The beach area is very small, mainly just a sandy area surrounded by weathered limestone. It is perfect to sit on, but other than that it isn't any bigger than my pool area by much. I have a photo of it taken on my last visit to Cozumel which is in this on line album. Copy & paste this address, and it is the last photo in the album.

http://tinyurl.com/e3yv5

The man-made beach is in two levels. The lower where you arrive via underground tunnel passing under the highway is where the entry to the water is easiest. It is a small almost pool type setting but there is an easy swim through between iron shore rock to more open sea where snorkeling is pretty descent. There is the old sunken airplane between the swim through and the SSA cruise terminal and Hotel La Cieba/El Cid.

It is an enourmous hotel property into which the new owners have invested nearly $30 million, making it one of the more expensive construction projects on the island.

I toured it and it's beautifully laid out with no amentities I can think of overlooked.

I thin it will be this year's best all-inclusive offering in Cozumel as they will be trying very hard to have the first reviews "glowing" with praise.

The beach is in a decent location...Absolutly awesome snorkeling. This area is where some dive shops take their beginner divers to do their first dive. Big area and lots to see.

If only they would get rid of at least some of the time share sharks or at least tell them to back off after someone says NO. They can be quite annoying.

Allen.

I agree, Morgy. That particular hotel seems to have more annoying timeshare sharks than any other. They really distract for the experience you should be able to have on vacation.

It's my fault really. We dove with Aqua world across the street, and one day after the dive we were curious, so we walked up to the hotel just to look around....BIG MISTAKE...The time share shark chased me all the way back down to the street with me saying NO all the way. Thank God for the taxi that was waiting there, or I would have never escaped. Nice Guy...But over berring and annoying.

We just returned from there last week. The beach is nice, and it has a great spot for snorkelers to get into the water (it's a rocky bottom so wear your flippers or water shoes). Snorkeling is good (as good as it's going to get post-hurricane anyway). We really liked the resort -- weren't sure we would but our expectations were exceeded.

As far as the timeshare people, we can only speak from our experience, but we were never once approached (and we were wearing green wristbands that indicate we are NOT club members, so we were prime targets).

Steph

Hey Steph -- Do you remember if a bartender was working there that went by the name of Okie Dokie... Probably in his late forty's... Just an awesome guy....