quantity of fish at YalKu

Peter&Tina · 06-24-2004

I also read your report on Yal Ku. I was very surprised to read that you didn't see many fish. We were just there a few weeks ago and saw tons of fish, with lots of large schools. I did swim out toward the ocean one day and there weren't many fish in that area. But if you go the other direction, you're practically surrounded by them. My son took nearly all the pictures on his underwater camera in the first 60 minutes.

The only difference between this past trip and the trip we took in 2001 was that we didn't see a nurse shark this time and I didn't see any of the "angel" kind of fish, although my husband said he did.

Mark in STL · 06-24-2004

We were a little disappointed with Yalku two years ago. Didn't see as many fish as we anticipated, but perhaps our expectations were set too high. I think we also were swimming in the wrong spots. We concentrated on swimming out toward the ocean to see if we could find turtles. Didn't see much out there except a ray, which was really cool. We got there first thing in the morning, and for the first hour and a half we had the whole lagoon to ourselves. It was really peaceful. We left when some groups arrived, and then went to Akumal Bay, which was really cool.

sportmodel · 06-24-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark in STL

We got there first thing in the morning, and for the first hour and a half we had the whole lagoon to ourselves. It was really peaceful. We left when some groups arrived, and then went to Akumal Bay, which was really cool.

What time do you recommend arriving, to beat the "crowd"?

Mark in STL · 06-24-2004

I think it was around 9am. From what I have heard, the attendant's arrival to open can vary. Some people have had to wait for him to arrive and open the place.

**james** · 06-24-2004

edit:
I've split these posts off because they have nothing to do with the FatCat trip, where they were posted.

Tyramania · 06-24-2004

I've snorkled at Yal Ku. In my opinion, it was kinda like snorkling in two different places in one. As you walk from the parking lot, you can go to your right and enter the water to swim out of the lagoon. I found that in this area, I didn't see a huge number of fish. It was crowded the day we were there (I don't remember what day it was or what time we got there) and the sand was pretty stirred up from all the folks swimming out to try their luck at spotting a turtle. Becky was lucky enough to spot one, but no turtle for Tyra

If you go to your left as you come from the parking lot, there is an area with wooden steps down into the water. I thought this area was way cool! Tons of fish! I had the best time being one with the schools of fishes. OUTSTANDING!

I definately want to go back to Yal Ku.

- Tyra

Bumper · 06-24-2004

Agree 102% with Tyra. The area to the left is where you get into the "brackish" water, which is a mixture of salt water and the fresh water which enters the lagoon in that area. The two kinds of water inter-mingling causes sort of a swirling distortion in the water, like oil and water mixing, and lends an other-worldy aspect to it. We saw all kinds of fish there. Out towards the ocean we saw considerably less fish, but did spot several turtles. The water out in that direction can get pretty stirred up, and the visibility reduced, if it's crowded. Be aware that the current can be quite strong, on the ocean side, if the sea is running high at all. You can easily be dumped onto some coral by wave action, if you're not cautious. That isn't good for the coral, with which you should avoid contact, and can do yourself a nasty damage as well. Basically, it's a terrific spot to spend a few hours.

Mark in STL · 06-24-2004

When we arrived, the attendant told us to swim "between the two islands for fish", "toward the ocean for turtles". When we got in the water it wasn't apparent to us what "two islands" he was talking about, so we went right to try and spot turtles. Wish we had gone left. We will be back in 3 weeks, maybe we will go again, but this time we will stay to the left.
Thanks.

**denisea** · 06-25-2004

Tyra and Bumper are correct. We entered at the same spot as Tyra and saw lots of different fish. As you swim out closer to the sea there are fewer fish, however, they're usually larger fish and if you're lucky, that's where you can spot a turtle or two. When we were there I saw one and James and Keith saw two. We arrived early in the morning. 9ish if memory serves me and left around 11ish when it started to get busier. Definitely one of my favorite places to snorkel.

06-24-2004	#2 (permalink)
Mark in STL into ruins Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 78	Yalku We were a little disappointed with Yalku two years ago. Didn't see as many fish as we anticipated, but perhaps our expectations were set too high. I think we also were swimming in the wrong spots. We concentrated on swimming out toward the ocean to see if we could find turtles. Didn't see much out there except a ray, which was really cool. We got there first thing in the morning, and for the first hour and a half we had the whole lagoon to ourselves. It was really peaceful. We left when some groups arrived, and then went to Akumal Bay, which was really cool.

06-24-2004	#4 (permalink)
Mark in STL into ruins Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 78	Yalku I think it was around 9am. From what I have heard, the attendant's arrival to open can vary. Some people have had to wait for him to arrive and open the place.

06-24-2004	#5 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Sweden Posts: 12,272	edit: I've split these posts off because they have nothing to do with the FatCat trip, where they were posted. __________________ Get your own signature countdown image!

06-24-2004	#8 (permalink)
Mark in STL into ruins Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 78	Yalku When we arrived, the attendant told us to swim "between the two islands for fish", "toward the ocean for turtles". When we got in the water it wasn't apparent to us what "two islands" he was talking about, so we went right to try and spot turtles. Wish we had gone left. We will be back in 3 weeks, maybe we will go again, but this time we will stay to the left. Thanks.

06-24-2004	#1 (permalink)
Peter&Tina lost on fifth Join Date: May 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 21	I also read your report on Yal Ku. I was very surprised to read that you didn't see many fish. We were just there a few weeks ago and saw tons of fish, with lots of large schools. I did swim out toward the ocean one day and there weren't many fish in that area. But if you go the other direction, you're practically surrounded by them. My son took nearly all the pictures on his underwater camera in the first 60 minutes. The only difference between this past trip and the trip we took in 2001 was that we didn't see a nurse shark this time and I didn't see any of the "angel" kind of fish, although my husband said he did.

06-24-2004	#6 (permalink)
Tyramania life=playa Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Playa Del Carmen ! Posts: 942	I've snorkled at Yal Ku. In my opinion, it was kinda like snorkling in two different places in one. As you walk from the parking lot, you can go to your right and enter the water to swim out of the lagoon. I found that in this area, I didn't see a huge number of fish. It was crowded the day we were there (I don't remember what day it was or what time we got there) and the sand was pretty stirred up from all the folks swimming out to try their luck at spotting a turtle. Becky was lucky enough to spot one, but no turtle for Tyra If you go to your left as you come from the parking lot, there is an area with wooden steps down into the water. I thought this area was way cool! Tons of fish! I had the best time being one with the schools of fishes. OUTSTANDING! I definately want to go back to Yal Ku. - Tyra

06-24-2004	#7 (permalink)
Bumper Class Clown Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 14,212	Agree 102% with Tyra. The area to the left is where you get into the "brackish" water, which is a mixture of salt water and the fresh water which enters the lagoon in that area. The two kinds of water inter-mingling causes sort of a swirling distortion in the water, like oil and water mixing, and lends an other-worldy aspect to it. We saw all kinds of fish there. Out towards the ocean we saw considerably less fish, but did spot several turtles. The water out in that direction can get pretty stirred up, and the visibility reduced, if it's crowded. Be aware that the current can be quite strong, on the ocean side, if the sea is running high at all. You can easily be dumped onto some coral by wave action, if you're not cautious. That isn't good for the coral, with which you should avoid contact, and can do yourself a nasty damage as well. Basically, it's a terrific spot to spend a few hours.

06-25-2004	#9 (permalink)
denisea Forum Goddess Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: On the road to ruins... Posts: 7,207	Tyra and Bumper are correct. We entered at the same spot as Tyra and saw lots of different fish. As you swim out closer to the sea there are fewer fish, however, they're usually larger fish and if you're lucky, that's where you can spot a turtle or two. When we were there I saw one and James and Keith saw two. We arrived early in the morning. 9ish if memory serves me and left around 11ish when it started to get busier. Definitely one of my favorite places to snorkel.

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