Many private boats go up to Mexico rocks for a snorkeling trip. We don't hire guides and we tie up to the established moorings so as not to do damage to the reef. In addition we have no one on board who pays for the trip. I believe I've heard of the Park Rangers coming by and collecting a fee but it has never happened to me.

The fact of the example given where a boat showed up with a guide with an expired license, well I can understand that. He is getting paid to perform a duty that he is technically not licensed for. But a private boat with only owners and maybe a couple of non-paying guests on it?

I do know that I have a friend who will not pick me up at my dock if we go off snorkeling together. This he has told me is so that no guide would think that he is charging and acting as a guide on our trips. I believe he feared harm to his boat rather than an infraction to the law.

Yes, this is a good discussion and the first post caught me as a little smug.

Jim
Formerly from somewhere on a beach in Belize