The waters near Isla Contoy are very rich in nutrients that serve as food for the plankton that constitutes the food base of more than 234 species of fish identified in the area, including the majestic whale sharks and stingrays that feed near their coasts and the turtles that nest there. The Ixlaché reef south of Contoy marks the beginning of the second-longest reef barrier in the world, the Great Mesoamerican Reef. Beautiful species of corals, fish, and organisms of great commercial value such as spiny lobster and pink snail abound. Swim with rays and turtles, nurse sharks and a huge amount of fish.