Cozumel, Mexico is famous for its beaches and coral reefs, and seeing those sites by snorkeling is an often included in a tourist's to-do list here. Most beach side hotels that offer diving amenities and services also include snorkeling, too, or at least have easy access to desirable reef spots.
The Fiesta Americana Cozumel Dive Resort is located in the northwestern area of the island. It is a larger resort, and though geared toward divers, it overlooks one of the largest and oldest coral reefs in the Americas, an ideal location for snorkelers and divers alike.
Playa Azul is a smaller, boutique hotel, and all its rooms have an ocean view. It's located more toward the north of Cozumel but is still on the western coast, and it features an award-winning dive shop with multilingual instructors skilled in both scuba diving and snorkeling. Playa Azul was also the first hotel in Cozumel to receive an award in Environmental Quality in Tourism from the state division of the Federal Environmental Enforcement Agency. This is an important factor in terms of overall reef conditions and potential regulations, especially for snorkelers who often use reefs to push off of while snorkeling--an act that may cause damage to the reefs.
Hotel Casa Del Mar is another hotel on the smaller side, with 98 rooms, all with cabanas. It's located about five minutes from the Paraiso Reef. This hotel features various snorkeling and diving rentals and packages with the option for group deals.
The Hotel Cozumel & Resort has a four-star rating and is near both the downtown area and the coral reefs. The hotel offers lockers, a private pier, rinse tanks and a full Professional Association of Divers Instruction service center with the largest operation in Cozumel since 1984, offering both diving and snorkeling resources and services.
