Total Snorkel Cancun — Attraction in Cancún

These tours are great, and our day with Total Snorkel ended up being the best part of our trip to Mexico. We love snorkeling, and we couldn't decide between tours, so we booked TWO: the morning 5-part trip AND the evening bioluminescent tour. I'm so glad that we did, since after the first tour we wanted more!

Long review incoming!

The morning was amazing. Got up SUPER early because the shuttle from our hotel on the Riviera Maya picked us up at 5:00am to arrive at the marina in time for our 7:00 snorkel trip. Good thing the water there is warm ALL of the time, so even an early morning dip feels perfect! We saw SO. MANY. FISH. And turtles. And rays. And barracuda. And all sorts of beautiful sea life. The tour doesn't last too long, but they pack so much in that I've got more memories from that morning than I know what to do with. Thousands of colorful fish in the morning light...just...ahhh. Perfect.

Note to fellow tourists: please choose rash guards or other UPF protection over using sunscreen! Total Snorkel didn't enforce any no-sunscreen policy, but having learned more about the damage caused by even "reef safe" sunscreens and after seeing the damage to even this great reef in person, we won't go back to using lotions/sprays around these ecosystems.

Back to the review...

Since we were sticking around for the night tour as well, Total Snorkel helped us by having the shuttle drop us off at the nearby Ultramar ferry terminal. We spent the day at Isla Mujeres (do recommend!) and around 5:00 took the ferry back and made our way back up to Total Snorkel for the evening tour. It may be because it was early in the season (first week of November) but my husband and I ended up being the only two on the tour! Private tour - score! They took us to a few of the same locations as during the day (reef, sea grass, MUSA) but it's a totally different experience being there at night. Again, warm water, so that was nice. They gave us flashlights and we all pointed out different animals as we found them. We saw even more turtles on the night tour, as there were sleeping ones and swimming ones around. We also saw lots of octopi, one tiny moon jelly, lobsters, an eel, rays, and other fish. And yes - little green sparks of bioluminescent algae too.

A note: we'd declined the photography/videography at the beginning of the day, feeling cheap, but after we got back home we realized that we'd seen so much that we regretted not having those memories. We contacted Total Snorkel and they still let us buy the packages for both trips after the fact. I'm so glad we did, too - those videos really help keep those memories alive! We're grateful to the whole team there. Would DEFINITELY recommend this company, whether you book through Trip Advisor or Viator or through their website directly. They'll take care of you.

Additional anecdote: We had to find our own transportation back to the hotel that night, as the shuttle wasn't offered for the night tour (makes sense as we would have been the only ones on it) but Total Snorkel did try to help us by getting us a taxi. From one tourist to another, though: that taxi tried to take advantage of our limited options and charged us over $95 USD for what should have been a $40 ride. We ditched the taxi in downtown Cancun and hired an Uber instead, which is a whole thing in Mexico and an adventure in itself, but for the sake of this trip I'd say if you're in a similar situation, just get the Uber in the first place. Trust me: it's better, it's cheaper, and it's safer. Or taxi into Cancun only and Uber from there if you need it.

No more anecdotes! Just five stars for Total...

I rarely write reviews due to lack of time but I absolutely had to call out this company and our specific tour guide. On November 25th I did the 5-in-1 tour that I had booked through Viator. Honestly, for a brief tour I wasn't really expecting much. I was wrong. There were A LOT of people there for the tour and we were divided into different groups and put on a small, nimble boat that sat me and five other people as well as the tour guide, photographer and the captain. The photographer and captain were lovely and there was a canopy to shade us from the sun. I was concerned because I was alone and easily 10 - 15 years older than the other folks on the tour and not a strong swimmer. This turned out to be a total non-issue. There was a good amount of swimming but the water was very calm and the guide was towing a ring in case anyone got tired. I put my hand on it a few times but was mostly fine.

The star of this company, however, was the tour guide Carlos 'Pineapple'. Carlos was INCREDIBLE and he worked his butt off. We saw absolutely everything - the turtles, the reef, the sculptures, the shipwreck (a highlight - it attracted so many beautiful fish). He made great use of the time. One of the other women on the boat was a first time snorkeler and she was struggling and panicking a bit. Without making her feel bad, he towed her the majority of the time, making sure she saw everything and felt safe and allowing her partner to use his go-pro and dive. This kid was everywhere at once. And so incredibly kind, friendly and supportive. His english was fantastic. I've snorkeled a lot and he was hands down the best guide I've seen, juggling varying participant abilities, tracking down turtles and checking in on everyone constantly without being pushy or rude,

Also a huge round of applause to the captain. When we did have to swim out a ways to see something, he always angled the boat into a position to make the swim back shorter and easier.

My only regret was that we didn't have more time but I knew this was a short tour when I booked it. If you actually want to see stuff, skip the open bar party snorkel boats and book this. And if you can, request Carlos Piña, the small boat captain and...

My recent trip with Total Snorkel Cancun was nothing short of extraordinary! From the moment we arrived, the team’s professionalism and enthusiasm set the tone for an incredible adventure.

Activities:

1. Guided Snorkeling Tours: We began with a comprehensive briefing on snorkeling techniques and safety measures, which made us feel comfortable and ready for the adventure. The guides were knowledgeable and passionate, providing fascinating insights about the marine life we encountered.

2. Underwater Museum (MUSA) Visit: The underwater sculptures were surreal! Swimming around these unique installations, surrounded by vibrant marine life, felt like being part of an underwater gallery. It's a must-see!

3. Swim with Turtles: A definite highlight was swimming alongside majestic sea turtles. It was an awe-inspiring experience, made even better by the guides who ensured we respected the turtles’ natural habitat.

4. Reef Exploration: The coral reefs were teeming with colorful fish and other marine creatures. The visibility was fantastic, and the guides knew all the best spots, ensuring we saw the most diverse range of marine life.

Batch Timings: Total Snorkel Cancun offers multiple batches throughout the day, making it easy to fit into any schedule:

Morning Batch: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM Mid-Morning Batch: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Afternoon Batch: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Late Afternoon Batch: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Each batch is well-organized, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience regardless of the time of day. The groups are kept small, enhancing the personalized feel of the tour and ensuring everyone gets the attention they need.

Overall Experience: The entire experience was seamless and well-coordinated, from the easy booking process to the excellent transportation arrangements. The equipment provided was top-notch, and the guides were attentive and friendly, making sure we were comfortable and safe at all times.

Total Snorkel Cancun exceeded my expectations in every way. Whether you're a seasoned snorkeler or a first-timer, this is an adventure not to be missed. Highly recommended for anyone...