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half moon bay - 11/3/2012 1:56:01 PM

stwartNewfoundland

Posts: 133
Joined: 10/6/2011
From: newfoundland, canada
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hello to all....heading to mexico in one weeks time
we are wondering about snorkeling at half moon bay
i would like to know about optimum access points from the beach??
currents to watch out for??
i have read other comments that show an aerial photo with descriptive notes of half moon bay. while that info has been awesome, what else can we take note of so that we will be safe??

any info is appreciated

thanks

stewart

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RE: half moon bay - 11/4/2012 10:53:42 AM

PC5

Posts: 867
Joined: 4/4/2008
From: Bishop, CA and Akumal, Q. Roo
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Greetings!

You probably read this forum http://forums.locogringo.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1502434 with lots of info on HMB snorkeling.

From reading your questions, I am guessing you are an inexperienced snorkeler with some fear of the ocean. Of course, this may not be the case. But, if it is, you may perfect your snorkeling at the lagoon and Akumal bay before attempting HMB.

It is too easy to damage the coral in HMB if you are not a competent snorkeler. Keep your fins up, use the correct sunscreen or rash guard, protect the coral.

Enjoy your experience!

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Annie
Playa Caribe #5

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RE: half moon bay - 11/5/2012 1:22:50 PM

stwartNewfoundland

Posts: 133
Joined: 10/6/2011
From: newfoundland, canada
Status: offline

PC5 thanks for the link....also more great info.....
we have limited snorkeling experience ....over the past 5 yrs or so in the akumal/yakul/Cozumel areas of mexico
my goal this trip is to photograph spotted eagle rays as well as other fish types
we don't fool around when it comes to safety...we now have our own life vests etc......

just need to know as you have informed me about the currents and depth of the water and related hazards that we might encounter

thanks for the info

stewart

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RE: half moon bay - 11/5/2012 6:55:03 PM

2BVI

Posts: 730
Joined: 5/17/2008
From: Bayfield, WI
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HMB is not an easy snorkel. The entrance is tricky due to the shallow and rocky entrance.

The currents in HMB can be strong and the bay can be inaccessible during moderate to high winds. We have snorkeled HMB about a dozen times over the years and have experienced strong rip currents about 1/3 of the times. And the snorkel has varied from very good to bad. We prefer to snorkel at Akumal Bay but HMB is intriguing. Consider going out during high tide as the bay is shallow.

We always enter on the north side as that is the best spot for us as our condo that we always stay is in that location.

I would not advise doing a solo. Buddy up!

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RE: half moon bay - 11/6/2012 5:54:12 AM

stwartNewfoundland

Posts: 133
Joined: 10/6/2011
From: newfoundland, canada
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thanks, 2BVI ...more great info.....we always buddy up....

i'll report back after we do this

as always
LG rocks

stewart

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RE: half moon bay - 11/6/2012 6:48:33 AM

crunch

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Just remember to do it on a non-windy day and when you hit the beautiful coral gardens just skirt around the edges as the clearance further in can be very low. It is definitely doable in the right weather and all you will see is very much worth it.

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RE: half moon bay - 11/6/2012 8:50:19 AM

stwartNewfoundland

Posts: 133
Joined: 10/6/2011
From: newfoundland, canada
Status: offline

thanks crunch....more great advise and info.....hope its not a windy day when we get there

what were your entry points???
i was thinking of going in at the north end as others have suggested...or ....go in near la beuna vida???

your thoughts please

stewart

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RE: half moon bay - 11/6/2012 1:26:20 PM

crunch

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From: Dreaming of my next vacation to paradise......
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I have always found the easiest are at la Mirage, but last year I was lazy and just went in at VDM.

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Nothing wrong with me that a margarita on the beach wouldn't fix.......................

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RE: half moon bay - 11/6/2012 2:18:56 PM

stwartNewfoundland

Posts: 133
Joined: 10/6/2011
From: newfoundland, canada
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thanks for all the tips crunch...just one more ....i'm looking at google earth and there appears to vacant land between la mirage and a place called yool canaal..(rental) ...is that land still vacant as it looks like a spot for entry to HMB with a walkway/trail heading off of road towards the ocean ( google earth photos are probably two years old or so.

again

mucho gracias

stewart

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Post #: 9

RE: half moon bay - 11/6/2012 3:31:16 PM

Sirmonki

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Joined: 7/8/2010
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My wife and I stayed at VDM condos 2 years ago, and we were novice snorkelers at then time, but good swimmers. We went in right in front of the condo. The clearance is sometimes VERY shallow, glad we had the inflatable vests for this part. And we had no fins, big mistake. Trying to make headway against the current was almost too much for me, and definitely too much for my wife. So, I would recommend inflatable vests and fins for sure. We ended up doing most of our snorkeling in Akumal Nay, it was great! But I would not hesitate to snorkel HMB when we go back, now that we have fins!

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RE: half moon bay - 11/7/2012 5:33:58 PM

juan rojo

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Joined: 12/13/2010
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Stuart ,the empty lot is still empty and a reasonable place to enter the bay today . There are two small rocks quite far out that often have birds perched on them and that is a reasonable line to follow from that entry . Pc5 had some advice about entering and I go about entering the opposite way . Earplugs in , mask on with snorkel in mouth , barefoot for as short a distance as possible , today it was 4 FEET and then I lean back and sit down facing the shore or float on my back and put on the fins that way . I'm old and not particularly flexible and this way works best for me anywhere and especially with rough footing . I'm sorta leading with my butt and floating almost right away . That's the main thing , get horizontal as quickly as possible . I reverse this procedure to get out , like a toddler on a staircase . Dead flat calm today , awesome . There were pelicans diving into a ball of finger mullet , a thousand strong all day long 20 yards off Playa Blanca in three feet of water .

< Message edited by juan rojo -- 11/7/2012 9:42:45 PM >

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RE: half moon bay - 11/8/2012 8:54:33 AM

AKUMALATION

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I have done HMB every morning this week and Yal Ku lagoon in the afternoon, so far the lagoon is the best, going to Akumal beach after breakfast at the Turtle BaY Cafe. All is good

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RE: half moon bay - 11/8/2012 10:33:43 AM

stwartNewfoundland

Posts: 133
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From: newfoundland, canada
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WOW you guys are awesome...snowing where i am today with wind and rain.....only 3.5 sleeps to go!!!!!!!!!!!!
private transfer booked .....all we gotta do is show up!!!!!!!!!!!!

again thanks for the incredible info

you guys rock

stew

ps AKUMALATION....any spotted rays at yakull lagoon???

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RE: half moon bay - 11/9/2012 4:00:59 PM

Cheesehead

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From: La Crosse, Wisconsin
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Snorkeling Half Moon Bay gets tricky anytime you see whitecaps. If they are present, I recommend waiting for another day. Without whitecaps, it is best to enter north of the area shown on the aerial photo as a break in the reef. The current through that area is much stronger than in the north part of the bay and there is not a great deal worth seeing south of that area anyway. That means you should NOT enter the water by La Buena Vida (although that is a perfectly good place to access the beach). Anywhere north of (probably) The Reef condominiums would fit the bill as north of the reef break.

The BEST place to enter (in my opinion) particularly if you are not staying in lodgings on Half Moon Bay, would be just south of a condominium building called Yul Canal. Just south of there you will see a vegetation covered dune that blocks the view of the bay with a very small parking area (only big enough for about 1 car) next to a narrow path through the vegetation over the dune. If you walk the path over the dune, you will enter the beach next to a large piece of driftwood. The driftwood is a handy place to leave a towel and sandals as you head in to snorkel. The least rocky part of the shoreline (but in Half Moon Bay, least rocky is still far from the sandy smooth bottom you will encounter in Akumal Bay) is just a bit south of where you come over the dune. Entering the water here allows you to swim straight out to the reef and then turn either north or south along the reef wall for some pretty good snorkeling.

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RE: half moon bay - 11/9/2012 5:01:07 PM

juan rojo

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Stuart , I think we are all discussing the same entry point , on the path through the vacant lot . Right now the path has been narrowed by a barb wire fence running along it's length , installed by a land owner of the north half . You can still easily walk through . Good advice about wavy conditions as the wind picked up today . No eagle rays in five Halfmoon Bay snorkels and two at Akumal Bay but soon I'm sure ..

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Please be happy always

PARTLY CLOUDY = MOSTLY SUNNY

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RE: half moon bay - 11/9/2012 6:00:22 PM

fidget

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In April I saw eagle rays around a small reef straight out from Playa Caribe and just off shore of LBV . They are worth looking for! I actually saw the one near LBV from shore while having dinner.

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Gail in Nova Scotia

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RE: half moon bay - 11/11/2012 6:49:04 PM

stwartNewfoundland

Posts: 133
Joined: 10/6/2011
From: newfoundland, canada
Status: offline

well i gotta hit the bunk ...as our flight from Newfoundland departs at 5:30 am...change in toronto ...then....sun.....
many thanks to you all for the excellent tips and advise,

....i 'll write up a trip report when we get home

only 0.5 sleeps to go

stew

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