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Just returned from Playa Maya on Tuesday. Its a wonderful place to stay. It's just a few yards down the beach from El Faro. The beach in the stretch you're talking about, over the 4th of July weekend, was plenty wide. It definitely does change as photos taken at various times can attest. Between the hotels and the water was about 50 feet at the narrowest and in front of El Faro nearly 80 feet. There were areas at the water's edge where the relatively flat rocks were exposed, but the water was clear, and you could see where they ended. Between the rocky areas was pure sand and you could play and swim in these sandy areas or go out even farther into deeper water. The water was very clear and pleasant. We saw quite a few people enjoying swimming there. The nets are still there, but they really only get in the way of a good picture. Close to the Gran Porto Real the water quality to me looked unacceptable. In front of their main sunning and swimming pool area, the water had a definite brownish green appearance and we noticed an algae type odor in the shallow water where the GPR breakwater makes the beach hook around. The water was very calm there, but that was causing it to stagnate. On the east end of the GPR, though, the breakwater has created another beach which is much nicer and has lots of space. That's where they play beach volleyball.
We walked by there everyday on our way to Playa Tukan and Mamitas, just a short walk beyond the new (not being used) dock. These beach clubs have as good of a stretch of beach as you would find anywhere. You can rent a palapa and lounge chairs for 60 pesos (a little less than $6) a day. The massage therapists at Playa Tukan give a great, relaxing massage and its quite reasonable;$25/half hour or $45/hour.
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