Private Marine Biologist–Led Turtle Snorkel Ethical & Educational

Fantastic experience - kids learned about the marine life and enjoyed the experience.

While it’s nice to snorkel on your own and try to spot fish and turtles, my husband and I wanted to combine education with an enjoyable swim during our recent trip to Mexico. Marine biologist Angela and Akumal Bay guide Carrie delivered just that. There was only one other person in our group and we began with a ‘class’ on the beach. Angela gave us many interesting facts about turtles and the fish we might see, and then we went into the water and swam for more than an hour. Good thing we wore sun shirts. Equipment is provided if you don’t have your own. Carrie has such a great eye for spotting turtles and fish, and that was appreciated because it was a bit wavy and the water was cloudy with sand at times. We saw about seven turtles (some may have been the same ones) and I watched a turtle surface for air five times in about a two-minute span!!! It was so exciting because usually they stay under longer between breaths. I felt very lucky. We saw beautiful fish such as French angel fish, and even watched a spotted eagle ray as we were returning to shore. We had a snack of fresh fruit supplied by Angela as she answered questions about what we saw. She had taken photos and videos, including one of a turtle with a fish attached to its shell (she explained why), and another of a turtle surfacing for air. Unfortunately, only a few turned out because water got in her camera. It really didn’t matter because the images are in our brains. 😁 It was evident Angela cares deeply about marine life and ocean preservation. We wish her well as she does her PhD that’s shark-related. She’s also a shark expert! We spent about three hours with her and highly recommend such a memorable outing.

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Angela is knowledgable and personable. She and her guide did a fantastic job of finding many species of aquatic creatures, not just turtles but also a stone fish, moray eel, conchs, lizard fish, parrot fish, etc. We also learned a lot about marine life.

This was an incredibly special experience! Angela made the whole morning feel relaxed and was so patient with my parents who hadn’t snorkelled before. She gave us lots of information about the wildlife - we saw and learned so much! If you’re going to snorkel in Akumal, you couldn’t ask for a better guide!

Angela is the best tour guide and Marine Biologist! Our turtle snorkel and cenote tour was truly unforgettable. From start to finish, our guide made the experience seamless, fun, and incredibly informative. The day began with a marine conservation and turtle intro class on the Akumal beach. Angela was very good at sharing her passion and knowledge about marine life. We then swam alongside sea turtles—an experience that felt both peaceful and magical. Angela pointed out marine life we might have otherwise missed and shared interesting facts about the area’s ecosystems. Afterward, Angela took us to a beautiful cenote, where the crystal-clear water and dramatic rock formations created the perfect setting to relax and explore. Angela’s knowledge of the region’s nature and culture added so much depth to the visit. It never felt rushed; there was plenty of time to take photos, float, and truly appreciate the beautiful surroundings. Thank you Angela for a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and love for marine conservation. If you’re looking for a memorable way to connect with nature and learn something new along the way, a tour with Angela is an absolute must!

Angela was amazing. She is incredibly knowledgeable and shares that info in a wonderful manner. It was so much nicer having our own private guide instead of being I a group of 15!

An awesome snorkling experience as a family with the wonderful Angela, learning about the reef and the turtles as well as swimming with them. Would highly recommend this personal group opportunity - so much time to see the fish, the rays, the turtles at a relaxed pace.

Angela and her guide were great! We appreciated learning about the local sea life prior to the swim. We saw several turtles and a section of reef. The fresh fruit afterwards was amazing. Angela also was flexible with us so that we could have the best experience!

This was the best experience! Myself, my husband, and our two children (ages 7 and 9) did this snorkeling tour with Angela this morning. Angela is just amazing- provided the best directions and information on how to get to Akumal from our resort, and we happened to get on the same colectivo as her so she walked us to the beach. She was great with our kids, gave great information on the types of animals we may see while snorkeling. Our guide, Cari, was also wonderful during the tour, guiding us and our younger son while he held onto a floating ring for comfort. They were both very attentive the entire time and everyone felt very comfortable and safe. Our younger son is not a strong swimmer, but everyone was provided life jackets and safety was never an issue. We saw quite a few turtles! Also, many beautiful fish and some sting rays. Afterward, we shared some fresh fruit and stories. At the end, Angela walked with us back to the highway where we caught a colectivo back to our hotel (we just happened to be heading back at the same time as her). Akumal was a very cute little town, the bay was beautiful, and the trip was everything we had hoped for. I would not hesitate to book this tour! Thanks again so much for a wonderful experience :)

We had the best time with Angela! She is just a great person all around and was so good with our three children (10,8,6). She made it fun for all of us and after our snorkeling with turtles even made time for a shark lesson, educating us on how magnificent and misunderstood they are.