Snorkeling and Kayaking in Soliman Bay
by Maire B Estar
No matter what age, or whether one is a novice or an expert,
the pristine waters of Soliman Bay offer fabulous snorkeling
opportunities for guests at Tropical Evergreens. Protected
from the surging seas of the Caribbean by the second largest
coral reef in the world, Soliman Bay is dotted with its own
colorful coral formations that are home to a wide variety
of fish and marine life. The calm and relatively shallow water
in the bay make viewing easy and spectacular! The brightly
hued fish are not the only thing that attract the eye. The
vivid colors of the coral, with its unique configurations,
give one the sense of looking into a sacred world that has
been undisturbed since the beginning of time.
 Sightings
of starfish, sea turtles and manta rays are not uncommon.
One alert party got to watch a manta ray lay her eggs
in the nutrient rich sea grass that is just inside the water
line of the bay. This grass is an important part of the ecosystem
of the bay as fish, rays, conches and other sea life use it
as a feeding ground and a place of protection while away from
the safety of the coral clusters. This grass isn’t a seaweed
or anything slimy like one would find in an inland freshwater
lake. It more like prairie grass a little stiff, but deeply
rooted into the soil below the surface. Slipping through it
is like passing across an underwater meadow.
Another great place to do some fantastic snorkeling is at
Yalku, which is about a 15 minute drive north of Soliman Bay.
For years the only way to reach Yalku was by boat, but now
it can be reached by road off of Highway 307 by turning at
the exit marked Akumal Caribe. Yalku is the perfect hideaway
being quite large and shaped like a “Y” with horns reaching
up into the jungle and the stem pointing out to sea.
The waters of Yalku are very clear and calm, with little
or no wave action, giving one great viewing opportunities
in depths of water no greater than six feet. Underneath the
surface are submerged rock formations which create an ideal
habitat for a variety of brightly colored creatures that snorkelers
love to see. Starfish and urchins, damselfish, sergeant majors,
hamlets, parrotfish, blue tangs and queen triggerfish are
quite abundant in the bay. Not only are the parrotfish quite
large and colorful, they can also be heard as they peck away
at the coral and rock, churning it into fine white sand. 
In the area where Yalku enters out into the sea, it is possible
to sight sea turtles as they come in to feed on the grass
at the bottom of this sandy part of the bay. A young loggerhead
turtle was seen by this author as it grazed, aware of me and
my companion as we hovered several feet above, at a distance
where we would not disturb its movements.
 Yalku
is like all other places where diving and snorkeling occur
it is best to stay at least 3 feet away from the coral so
it can’t be broken off by hand or an errant fin, and give
the sea creatures enough room so that their feeding and movement
patterns aren’t interrupted. Kicking the sand with your fins
smothers the coral and it will suffocate. Yalku has a $5 entrance
fee which pays for the removal of litter from the area. There
is a restaurant on the road that leads to the cove. You’ll
want to bring snorkel gear, a towel, drinking water and something
to eat. Be sure to pack out all that you carry in. Wear a
t-shirt and shorts instead of using sunscreen as it will kill
the coral and is hazardous to the creatures living in the
bay.
SOURCES:
Info Akumal Free Tourist Information, 1999
Cancun Tips Magazine, Fall 1999
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