Cancun
- Thread starter Lordfavia
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GMaquarium
New member
No it is not ok. I suggest only taking shells or rocks you find on land dry. No sense in getting in trouble for a ricordia.
DEEP BLUE SIX
New member
Gm is absolutely correct. Not worth the trouble.
Beach shells and very small dead coral fragments(on the beach only)are ok to take as souveneurs. But they must be clean and free of sand or soil.
Importation of sand is actually illegal.
Live corals is a no no. It requires special licenses not only to import/export. But then only from permitted areas with other special licenses just for collection.
Safest bet:
Don't remove anything from the reef "“ even if it looks like a dead piece of coral, buried treasure or fossil. Please be mindful of the fact that these great reefs of that area, all of their fish, and every other living thing in and around those reefs are protected by Mexican Law. It is also illegal to try to bring animals/sea life into the United States without permits and licenses.
To enjoy your trip best,
Bring an underwater camera! This is an experience you should take pictures to remember. Save money by bringing your own snorkel gear. But don't worry if you don't have any, snorkel gear is usually for rent at most hotels and through snorkeling tours.
Here's some tips for best viewing:
The southern shoreline of the Hotel Zone near the Club Med and Westin Regina Resorts is the best place to snorkel in the Hotel Zone of Cancun.
Keep in mind that Cancun beaches are generally not the best places to see a lot while you are snorkeling. This isn't to say you shouldn't try. There are always some fish swimming around under the water, along with other marine life that commonly inhabits inshore areas. Expect to see a lot of sand if you are "œwade snorkeling" off a Cancun beach in waist deep water.
However,
Try Cancun Snorkeling Trips and Tours.
The coral reefs near Puerto Moreles (20 minutes from the Cancun airport) are a much better environment in which to snorkel in Cancun. The reef is much closer to the beach and a great place to go snorkeling on your own.
Beach shells and very small dead coral fragments(on the beach only)are ok to take as souveneurs. But they must be clean and free of sand or soil.
Importation of sand is actually illegal.
Live corals is a no no. It requires special licenses not only to import/export. But then only from permitted areas with other special licenses just for collection.
Safest bet:
Don't remove anything from the reef "“ even if it looks like a dead piece of coral, buried treasure or fossil. Please be mindful of the fact that these great reefs of that area, all of their fish, and every other living thing in and around those reefs are protected by Mexican Law. It is also illegal to try to bring animals/sea life into the United States without permits and licenses.
To enjoy your trip best,
Bring an underwater camera! This is an experience you should take pictures to remember. Save money by bringing your own snorkel gear. But don't worry if you don't have any, snorkel gear is usually for rent at most hotels and through snorkeling tours.
Here's some tips for best viewing:
The southern shoreline of the Hotel Zone near the Club Med and Westin Regina Resorts is the best place to snorkel in the Hotel Zone of Cancun.
Keep in mind that Cancun beaches are generally not the best places to see a lot while you are snorkeling. This isn't to say you shouldn't try. There are always some fish swimming around under the water, along with other marine life that commonly inhabits inshore areas. Expect to see a lot of sand if you are "œwade snorkeling" off a Cancun beach in waist deep water.
However,
Try Cancun Snorkeling Trips and Tours.
The coral reefs near Puerto Moreles (20 minutes from the Cancun airport) are a much better environment in which to snorkel in Cancun. The reef is much closer to the beach and a great place to go snorkeling on your own.
oneradtek202
Pitcher Hill Reef Society
you dont want to get into trouble in Mexico, thats for sure
rjmayes34
New member
Heres what you need to make this possible.
First-you have to get some small baggies
Second-a jar of ky, or vasilene (which ever you prefer)
Third-Some painkillers
Forth-Watch every episode of "I almost got away with it" and every episode of "Locked Up Abroad"
What you must do is use as little water as possible in the bags with your said coral,lube the baggie up real good and take two painkiller. Wait fifteen mins then stick it.....squeeze and hope for the best.
If you get busted at airport you can refer to your knowledge about the two shows i suggested above to get you by.
Best Of Luck!
First-you have to get some small baggies
Second-a jar of ky, or vasilene (which ever you prefer)
Third-Some painkillers
Forth-Watch every episode of "I almost got away with it" and every episode of "Locked Up Abroad"
What you must do is use as little water as possible in the bags with your said coral,lube the baggie up real good and take two painkiller. Wait fifteen mins then stick it.....squeeze and hope for the best.
If you get busted at airport you can refer to your knowledge about the two shows i suggested above to get you by.
Best Of Luck!
GMaquarium
New member
There are very few corals of interest in cancun anyways. I had a very difficult time leaving the reefs in the south pacific and the red sea with empty hands. But risking jail in middle east or south east asia for me is just not an option.
The most valuable thing to take away from the trip is the chance to get to know the ocean. Study the water movement and rock formation, fish behavior and tidal pools with trapped life. Some the most important info on reefs I learned by just watching. More than enough to take back with you.
The most valuable thing to take away from the trip is the chance to get to know the ocean. Study the water movement and rock formation, fish behavior and tidal pools with trapped life. Some the most important info on reefs I learned by just watching. More than enough to take back with you.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
x2. I couldn't have said it better myself! IMO/IME don't even bother fumbling with a cheap underwater camera. PAY ATTENTION TO EVERYTHING AROUND YOU. The last thing you need to do is worry about trying to take a decent picture with half azz equipment. Leave great underwater ocean pix to the pros.
Sophie10
Member
I can't believe you even would consider this.
Realkly!?
Realkly!?
Where do you think the fish, coral , invertebrates, algae etc come from? Where do you think your LFS gets the aquatic life from? It has to come from somewhere someone has to "collect" it I was mulling it over and choose not to bring anything back. There are still people collecting fish using cyanide or other chemicals to stunning the fish. This is a very oxymoronic hobby we care about the reefs and the living creatures what is in our tank and care for them carefully,yet we buy the latest hot fish or coral that HAD to be collected from the wild. With survival rates that are pathetically low.
Please if you have a tank you have wild collected living things in your tank, do not be that naive or condescending to others who might bring back a "freebie" out of the ocean.
I did not only because when I got there and looked I thought if everyone did that there would be nothing left to see.
Realkly!?
Where do you think the fish, coral , invertebrates, algae etc come from? Where do you think your LFS gets the aquatic life from? It has to come from somewhere someone has to "collect" it I was mulling it over and choose not to bring anything back. There are still people collecting fish using cyanide or other chemicals to stunning the fish. This is a very oxymoronic hobby we care about the reefs and the living creatures what is in our tank and care for them carefully,yet we buy the latest hot fish or coral that HAD to be collected from the wild. With survival rates that are pathetically low.
Please if you have a tank you have wild collected living things in your tank, do not be that naive or condescending to others who might bring back a "freebie" out of the ocean.
I did not only because when I got there and looked I thought if everyone did that there would be nothing left to see.
SushiGirl
Premium Member
Bringing back a "freebie" out of the ocean is illegal unless you are properly licensed to collect in that area and have the proper export/import licenses. Had you decided to bring back a freebie, you would have found yourself in a lot of legal trouble, so you should not be naive and condescending, either.
Sophie10
Member
+1 SushiGirl! Couldn't have said it better!
And no, Lord, not everything is wild caught, or has to be anymore. And not everyone has a tank full of wild collected species. I and many others have aquacultured and man made live rock, tank bred species (ORA), or MAC certified. Every coral I buy is a frag locally. Probably you do too. These are practices of conservation. And you are so right, there are some really bad practices going on, one of them is the private collector. I'm glad you chose not to do it. And I wasn't condescending in the least, I was appalled at the thought, that's all!
And no, Lord, not everything is wild caught, or has to be anymore. And not everyone has a tank full of wild collected species. I and many others have aquacultured and man made live rock, tank bred species (ORA), or MAC certified. Every coral I buy is a frag locally. Probably you do too. These are practices of conservation. And you are so right, there are some really bad practices going on, one of them is the private collector. I'm glad you chose not to do it. And I wasn't condescending in the least, I was appalled at the thought, that's all!
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