Focusing on two of Mexico's booming tourist destinations, CORAL currently works in Playa del Carmen, about 25 miles south of Cancun, and Cozumel, an island due east of Playa del Carmen, on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. Moving beyond traditional sea and sand recreation opportunities, Playa del Carmen and Cozumel are becoming world-class diving destinations. As a result of this explosive increase in tourism and a lack of responsible coastal development planning, coral reefs and other fragile coastal ecosystems are facing increasing pressure and threats associated with sedimentation, overfishing, pollution, and poorly conducted marine recreation activities (jump to map).

Reef Biodiversity

  • 56 species of sponges
  • 115 crustacean species, including lobster and shrimp
  • 125 species of mollusk
  • 125 species of coral
  • 500 fish species, including the planet’s largest fish, the whale shark
  • 5 sea turtle species, including the rarest of all sea turtles, the Kemps Ridley

Reef Facts

  • Tourism represents 8 percent of Mexico’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
  • Cozumel and Playa del Carmen visitors regularly visit the reefs off the coast of Cozumel.
  • Marine recreation providers and community leaders want to establish a marine protected area in Playa del Carmen to regulate development and promote sustainable use of its natural resources.



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