Freediving Isla Mujeres, Mia Reef
Mia Reef of Isla Mujeres, Mexico by Andre Navarro
Everyone that’s visited Isla Mujeres and walked the popular Playa Norte has seen the famous Mia Reef Resort. With it’s awesome location situated right on top of a secluded reef, with amazing views in every direction. Most everyone swims and snorkels in Hermosa Caleta to the west, with it’s shallow crystal clear water. But almost no one explores the remainder of the reef that surrounds the resort. The reef extends from the entrance of Hermosa Caleta, just south of the Mia Reef Resort, all the way to the fog light about 200 yards out past the northern end of the resort.
Mia Reef Resort by Andre Navarro
Mia Reef by Andre Navarro
This entire reef along the east side of the resort is covered in diverse corals, swarming with schools of hundreds of colorful and thriving Caribbean fish and has amazing underwater views in every direction. It’s surprising how easy it is to access this area and how beautiful it is and the lack of people exploring it. But at the same time, this helps to conserve it’s natural state vs the other areas on the island where the snorkeling tours go by the hundreds and the devastation is causes to those environments. Isla Mujeres gets the wrong reputation on what one can experience here based on these snorkeling tours. Isla Mujeres is a thriving underwater gem if you go off the tourists snorkeling tour traps. This also means roughing it and possessing the swimming skills and endurance to access them. This automatically keeps the potential crowds down to a bare minimum.
Bermuda Chubs over Purple Sea Fans by Andre Navarro
As soon as you enter along the east side of the reef, you’ll be welcomed with this beautiful view. Hundreds of Purple Sea Fans with hundreds of fish cruising over them. Above are one of my favorite Caribbean fish to swim with, Bermuda Chubs. They are very friendly and curious and I love there cartoon liked expressions. The sea life here is very diverse, especially all the different species of fish you’ll see. The more common species are parrotfish, surgeonfish, snappers, grunts, damselfish, porcupinefish, trunkfish and stingrays. As soon as you get in and feet from shore, you’ll be graced by large schools of fish. Like these Atlantic Blue Tang Surgeonfish cruising the reef in large circles. If you know how to approach ocean life gracefully, you can even join in the swim.
Atlantic Blue Tang Surgeonfish by Andre Navarro
Aside from the many colorful and diverse fish that live here, you will also get to see many endangered corals making a comeback. Like the many cool Elkhorn Corals you’ll find spread out about the reef. One of my favorite corals are the Symmetrical Brain Corals. Both the Elkhorn and Brain Corals are named well, as they look. One of other people’s least favorite corals, the Blade Fire Coral, is also abundant here. Blade Fire Corals grow in tall blade like branches and will sting you if you rub against them in passing. Most people I know that have brushed up against a Blade Fire Coral usually walk away with large rashes and even bruises after the pain subsides.
Critically Endangered Elkhorn Coral of Isla Mujeres by Andre Navarro
symmetrical Brain Coral of Isla Mujeres, Mexico by Andre Navarro
Blade Fire Coral by Andre Navarro
You can’t go far without observing the many bush or tree looking corals. Like the Caribbean Sea Whip along with many other Sea Whip species. These corals look like small underwater plants or trees. However, they are not. All corals are animals. And if you’re a fan of diverse interesting corals, you’ll love exploring them throughout this reef. The more corals that are in an area, the more fish you’ll see. When many different corals are clustered together, they create a mini city of underwater life. This is where the biodiversity is greatest and amazing to see. In a small area of corals, it’s not uncommon to see several different fish species living there. Usually with an Eel or two, possibly a lobster, crab or cleaner shrimp.
Spotfin Butterflyfish by Andre Navarro
Right at the northern end of the Mia Reef Resort, about 50 feet from shore, there is a thin strip of reef that runs north out to the deep. But close to shore there are several shallow caverns in it with swim throughs. Each is about 20 feet away from the next. The openings range from 6 feet down to 15 feet deep depending on the tide. Each is filled with so many fish. I love to swim into these caverns and observe all the fish observing me back. The view from within these caverns is beautiful, with the sunlight sparkling into them, usually through several small openings in the reef. it’s so serene and feels slightly unreal to be there in the moment.
Mia Reef with Underwater Caverns by Andre Navarro
Underwater Cavern with Blue Striped Grunts by Andre Navarro
Underwater Cavern by Andre Navarro
From this point in the reef, we’re about half way to the end. The remainder of the reef gets much deeper quickly and has rough current and waves. But if this is what you do, then it’s a must do. Due to rough conditions, waves, currents and wind, I’ve only been able to swim to the fog light at the end of the reef a few times. And it was well worth it. But this is not for beginners. You must be a strong swimmer and understand the current and dangers of the area.
Reef Waves by Andre Navarro
From this point out, the schools of fish become larger and the fish are huge. The biggest schools are of Atlantic Blue Tang Surgeonfish circling the reef in groups of 40 to 80. I’ve also been joined by schools of Rainbow Parrotfish in groups of 20 to 40. It’s common to see large schools of Yellowtail Parrotfish feeding upon the reef. I also love the diversity of fish the deeper it gets. Like the odd, yet cool looking Spotted Trunkfish with it’s triangular body and little fins fluttering all around. When you’re further out towards the end, you definitely will want a buddy to take turns watching for boats as they occasionally zip in between the reefs.
Atlantic Blue Tang Surgeonfish by Andre Navarro
Rainbow Parrotfish by Andre Navarro
Spotted Trunkfish by Andre Navarro
Once you make it to the fog light pole, you’ve reached the end of the reef that sticks out of the surface. However, below the surface, the reef continues out north deeper and deeper. I would never try to explore the reef further out without a large floatation devise of some sort to block boats and be seen from a distance. From this point on, boats cross over the deeper reef constantly and without regard.
Mia Reef Fog Light by Andre Navavrro
There is so much to see and explore of Mia Reef. Be prepared for a very long day or several days to relax and see it all and the many diverse beautiful underwater environments it has to offer. Aside from all the beautiful underwater views, once you get out to lay on the gorgeous Caribbean beach, you’ll be conflicted of which you liked better. I prefer below the surface, below the waves with the fish.
The accompanying Youtube videos are first hand footage captured by Andre Navarro while freedive exploring Mia Reef of Isla Mujeres, Mexico. You can also view hundreds of beautiful photos of the awesome ocean life and underwater environments of Isla Mujeres in the Photos section, Images of Isla Mujeres, MexicoPublished by: Andre Navarro of Ocean Earth Green
I’m Andre Navarro, Southern California freediver and underwater videographer. I create ocean life adventure videos to connect viewers to our amazing underwater world to motivate stronger conservation and ocean life awareness. You can follow my ocean adventures here at OceanEarthGreen.com and view all my current and past videos at Youtube.com/OceanEarthGreen.