63: Mesoamerican Reef
Mesoamerican Reef, Quintana Roo, Mexico M E X I C O The hundred meter open-ocean swim I’m about to dive into has me a little nervous. On a map, the swim didn’t look to be this far. I’m alone in a third world country which is providing no safety net for a solo American snorkeler like me. No lifeguards or guides nearby. But I’ve come a long way to see the Mesoamerican reef so I’m not backing down from the hundred meter swim. The reef stretches more than 600 miles and is the largest in the western hemisphere - a rich mosaic of beaches, coastal wetlands, mangrove forests, 500 types of fish, and several endangered species including the saltwater crocodile – adding even more fuel to my nervousness. What primarily brought me to Mexico is an insurance conference, but what has me about to swim out to the reef is my deep interest in The Nature Conservancy (TNC). There is a nice connection between the two – where my in office ...