-timers prior to going to one of these sites. Although the activity is simple, some find that they are uncomfortable with the equipment or unsure how to best view the underwater scenery while safely using the snorkel.

A fun activity for locals and tourists alike is night snorkelling. Typically, a light is used in conjunction with traditional snorkelling equipment for this activity.

Many fish which are not observed during daylight hours can be observed when snorkelling after nightfall. This is usually because they are night-feeders or resting during the day.

The octopus is a perfect example of this phenomenon. Octopuses only come out to feed at night-time, and change colour when a light is focused on them. Virtually all of the life seen at night are safe for snorkelers, so night snorkelling is a safe activity also.

Plant life and some types of fish are also luminescent after dark. This creates greenish lights shining either continuously or flashing at night quite a view for one who is only accustomed to snorkelling Mexico during the day!