The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef runs the length of the Riviera Maya — from Cancun south past Tulum and into Belize. It’s the second-largest reef system in the world and it starts less than a mile from the beach at most Riviera Maya resorts. That means world-class snorkeling is a walk-in from shore, not a boat expedition.

Whether you’re snorkeling off the beach at Sandos Caracol, taking a Seek & Go excursion to the reef, or doing a full day at Cozumel, here’s what you’ll see underwater.

I learned to scuba dive in a swimming pool at Sandos Playacar. Professional instructors walked me through the basics right there in the resort pool — breathing techniques, mask clearing, hand signals, buoyancy control — and then they put me on a boat and dropped me into the ocean on top of the Mesoamerican Reef System, the second-largest barrier reef on the planet.

That trip changed how I think about vacation. I went from someone who had never breathed underwater to someone swimming over coral formations the size of cars, surrounded by parrotfish, sea fans, and nurse sharks — all in the span of a few hours. I documented the entire experience on video: Watch the full dive playlist on YouTube.