As of March 28, 2017, these are the most up-to-date and concise rules concerning snorkeling in Akumal Bay: Continue reading
PROFEPA’s Current Rules for Akumal Bay Snorkelers
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Akumal Snorkeling Difficulties–Here We Go Again!
Vacationers traveling to Akumal in the next few weeks should be aware that PROFEPA (the Federal Environmental Protection Agency in Mexico) has temporarily suspended tour group snorkeling in Akumal Bay. The agency determined that the original ruling of allowing only a certain number of tour group participants to snorkel had been grossly ignored by tour companies, so PROFEPA is trying to determine how to permanently resolve this issue while protecting the turtles, coral, and other sea life in the bay. At the present time, individual snorkelers, for the most part, are allowed to swim and snorkel in front of Secrets Akumal and ABBWR without being harassed, but snorkeling north of this area may result in being told to get out of the water (the northern end of the bay is where most of the sea grass beds are and where snorkel groups typically have entered the water in the past). There are buoys marking these areas, but there is a lot of confusion right now about who is allowed in the bay and exactly where people are allowed to snorkel. Some reports state that snorkeling is allowed as long as life vests and fins are not used, while others state info to the contrary. If fins and life vests are not allowed, this seems to be a very unsafe snorkeling practice unless it is done immediately offshore.
Fire at Grand Bahia Principe Tulum
Apparently there was a fire at Grand Bahia Principe Tulum which started in the evening hours yesterday, Jan. 13 2017. The fire began in the Circle lobby bar area due to an electrical short circuit and has destroyed the bar area. While some initial reports stated the lobby and theater were gone as well, these areas were not greatly affected and the resort has put up a temporary bar in the theater area. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the incident.
How to See If Your Digital Safe Will Keep Your Valuables Safe
While there’s no way to ensure that your valuables remain safe in your guest room’s digital safe while on vacation, there is a brief test you can perform to see if the safe you have has a fairly common overriding “default code/password”. Most travelers know that digital safes require a numerical “code” or combination in order to lock/unlock them, but sometimes guests forget these chosen codes or digital safes’ batteries die which makes them impossible to reopen. Resorts/hotels often deal with this issue by having a master “default code/password” which saves them time and trouble if they have to reopen the safe for the guest.
Akumal Protest Turns Violent
Vacationers thinking of visiting Akumal, either to swim with the turtles for the day or those staying in villas or condos in this vicinity, may want to delay or cancel their trips until the situation settles down. Last night on the 29th what started out as a peaceful gathering turned violent as molotov cocktails, rocks, and God knows what else were hurled at police, protesters, and bystanders with several burned vehicles and a burned police station. There are reports of missing protesters, but so far those are rumors and have not been officially verified. These kinds of situations should not affect the AI resorts of Secrets or its neighbor, ABBWR, but guests staying here should not venture to the north of their resorts at this time. Check out this video–such a sad situation.
New Trend in Aqua Exercise?
I wonder if this will be the new trend in aqua exercise at all the resorts or just the upscale ones. I first discovered the aqua bikes at Secrets Akumal in November, then read that Valentin Imperial Maya and Secrets Silversands also have the same equipment. Does anyone else know if any other resorts have started this exercise program? Let me know!