Cozumel Lifeguards Keep Watch Over Playa Caleta After Crocodile Sighting

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — Lifeguards in Cozumel are keeping a stretch of Playa Caleta under watch after a crocodile roughly 1.5 meters long was spotted near the shore.

Denis Méndez, coordinator of the island’s Lifeguard Corps, said personnel have been assigned to warn residents and tourists against approaching the animal or entering the water in the area.

The crocodile has been observed since Friday near the cargo pier, between Caleta and Calle 87, mostly while it feeds and rests. Because the animal has stayed in the area, one lifeguard has been dedicated to monitoring the zone and advising people who arrive at that point of the island.

Officials Urge Public to Keep Their Distance

Méndez said the main recommendation is to keep a safe distance and avoid touching, feeding or disturbing the animal, as well as staying out of the sea along the stretch where it has been seen. The measures are meant to protect both beachgoers and the crocodile.

Méndez added that the operation mounted for the IRONMAN 70.3 event concluded without incidents involving lifeguard personnel. The corps also kept watch over the weekend at the beaches with the largest numbers of visitors, reporting no incidents there either.

Surveillance at Playa Caleta will continue as long as the crocodile remains in the area, with officials urging visitors to follow staff instructions and avoid any approach that could create a dangerous situation.