We have snorkeled all over Cancun, the Riveria Maya, and Cozumel. Nothing has even come close to our fantastic experience at Yalku Lagoon. We went on a tour that was arranged by the tour desk at our hotel, but if you rent a car, you can go yourself. Rental equipment is not available on site, so you'll have to bring your own. If you opt to join a tour group to Akumal, equipment will be provided for you.
When arriving at Yalku lagoon, you walk a short winding path to the lagoon entrance. You step into the water (a mix of salt and fresh) and are immediately met by hundreds of colorful tropical fish!
During our trip to Akumal we encountered a sea turtle and followed it around the lagoon for about 15 minutes. It didn't seem to mind our presence at all and we were close enough to touch it. We observed the turtle grazing sea grasses and coming up periodically for air. It was a magical experience to be able to snorkel in the wild with such a majestic creature. I'm told that while turtle sightings are common in Yalku they're not guaranteed. I guess we got lucky!
We saw squid, barracuda (don't be scared. they won't harm you.), parrotfish (big ones), and an assortment of others. The second best highlight was our encounter with a stingray! I hadn't even spotted him until we were directly over him. They hide in the sandy bottom of Yalku.
We saw more of a diversity of coral and marine life at Yalku than we saw at any of the other snorkeling spots in Maya Riveria. I definitely recommend this to anyone seeking a magical experience.