New old friend

[John in DC]

Just wanted to say hi and reintroduce myself, as I recognize a lot of screen names from elsewhere. I'm John in DC on a couple of other boards. (I registered as "Carousel" by mistake -- I use that name on several forums completely unrelated to things Mexico. I wonder, is it possible to change it?)

I've been traveling down to Soliman Bay for most of the last seven years, and to the Caribbean Coast every couple of years since the '80s. Heading down again in July. More and more, I gravitate to Tulum. It's my kinda town!

[mayaflya]

Welcome John! Where do you stay on Soliman Bay? We're headed there in two weeks. We stayed last year on Tankah Bay, but visited Soliman to eat at the now relocated Oscar y Lalo's. We are staying at Villa Dolce Vita this time.

Any tips on snorkeling Soliman?

[John in DC]

We stay at Casa del Corazon, which is north of Dolce Vita. You picked a really nice property!

Snorkeling in Soliman is very, very good and awfully convenient. Walk out tour door, put on your gear and get in the bay. There are lots of coral heads throughout, ranging in size from an exercise ball to a house. You'll find lots of colorful fishies and reasonably healthy coral. The heads are scattered fairly densely throughout the bay -- if you see a dark spot in the water, that's a coral head. I recall seeing many blue angels in the southern end of the bay near Dolce Vita.

The best snorkeling, however, is out by the reef. The best way to get there is to paddle out in a kayak (which I'm sure Dolce Vita has) and tie up at one of the two buoys out by the reef break. From Dolce Vita, that will be slightly to your left when looking straight out. Lots and lots of diverse sea life out there, and some great coral gardens. The one and only turtle I've seen in Soliman was out by the reef break. You'll definitely see rays and probably some fierce looking eels if you are patient enough.

Do watch out for the current, when out by the reef break. You don't want to mess around where the water flows in and out of the bay. It's pretty obvious when you are out there where to be careful. The bay never gets more than 20 feet deep, but that's more than enough water to be dangerous if you are inattentive. (Note that if the tide is coming in and it's a windy day, your end of the bay may get choppy. If that happens, then just walk north a bit, where the reef provides more shelter.)

[mayaflya]

We stay at Casa del Corazon, which is north of Dolce Vita. You picked a really nice property!

Snorkeling in Soliman is very, very good and awfully convenient.

Ahhhh! Now you've got me even more excited! Thanks!

[PhyllisB]

Hey John, I thought that might be you! (Funny how you kinda get used to the way people write!) Welcome to TI. Glad to have you!

Phyllis

[John in DC]

Thanks to James for renaming me from Carousel to John in DC. I feel like a new man!