Beginning in December 2002, Insider was proudly the first website to provide readers the Cozumel News in English.
Articles are slected from local newspapers which we feel will be of interest to our diverse audience. These articles are then translated into English. We cannot always investigate the veracity of a particular article but offer these translations as a reflection of the Cozumel community news just as reporters write it for Por Esto, Diario de Quintana Roo, Novedades and El Seminario and many other sources.
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09/014/2026 - Numbers go down quite a bit this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 14 ships registered to dock as we celebrate Mexican Independence Day. This is 5 fewer ship than last week and 6 less than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 13 ships in port during the same week of 2025. An estimated 49,000 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US $ 5.2 million dollars behind in the local economy.
High season for cruise ship arrivals typically runs from November 15 - April 15 each year with the remaining 7 months of the year considered "low season." This week Puerta Maya pier will be host to 5 ships docking there, 3 ships will dock at SSA International pier while Punta Langosta pier will see 6 arrivals and the downtown San Miguel pier will have -0- arrivals with passengers tendering in.
On Monday 1 ships will dock, 1 ship will dock on Tuesday, 2 ships on Wednesday, 5 ships on Thursday, 3 ships on Friday, 2 ships on Saturday and Sunday will see 0 ships in port. To see a complete list of this week's ship arrivals, please visit Insider's Weekly Cruise Ship Schedule
Cozumel To Host International Diving Congress 2026 In October
The island will host the International Diving Congress Cozumel 2026 from October 15th to 18th, turning the destination into a gathering point for dive professionals, industry representatives and marine conservation experts. It will be the second consecutive year the island serves as host. Dive safety, training, reef conservation and marine life protection are among the topics on the agenda, according to César Zepeda Escamilla, a local tourism entrepreneur and diver.
Zepeda said participants will include shark specialists and representatives from organizations and companies such as PADI and equipment maker Cressi, along with other industry exhibitors. The full program has not yet been made public. The forum will focus in particular on training for people working in the diving industry, given the conditions of dive sites around the island. While basic diving techniques remain the same, Zepeda said procedures and standards are continually updated to reduce risks and adapt to each destination’s characteristics. “Standards are still being refined, and the activity is being polished to make it safer,” he said.
One factor that sets Cozumel apart is its marine currents, which favor drift diving but also require experience and preparation from operators and visitors. Zepeda added that the congress will help people beginning their professional diving careers learn procedures and safety measures, while also giving them a chance to exchange experiences with specialists. “Important topics are covered related to diving safety and training for people who are just starting to dedicate themselves to this,” he said. The agenda also includes reef conservation and the protection of marine species. Zepeda said he has observed changes in local wildlife over the past two years and credited anti-poaching efforts with helping sustain species such as lobster and pink conch. He also reported sightings of hammerhead and reef sharks, as well as a greater presence of green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles.
The Cozumel Reefs National Park maintains scientific monitoring programs for corals, fish and other organisms to assess the health of its ecosystems. In addition to natural conditions, Zepeda highlighted the island’s medical infrastructure for treating diving-related incidents and providing hyperbaric medicine. He said the combination of infrastructure, training and specialized events helps keep Cozumel competitive in the diving tourism market. “You can dive all year round, with good temperatures and good visibility,” he said. Holding the congress for a second straight year, he added, will again position Cozumel as a meeting point to discuss both the tourism industry and the environmental and safety challenges linked to diving.
Habitat Loss And Pollution Threaten Migratory Shorebirds In Cozumel, Experts Warn
Habitat loss, pollution and climate change are among the main threats facing shorebirds that use Cozumel’s coastal ecosystems during migration, specialists warned during a birdwatching event at Punta Sur on September 8th.
The outing, organized by the Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation (FPMC) to mark World Shorebirds Day, led to the identification of 22 species, including sanderlings, willets, Wilson’s plovers, flamingos, ospreys and boat-billed herons. Experts explained that the island’s beaches, mangroves and wetlands function as resting, feeding and refuge areas for migratory species, and that the condition of these habitats has a direct impact on their survival. The FPMC also noted that shorebirds serve as indicators of the environmental health of beaches, lagoons and wetlands, since their presence and behavior provide valuable information about the state of those ecosystems. The event also sought to bring the public closer to the species and their migratory routes, aiming to generate greater attention toward the ecosystems they depend on. Quintana Roo has a historical record of more than 480 bird species, according to information provided during the conservation activities.
Cozumel Park Guide Sanctioned For Using Bone To Lure Crocodile
A tour guide at Punta Sur Ecotourism Park has been disciplined after being filmed using a bone tied to a fishing rod to lure a crocodile at Laguna Colombia, park officials said. The guide, an internal employee of the park, was also required to take a course on environmental best practices, according to Jesús Benavides Andrade, the park’s director.
The incident came to light after a foreign tourist posted images of the encounter on social media, triggering backlash from environmentalists and island activists who demanded stronger oversight at the site, which is managed by the Fundación de Parques y Museos de Cozumel (Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation).Benavides said the worker was fully identified. He added that the sanctions were not limited to a penalty, as the guide must also complete a course on good environmental practices taught by a local institution. Some social media users suggested the guide may have acted to win a larger tip, but Benavides said park management does not know what motivated the employee’s actions. Officials warned that such behavior can put both tourists and park workers at risk. Benavides called on internal and external guides to follow environmental best practices inside the protected natural area, noting that feeding wildlife can alter animals’ natural behavior and affect how species interact with people. The episode went viral and quickly prompted debate among environmentalists and activists in Cozumel, who questioned the level of oversight at the spot where the encounter occurred.
Laguna Colombia, where the incident took place, is home to more than 200 crocodiles and is considered one of the area’s most important sites for wildlife watching. Park administrators said the measures taken against the guide are part of broader efforts to ensure that those who lead visitor activities respect environmental rules and avoid actions that could disrupt the animals’ natural conduct.
Need a LEGAL U.S. Notary Service? THIS is your solution!
It has happened to ALL of us U.S. Citizens who spend significant amounts of time living / working in Cozumel: reading the dreaded words on a document from back home: "Notarized Signature Required." It's such a simple thing and no one wants the added expense of travelling back to the U.S. just to have their signature notarized but there are many legal processes in the U.S.A. where nothing BUT a notarized signature will be accepted.
Some common documents that U.S. Citizens need notarized while living abroad are: Real Estate Deeds or Mortgages, executing Wills, Powers of Attorney, requests for Birth / Marriage / Death Certificates, Permission for a parent to get a minor’s US Passport, banking / insurance / bonding documents, permission for a minor to travel without parents or application for duplicate or replacement vehicle titles just to name a few.
In the past, the most common solution was for a U.S. Citizen to make their way to the nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy where notaries are always available but the fees involved can be quite expensive. In addition there is the cost of actually travelling to the Consulate and who knows if appointments will even be available especially if the notarized signature is needed urgently. Plus from Cozumel that Consulate visit includes the cost of a ferry round trip to get to Playa del Carmen. All of these complicating factors just create more of a headache for something that is supposed to be relatively easy and inexpensive.
Another option frequently used has been that of a U.S. Notary operating outside of their country and jurisdiction. While this option is usually easy and cheap (often free or for a donation), it is one of those situations where "you get what you pay for" because technically these U.S. Notaries are operating ILLEGALLY as they are outside the legal jurisdiction for which they are authorized to notarize documents. In theory an illegal notarization could be attacked and challenged in the future and nullified causing legal issues with the documents signed. A fraud challenge to a Notary operating outside of the USA, simply involves a court asking the Notary to present their passport to the judge. Immigration stamps inside the passport will prove the Notary's whereabouts when documents were signed and if this was done inside the Notary's legal jurisdiction or illegally outside their authorized jurisdiction.
So do yourself a favor and avoid any future Signature Notary problems by utilizing an ON-LINE NOTARY SERVICE. Thanks to remote online notarization (RON), you can notarize a document from anywhere in the world, using your computer or mobile device and the internet. It takes only 10 minutes and is quite an easy process right from the comfort of your own home or office any hour of the day or night.
All you need to do is click this link 24/7 Online Notary Service To use this service, the fee is $25 USD and you must have a device with audio- visual capabilities (like a smart phone, tablet or PC) and proof of identity (a valid US Government-issued photo ID such as a Driver’s License or Passport). You can then access and meet with a licensed Notary Public who will notarize your papers in a matter of minutes. The process is easy, quick, efficient and AVAILABLE 24/7 online!! So WHY take a chance doing it any other way?!
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September 6, 2024 (Most Recent) Comprehensive Mexico Travel Warning
U.S. State Department Travel Advisory for Mexico Issued SEPTEMBER 6, 2024 shows the Mexican State of Quintana Roo (includes Cozumel, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, and Tulum) to be a LEVEL 2 Advisory - Exercise Increased Caution (Level 4 Advisory is Highest Risk):
There are "NO RESTRICTIONS" on U.S. government employees for travel to "ANY PARTS" of Quintana Roo state, which includes tourist areas such as: Cozumel, Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya and Tulum. However, U.S. government employees are advised to exercise increased situational awareness and caution after dark in the areas of Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen, and to remain in well-lit pedestrian streets and tourist zones.
U.S. citizens should as always exercise increased caution and be aware that according to Government of Mexico statistics, criminal activities and violence, including homicide, remain a concern throughout the State. While most of these homicides appeared to be targeted, criminal organization assassinations and turf battles between criminal groups that have resulted in violent crime in areas frequented by U.S. citizens. Bystanders injuries, while rare, have occurred. While not directed at tourists, shootings between rival gangs have killed or injured innocent bystanders. Additionally, U.S. citizens have been the victims of both non-violent and violent crimes in tourist and non-tourist areas.
The Mexico Travel Warning dated September 6, 2024 from the Department of State can also be viewed in its entirety on the Department of State website.
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09/014/2026 - Numbers go down quite a bit this week in Cozumel as cruise ship arrivals show 14 ships registered to dock as we celebrate Mexican Independence Day. This is 5 fewer ship than last week and 6 less than the "20 in port" which marks a "high season" number. There were 13 ships in port during the same week of 2025. An estimated 49,000 people will visit Cozumel this week via these cruise ships leaving an estimated US $ 5.2 million dollars behind in the local economy. 
