probably some others will know specifics, but I'd say once you are there, it will be easy to find local snorkeling trips for around $25. I know it is in Cozumel (right on the dock, lots of companies for about that rate), so assume the same in PM. Also, I would have thought the AI would have info on ones available there.

Here is one company I used for some day tours that has good rates, and they have one for $25 from "costa maya" which I am guessing is Puerto Morales from the description, but you could email them and ask what the departure point is if you are interested. It's just one example. http://www.cancun-discounts.com/tours/costa-maya/snorkeling.htm

It's been a few years since I was in Puerto Morelos (it was in 2008), but at that time, you could just go to a kiosk by the main square, near the beach, and arrange for someone to take you out. The going rate at that time was $25; that covered the equipment and guide with stops at 2 different parts of the reef. It was wonderful!

Here's a quote from my late 2010 travelogue. Happy trails!
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We also snorkeled in the reserve at Puerto Morelos, cute little town. You can just walk up to the dock and hire guys from the local fisherman's coop to take you to the reef. I'd read it was $25/pp + $2 reef reserve fee but our guys offered $18/pp including the reef fee for 1.5 hours with stops in 2 places, nice little boat with a cover. The snorkeling was very good - lots of coral and gorgonian variety, the usual cast of fish characters in smallish schools, lots of juveniles, and some nice big fish - ocean triggerfish, midnight parrotfish, huge snapper, and nassau grouper.

hopefulist, some days your posts from your reports and your Mexico pictures really keep me going. Really, I mean it. Today I buried my Mom and did her eulogy. Now I am and seeing your post and oh man, I am transported to snorkeling on a reef in the Caribbean of MX. Thank you, I needed that.

emd3 ... my sincere condolences.

Wow - so sorry for your loss, emd3. Glad you can find a bit of solace in the world's beautiful places.

So sorry for you loss emd3. Yes...reminders of all the beauty in the world help us through difficult times.

emd,

My sincere condolences to you and your family.

Thank you all so much, I am touched by your posts. My Mom was not a traveler. She emigrated through Ellis Island from Germany in 1937 and always said after that long boat ride, travel didn't appeal to her much, she wanted to stay on the ground in her new home. She did take two German relatives to Cancun once when they came to visit us, but only because the relatives wanted to go so badly. While gettng ready for the services, I found a picture of my Mom standing on the beach in Cancun, laughing, with a spider monkey on her shoulder. It gave me a good laugh.

emd3, that image (well, the idea) made me smile, too. I'm sorry for your loss.

To the OP, I am sorry, I did not men to hijack your thread. It looks like you got some good info from several posters above on making a deal for snorkeling in Puerto Morelos. I love the town, and stayed there for 4 nights last year when I went to our annual condo owner's mtg. in Playa del Carmen (our condo there was booked for the wk). I aways eat at La Panza es Primero (the Luche Libre decoarated restaurant) right on the beach and watch the snorkelers come back from snorkeling right there in front of the restaurant. (They leave from the little pier just to the left of the zocalo).

I want to add that there are colectivos that run between Cancun and Puerto Morelos. These are inexpensive vans that can take about 10 people. Really inexpensive. This is how the Mexicans get around from Cancun all the way down Hwy. 307 to Tulum and beyond.

The colectivos start at Cancun and Puerto Morelos is their first stop You just need to find out where to get the colectivos in Cancun. There will be a contral gathering spot for the collectives, and it won't be a station, it wil ba spot on a street. Once you get to that place, find a van that has "PM" or Puerto Mor. written on the van windshield. It will also have other destinations written on the windshield, like Playa or PDC (Playa del Carmen).

Puert Morelos is the first stop for those vans, about 20 min. south of Cancun. The van would drop you at the junction of the hwy. 307 and the road that leads straight down to the beach to town. That is a nice road, they just completely redid it earlier this yr and it has a nice, wide, elevated (by a high curb) walkway on the side of the road straight down to the beach. If it is a nice day, do the walk, the walk will take about 20 min. If it is too warm or not so great, there will be cabs there at the bus stop (or at the bigger bus stop where the big ADO buses drop off and pick up immediately on other side of hwy.) to take you down to the town for about 30 pesos at most ($2.50)

Cabs drop you off at bottom of zocalo, and it is a one minute one block walk to the little fishing pier from there, where you will fnd several snorkel boat guys ready to negotiate price and take you out.

God, I love Mexico. I get happy just thinking about a colectivo ride like this and the anticipation of walking down that mile long walkway towards town and the beach.

Thanks everyone. we are staying on the Hotel Zone, can you get a collectivo by the road or do you have to go into Cancun proper?
Tdiddy

Em3, so sorry to read of the loss of your mother. How sad! Coming to the US in 1937 was an excellent decision her family made. She seems to have had a good life her and the joy of a daughter. May her memory be a blessing.

Tdiddy, you will have to ask at your hotel. BUt I do not recall seeing colectivos on the hotel zone road on my trips in the last 5 yrs (it is basically one road). My best guess is that they are ina central location (or maybe a few locations) in Cancun proper.

The site below says, "You get the colectivo in downtown Cancun in the parking lot of "La Comercial Mexicana" on Tulum Ave.

see here:
http://www.travelyucatan.com/collectivo.php

I used Aquanauts in 2009 for three different snorkel trips and they were very nice, professional, and affordable. http://www.aquanautsdiveadventures.com/home.html
We did a day snorkel on the reef off puerto morelos and stopped at two sites there and saw lots of coral and fish. Then did a night snorkel for nearly 2 hours and saw even more interesting wildlife (not for the timid, weak or motion sensitive as the waves picked up at night). Then we also booked a whale shark snorkel that departed north of cancun which was the experience of a lifetime. They seemed to just be the middleman for this trip though.

Is there a difference between the tours I can book online (such as http://www.aquanautsdiveadventures.com/home.html and www.cancunmermaid.com) much different from getting the guys at the dock to take us out? I mean, besides the $40 per person difference, light lunch, hotel transportation, life jacket and guide)
Do the guys at the dock take you to the actual national park?
I guess I'm trying to figure out what extra that 40 bucks is getting me besides the aforementioned stuff.