Cozumel News Vol 9

Note: These articles are a great deal of work to find and translate. They are under copyright. But we all know what a temptation it is to want to share interesting info all over the internet. We don't mind you copying short snippets. But .....

Professor Jesús Benavides Andrade, Cozumel’s parks and museums conservation and environmental education director, says that today ‘s children and young adults living in Cozumel are much more aware of their responsibility to protect and conserve marine turtles than the previous generation.

In the same interview Benavides assured that 90 percent of the eggs nested this season survived and were located in the turtle camp at Punta Sur Park. He commented that the park began to formally preserve and conserve marine turtle life in 2000, however the parks and museums foundation has been working on turtle preservation since 1988.

He specified that the work they currently perform consists of preserving the species, collecting data and statistics, and other areas concerning the turtles’ arrival, monitoring beaches, and learning more about this species in general.

The interviewee underscored that he cannot just talk about the new generation of better-informed Cozumeleños, without also giving credit to the various groups of dedicated adults who have worked for many years to preserve this endangered species of marine life.

Last Monday more than 1,000 low-income primary students began receiving packets of school supplies dispensed by the Cozumel Community Foundation. The funding for the school utilities program was the result of a grant from Monte de Piedad, for which the foundation applied in 2003.

Foundation director Berta Rosado Rodriguez commented that the large number of qualified applications received by the foundation indicates the great need for this type of assistance, in order that Cozumel’s poorest children have the necessary tools to begin the school year. In addition, the monies that parents would have spent for school supplies can now be applied to school uniforms and shoes and other basics.

The Foundation purchased and assembled 1,100 school supply packets with quality materials, based on the official state department of education supply list, ensuring that each child will have every item required when classes begin on August 18..

The director stated that they were very careful in reviewing all of the applications, corroborating detailed information supplied by each family, regarding their financial situation, and Rosado feels confident that they were able to identify children who truly needed and deserved assistance.

In total 1,100 children from 22 different primary schools on the island were beneficiaries of the foundation project, at a cost of 186,000 pesos.

For our readers who are not familiar with Mexican government school requirements, we thought the following example might be of interest: Youngsters entering a local junior high are required to show up with 13 bound professional notebooks; scientific calculator; geometry set; box of colored pencils; white out; pencils; erasers; pencil sharpener; 2 each red, blue and black pens; red, blue and black permanent markers; 100 white index cards; 10 bars of modeling clay; a box of computer disks; a lab coat;and 700 sheets of copier paper. In addition parents must purchase a school uniform, a physical education uniform, athletic shoes and black shoes.

The island has begun preparing for Carnaval Cozumel 2005 with new events that will enrich this already great island tradition. Activities are scheduled for January 15 through February 16, 2005, including the newly created carnaval royalty competition for children. Children between the ages of 8 and 12 years are invited to register in the coming week.

Arminda Villanueva Góngora, carnaval committee general coordinator, indicates that the official festival program is ready and will be presented in a timely manner to tourism authorities and hotels, so they can begin promoting the event.

Among the numerous carnaval events scheduled, organizers are once again planning a boat parade, which will be bigger and better organized than last year’s so that more boat owners can participate.

As always, various national and international artists will be invited to Cozumel’s carnaval – a 150-year-old tradition that continues to be kept alive by native families on the island.

Program dates scheduled so far include:

January 15 Presentation of carnaval royalty candidates

January 29 Election of king and queen, and carnaval ball

February 3 Election of youth royalty

February 8 King and queen coronation

February 16 Costume and dance award ceremony

For additional information about Cozumel Carnaval 2005 scheduled events, visit the Cultural and Special and Events office located on the second floor of Plaza Sol (telephone 8720966) as well as Cozumel My Cozumel’s website.

Chamber of Commerce president Luis Ocejo Anduce acknowledged the current lack of activity on San Miguel’s waterfront during 2004’s low season. He cited the reduced number of cruise ship arrivals during the summer months and construction on city’s main avenue as principle causes for the drop in business.

On the other hand, despite the notable reduction in the island’s economy, Cozumel authorities recorded an increase in the number of arrivals registered during the first six months of 2004, reflecting a 10.57 percent increase over 2003.

Ocejo Anduce informed that they are now working on various strategies that will reactivate the downtown economy, offering visitors cultural programs in Benito Juarez park that will begin around 5:00 or 6:00 PM.

During the first six months of 2004, Cozumel tourists spent a total of $88, 938,500, which accounts for an increase of $9,201,300 when compared to the same period in 2003.

City council member Gustavo Maldonado announces the installation of battery, organic and inorganic waste depositories to be proportioned by Cozumel’s major supermarkets.

He indicated that after an initial meeting attended by local businessmen, civic organizations, ecologists and municipal government department heads, the island’s supermarket managers agreed to supply the depositories that will be stationed at each business location. He emphasized that this action is the first step toward raising Cozumel residents’ consciousness concerning their environment, which in turn will benefit the island and its inhabitants.

With regard to a depository for domestic batteries, Maldonado emphasized the importance of ensuring that these items do not reach the subsoil, where the acid emitted by the batteries can contaminate the mantle covering the island’s underground rivers.

The councilman pointed out that the collected batteries will be returned to the manufacturers where the material is recycled to make new batteries.

Whether you're a novice or an advanced diver, the turquoise waters and coral reefs of Cozumel await you.

Eve Akerman is a certified instructor - the first in Mexico - and lives in Cozumel. Based on her years of experience, she suggests certain reefs for> different levels of expertise:

FOR BEGINNERS Paraíso/Paradise Reef. A shallow ecosystem provides the opportunity to interact with a variety of fish. It's an ideal spot for new divers and the combination of sunlight and shallow waters make it a favorite location for photographers and videographers. Paradise Reef is located south of the Puerta Maya pier.

Jardines de Palancar. A platform of sand leads the way to a natural stairway made up of soft and hard coral inhabited by a variety of fish.

Columbia Bajo. Around 30 feet deep and an example of a reef platform filled with tropical species.

Chankanaab. This area receives the greatest number of visitors and touts a
colorful variety of fish and coral. Divers can admire the images of the Virgin Mary of Chankanaab and Chacmool on the ocean floor. Ideal for> photographs.

PecioC-53 Felipe Xicoténcatl. Located at a depth of 50 feet where a variety of flora and fauna flourish.

Tormentos. You can see mounds of sand with coral fingers and blow fish whose sounds can be heard in the night.

INTERMEDIATE

Herradura. There are large, beautiful coral formations, open tunnels and caverns.

Paso de El Cedral. Has a kind of cliff for diving in an area that is almost open sea and where you can see large species like "tiburones gata".

ADVANCED
These are deeper and diving in these waters implies greater risk due to strong currents.

San Juan. In the northern zone. The adventure includes turtles, black-tailed sharks, hammer fish, rays, and lobster, among other species.

Barracuda. Also in the northern zone, this area has the most currents and resembles San Juan, but is more level.

Cantarell. A large area with an abundance of sand on the ocean floor. At the beginning of the year you can see conch.

Santa Rosa. One of the most popular dive spots around the island. It has an exquisite cliff that is an almost erect wall of coral formations. The coral colonies are separated by hills of white sand.

Reefs located in the deepest waters represent a great opportunity for adventure for only the most experienced divers.

COLUMBIA has a beautiful natural architecture thanks to the large formations of coral groups.

PUNTA SUR is the deepest reef with a system of caves and caverns where you can find animals normally encountered in areas far from the coast.

PALANCAR is where you'll most likely spot marine turtles, particularly in the months of June through September when they come ashore to deposit their eggs.

Certified instructor Eve Akerman underscores that beginning divers that want to dive the deepest reefs must do so with the assistance of a guide or captain. Even if you consider yourself an advanced diver, you should never dive alone.

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