Tropical Fish Hobbyist

A male spiny-tailed iguana basks in the warm tropical sunlight of Akumal.

predators go, so does the entire ecosystem. Without them, prey animals reproduce out of control, eat up all of their food, and then starve. The ecosystem is in balance and we need to respect that. Visit it, appreciate it, but also respect it. Do your part by not polluting the water—don’t wear non-biodegradable sunscreens, wear a t-shirt. Buy one and throw it in your snorkel bag; it’ll be years before you need another, and you’ll save money, avoid polluting waters, and not worry about losing your sun protection because of it washing off.

A trumpetfish Aulostomus maculatus prowls for small fishes and crustaceans it finds among the branching corals and gorgonians.

and salt waters. Cichlids and damsels, for example, seem to fill the same ecological niche when they are in close proximity and use the same technology, so to speak. Nature will use the same solution to a given problem as often as possible, and it really is cool to see them so close together.

If you intend to swim this cenote, there are some important facts you should know. The cave has a current that can drag you under, so be careful. While it is not strong when you get more than a few feet from the mouth of the cave, do keep an eye on the whirlpools on the surface near the cave. Also, be aware that sunscreen is not allowed in the water, so wear a t-shirt instead. A wetsuit would be nice also, as the water is cold, but it is not completely necessary.

Amidst Predators

On the final day, we saw a fish ball— composed of a thousand or so jacks—and “Barry” the barracuda, who is the protector and eater of the school of fish. They are eaten by only the one predator, which

is helpful for the overall stability of the school. It is simply amazing to see. While it is fun to watch on television, being there in person is an entirely different experience.

If you have never been up close and personal with a barracuda, it is at once wonderful and terrifying, as it has a face only a mother could love. Fierce, hungry, and always on the prowl, its eyes speak volumes. But do not go and think of the barracuda as a monster because it is not; it is an important player in the overall food web of the planet. I’ll admit it did seem like a monster, however. When we were looking for it, we poked our heads up and asked one another if we should look somewhere else, then bang!—the second we put our masks back in the water, there it was. It kept its distance and we kept ours, and then we continued on our way.

When you first have an encounter with such a predator, you should not feel hatred or fear, but a healthy respect. Know that these fish, magnificent and streamlined predators, have their place—if the apex

Enjoy Akumal

While such a trip may not qualify as an adventure to some, it certainly can be, and was for us. The freedom to have as much (or as little) of an adventure as you want makes Akumal a great place to stay. Reefs that are easily accessible, turtles, barracuda, nice beaches, and the ability to feel like Indiana Jones at the Mayan Ruins—what else could you ask for?

Speaking Spanish, while helpful, is not necessary, as most people you will be dealing with will be able to speak English. For those traveling with non-snorkelers, activities such as golf, horseback riding, and other such excursions exist. The tap water is oftentimes undrinkable, but many hotels and grocery stores offer bottled water. If you are buying your own, remember to buy more than you expect to need, maybe double what you expect to use, as it’s much better to have extra than not enough.