A devastating boat accident occurred on the night of January 29, 2024, in the waters between Cancún and Isla Mujeres, favored tourist spots in the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. The boat was carrying 19 people, including 17 tourists and two crew members, when it capsized.
Four Mexican tourists, a woman, two men, and a ten-year-old boy, sadly lost their lives in the incident.
The Mexican Navy and other local agencies rescued the rest of the passengers, who were all Mexican, from the water. Some were taken to local hospitals for treatment, but their conditions are currently unknown.
The boat, called Diosa del Mar (Goddess of the Sea), was on its way back to Cancún from Isla Mujeres after the passengers had eaten at a restaurant on the island.
Early investigations led by the state attorney general Raciel López are underway to ascertain whether overcrowding or bad weather conditions caused the accident. The boat, with a stated capacity of 16, was carrying 19 passengers when the accident occurred.
The impact from the wake of a larger vessel is also being considered as a possible contributing factor. The incident has raised safety concerns about the adherence to passenger capacity and the use of life jackets. The boat’s captain has been detained for further investigation.
A high volume of traffic frequents the narrow strait between Isla Mujeres and Cancún, including ferries, private leisure boats, and small charter vessels.
This area has been the site of numerous accidents over the years. In 2022, a dive boat ran over two American divers who were in the water despite visible warning signs, resulting in their deaths. In 2018, an explosion on a passenger ferry at Playa del Carmen caused minor injuries to around two dozen tourists, including some foreigners. In 2000, British singer Kirsty MacColl met a tragic end when a boat propeller struck her while she was diving at Cozumel, across from Playa del Carmen.
In response to ongoing complaints, local authorities have implemented new regulations regarding boat anchoring off Playa Norte in Isla Mujeres.
The new rules involve setting up a durable buoy line to limit boat access to the popular beach area and requiring a fee for using mooring points along the nearly half-mile-long line. Signs have been erected to warn swimmers against venturing into the boat area and to caution boats against anchoring within approximately 33 feet of the line. The harbor master’s office is tasked with monitoring the area and enforcing penalties for infractions.