For those that are interested and not aware. As of early last week, the beach recovery has actually started. The First Sand Has Been Pumped Onto Cancun's Beaches 2 November 2009 As of last Sunday, November 1, Cancun has received the first 16 thousand cubic meters of sand in the beach reconstruction project. The first sand began being pumped onto the playa in front of the Royal Sunset hotel at kilometer 10.2 of Cancun's hotel zone. They will move north from there, toward Punta Cancun. There is a possible stumbling block along the way which may cause delays. There is a dispute over the use of an underwater sand bank near Cozumel. Currently, they are dredging sand from an underwater sand bank near Isla Mujeres, which contains approximately 1.5 million cubic meters. A little over 5 million cubic meters is needed to complete the project. The courts are yet to decide if they will be allowed to dredge the sand bank off of Cozumel for the remainder of the sand to complete the project. Keep checking back for updated beach photos as the project continues! EDIT: info taken from cancunbeachconditions
Update: Pictures http://entertainment.webshots.com/album/575354123QoXWnL Video http://entertainment.webshots.com/video/3069805060044351485ZILMSC Sunday Nov. 22, 2009 Por Esto Reports: 1.- The 2nd dredger--the Volvox Terranova--arrived on Saturday to join the work of the Kaishuu that has completed 1 linear kilometer of beach so far with an average of 60-70 yards wide between the Le Blanc Hotel and Punta Cancun. 2.- For the moment, the Regional Harbormaster, Roberto López Aispuro, the “Volvox Terranova”, that has just arrived from Dubai is anchored in Bahía de Mujeres waiting for paperwork to be processed so it can join the beach rebuild project in Cancun. 3.- The work also includes beach restoration in Playa del Carmen and Cozumel. 4.- Inspite of the confusion as to whether Isla Mujeres' North Beach area was to be included or not, ( some statements said yes and others no), it seems that it may be included especially after the construction of 2 hotels right on the beach there. 5.- And even though they had said that they would start work on the small artificial island off of the area around the H-10 Krystal hotel, by starting to submerge the cement cubes it will be made of that will form a structure like an arm about 320 yards in length that it is hoped will diminish the effects on the new beaches.Unofficial sources say it will probably be next week when they will start that. 6.- They have been averaging about 100 linear meters per day with the Kaishuu that has a capacity of about 15,000 cubic meters making 3 or 4 trips daily to La Ollita sand bank by Isla Mujeres. With the new dredger “Volvox Terranova” that has a capacity of 20,000 cubic meters on each trip, Cancun may celebrate Christmas with new wide and attractive beaches. info and pictures taken from tripadvisor by jimincancun
What two new hotels, right on the beach, there? I go out there often, and I haven't seen any. ___________________ I would be concerned that the removal of sand from offshore, near Isla, may lead to a diminution of North Beach- as the sand there, now, begins to flow towards whatever void is being created by the dredging. (That's the problem with sand, it's damn fluid stuff, and goes where gravity and currents take it. Any moving of sand from one place to another is bound to be temporary, unless it's done in cooperation with the natural conditions of tides, wind, and currents that exist in a given place; or, done with significant attention to adding structures designed to hold the sand in place, after it's been relocated.) Some have speculated that the changes wrought to the beaches in recent years are the result of changes in the natural patterns that existed before, and will not be reversed anytime soon. However, there were, and still are, a great many fine beaches at Cancun- even before any restoration takes place. After the restoration is complete, there will simply be even more. For anyone planning to book, getting detailed information about the conditions of the beaches at, or near, where you're planning to stay, and getting information about where the restoration has been completed, and the beach reopened is worth the trouble, if you enjoy hanging out at the beaches. [Some of the beach areas at around KM 9 are closed, now, because restoration is taking place, there. I tried to visit the beach in that area, yesterday, but entry was forbidden.] The restorations are now progressing quickly and barring any interruptions, should be completed relatively soon, considering their scale. Reading "Jim in Cancun's" excellent, detailed posts at "TripAdvisor," which Miki calls attention to in his post, can provide more detail than I've offered, here. Jim in Cancun will be updating these, as things progress, and conditions change.
this is great news. How long do they think this process will take? We are coming down in early January so hopefully they will have alot done.
