Discover the Cenotes of Yucatan, Mexico Underwater

The Cenotes of Yucatan offer divers the possibility to experience a unique type of dive: cavern diving in the Cenotes.

Cenote Taj Mahal

Diving in Cenote will hint at what cave diving looks like if you are undecided about becoming a cave diver or want to enjoy the experience once.

What is a cenote?

The word “Cenote” comes from the Mayan “dzonot.” Cenotes are sinkholes created by the collapse of limestone rocks filled with crystal-clear water.

The Yucatan peninsula is covered with Cenotes. They are found almost everywhere; some remain undiscovered deep in the jungle, and others are in the center of cities and villages. Furthermore, they can have all sizes and shapes; some have underwater passages, some offer large pools, and others are vertical pits. The Maya considered the Cenotes were sacred doors. Read more about the Cenotes…

Diving in the Cenotes of Yucatan

Diving in the Cenotes is an exciting experience. You will enjoy the best diving conditions you can imagine. The water is crystal clear, and the visibility is incredible. There is minimal current and warm water all year round (25°C/76F). The underwater caves feature many speleothems (stalactites, stalagmites, columns, flowstones…) and stunning sunrays penetrating the cave’s darkness through small openings in the ceiling.

What certification do I need for Cenote diving?

To discover the cavern part of the Cenotes on most sites, you will only need an Open Water certification or equivalent, good buoyancy skills, and great comfort. Some cenotes require more advanced skills and an Advanced Open Water certification or equivalent.

And if you want to go further, you will need cave diving training; your guide can give you all the necessary information.

Formations of the Cenotes

These unique formations are due to a sequence of geological and climatic events. Several million years ago, the Yucatan peninsula was submerged by the ocean and raised during the glaciation, when the sea level dropped.

Cenote

Cenotes are formed by rock dissolution, creating a void below the bedrock and the subsequent collapse. These collapses occur when the water table is below the ceiling of the void since the rock ceiling is no longer buoyantly supported by the water.

What are speleothems?

Speleothems are cave formations resulting from mineral deposits. Depending on whether the water drips, seeps, condenses, flows, or ponds, they take various forms. The most known speleothems are:
Stalactite: hanging from the cave ceiling
Stalagmite: the “ground-up” counterparts of stalactites
Column: when stalactites and stalagmites meet or when stalactites reach the floor of the cave
Drapery, curtain, or bacon are thin sheets of calcite hanging downward
Flowstone: covering the floor and walls of a cave
Soda straws: fragile but long stalactites having an elongated cylindrical shape

Cenote dream's gate

You will observe all of these mineral formations and many more in cenotes.

What is the halocline?

A halocline is a chemocline caused by a strong, vertical salinity gradient within a body of water. Because salinity (along with temperature) affects the density of water, it plays a role in its vertical stratification. In Cenotes, you will discover this very characteristic and fascinating phenomenon of Haloclines. And you will observe it particularly clearly in Tajma Ha Cenote and Eden Cenote.

The phenomenon is very visual, and the boundary between fresh and saltwater is clear. In the presence of a halocline, when ascending from the saltwater layer (below) to the freshwater, the diver can feel floating in the air over water.

Where can I go Cenote diving? For Certified recreational divers

Cenote Diving Map

Cenote The Pit – Dos Ojos

  • Maximum depth for guided cenote dives: 30m/100 ft
  • Water Temperature: 24°C / 76F year round
  • Location: Access via the Cenotes Dos Ojos Park entrance located 10 km (6 miles) south of Akumal. Cenote entrance fee is paid at the entrance of the Cenotes Dos Ojos Park. Then a 6 km/4 miles long dirt road into the jungle leads to the cenote.
  • Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Facilities: Toilets, tables
  • Best combined with: Cenote Nicte Ha, Cenotes Dos Ojos, Taak Bi Ha, Casa Cenote
  • Notes:
    • – No swimming/snorkeling is allowed in this cenote.
    • This cenote charges for big cameras and cameras with big strobes. Small cameras can be used free of charge.
  • Difficulty: For advanced divers

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The Pit is one of the deepest Cenotes of Yucatan (130 meters) and is part of one of the biggest cave systems in the world. You will enjoy the amazing light beams down to the sulfide layer at 30m.

Cenote Dos Ojos – Barbie line & Bat cave

  • Maximum Depth: 9 meters / 30 feet
  • Average Depth: 5 meters / 15 feet
  • Water Temperature: 24°C / 76F year round
  • Location: The entrance to Cenotes Dos Ojos is about 10 km (6 miles) south of Akumal Pueblo. Cenote entrance fee at the ticket counter at the main entrance (about 100 meters (100 yards) from the turnoff on Highway 307. Then, a 2.5 km (1.5 miles) long dirt road leads into the jungle to the cenotes.
  • Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Facilities: Toilets, changing rooms, restaurants, souvenirs, snorkel guides
  • Note: This cenote charges for big cameras and cameras with big strobes. Smaller cameras (e.g., GoPro) can be used free of charge.
  • Difficulty: easy

Dos Ojos is probably one of the most known Cenote dive thanks to the I-max movie “Amazing Caves.” The cenote offers two different dives,  the Barbie Line, a circuit with massive columns and stalactites. The Batcave Line is like a dark cave as you swim around an air bell with very little light entry. All along, you will enjoy the variety of its delicate formations.

Cenote Taj Ma Ha

  • Maximum Depth: 15 meters / 49 feet
  • Average Depth: 12 meters / 40 feet
  • Water Temperature: 24°C / 76F year round
  • Location: ​Cenote Tajma Ha is a few kilometers south of X Pu Ha, 5 km south of Puerto Aventuras – a long dirt road into the jungle leads to the cenote.
  • Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Facilities: Toilets, changing rooms, souvenirs
  • Combine with: Cenote Eden
  • Note: This cenote charges US$20 for bigger cameras.
  • Difficulty: Moderate
Cenote Taj Ma Ha - The colapse

A fairly demanding dive due to the multiple depth changes, but the stunning beauty will reward you. You will observe lots of stalactites, stalagmites, fossils, and three other Cenotes on the way with amazing light effects, and come across the halocline a few times.

Cave Diving in Yucatan - Fossils

Cenote Angelita

  • Maximum Depth: 66 meters / 216 feet
  • Water Temperature: 24°C / 76F year round
  • Location: Cenote Angelita is located on Highway 307 south of Tulum
  • Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Facilities: Toilets, tables
  • Best combined with: Cenote Carwash, Cenote Manati, Cenote Taj Ma Ha, Cenote Taak Bi Ha
  • Note: This cenote charges for cameras
  • Difficulty: Difficult
Angelita

The Cenote Angelita is one of the deepest cenotes in the Riviera Maya. It is particularly known for its sulfide layer, like an underground river flowing around a small island with a few trees. Under the cloud, you will experience total darkness. This is an exceptional dive full of sensations for experienced divers only.

Cenote CarWash

  • Maximum Depth: 16 meters / 53 feet
  • Water Temperature: 24°C / 76F year round
  • Location: Cenote Carwash is about 8 km/5 miles outside Tulum on the road to Coba.
  • Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Facilities: Toilets, Changing Rooms, restaurant
  • Best combined with: Cenote Angelita
  • Difficulty: Easy
Cenote diving: Cenote Carwash

Aktun Ha, better known as Car Wash, is located near Tulum. Its name comes from the fact that people used to come to this cenote to wash their cars. The open water pool is covered by a thick and dense layer of algae bloom with very reduced visibility in summer. Below this layer, the water is crystal clear with subtle green brightness. You will meet turtles, fish, and possibly a small crocodile. And you will enjoy the amazing beauty of the water lilies.

Cenote Chac Mool

  • Maximum Depth: 14 meters / 50 feet
  • Water Temperature: 24°C / 76F year round
  • Location: Cenote Chac Mool is at Puerto Aventuras level.
  • Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Facilities: Toilets, Changing Rooms, restaurant
  • Best combined with: Cenote Angelita
  • Difficulty: Easy
Cenote Kukulkan, cavern dive in the winter morning light
Cenote Kukulkan, cavern dive in the winter morning light

The Chac Mool Cavern Line leads you through a large, well-lit Cavern Zone with impressive breakdown formations and spectacular views of the jungle from underwater. You will see tree roots growing into the water along the edge of the Main Entrance and dive into a hypnotic halocline passage.
Halfway through the dive, you can surface in a beautiful air dome before continuing through a cathedral of speleothems.

Cenote Kukulkan offers one of the most amazing light shows you can imagine in winter.

Cenote Eden o Cenote Ponde Rosa

  • Maximum Depth: 14 meters / 46 feet
  • Average Depth: 12 meters / 40 feet
  • Water Temperature: 24°C / 76F year round
  • Location: South of Puerto Aventuras
  • Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Facilities: Toilets, food/drink stands
  • Best combined with: Cenote Tajma Ha
  • Note: This cenote is closed on Saturdays
  • Difficulty: Easy

The Cenote Eden, known as Ponderosa, features beautiful light effects and a wonderful halocline. In the open water pool, you will observe many colorful fish.

Cenote Chikin Ha

  • Maximum Depth: 15 meters / 50 feet
  • Halocline Depth: 12 meters / 40 feet
  • Water Temperature: 24°C / 76F year round
  • Location: The entrance to Cenote Chikin Ha is south of Puerto Aventuras. Then, from the turnoff on the Highway, a 2 km (1.3 miles) long dirt road leads into the jungle to the cenote.
  • Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (closes on Saturdays)
  • Facilities: Toilets, showers, changing rooms, souvenirs
  • Difficulty: Easy
Cenote Chikin Ha - Map of the cavern dive
Cenote Chikin Ha – Map of the cavern dive

Chikin Ha means “Western Water”  it is a huge half-moon cenote with crystal clear water.

The permanent guideline begins in the open water of Chikin Ha and traverses over to Cenote Arcoiris (Cenote Rainbow) through a large halocline tunnel. On the way back to Chikin Ha, you will see fossils, crystal formations, and speleothems.

Cenote Pet Cemetry

Depth: 7 meters / 30 feet
Difficulty: Moderate

As the name suggests, some animal skeletons are at the bottom of your dive. And above all, this is not even the hit of these dives! This cave is amazingly decorated with white speleothems. The nearby surface will offer stunning reflections of these formations. Just hold your breath and enjoy! And if you need more, look between the roots for blind fish 🙂

Cenote Dreams Gate

  • Maximum Depth: 7 meters / 23 feet
  • Average Depth: 5 meters / 15 feet
  • Water Temperature: 25C / 77F year round
  • Location: ​The entrance to Cenote Dreamgate is south of Cenote Dos Ojos. Then, from the turnoff on Highway 307, a 4 km (2.5 miles) long dirt road leads into the jungle to the cenote.
  • Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Facilities: Toilets, changing rooms
  • Difficulty: Advanced

Dreamgate requires excellent buoyancy skills as it is very shallow and has a low ceiling. Very decorated with delicate formations. Make sure you dive close to the line to limit the impact of your bubbles or an unfortunate fin kick. We love the place and want to enjoy it for a long time.

Cenote Zapote

Depth: 40 meters / 120 feet
Difficulty: Challenging

Zapote is one of the most demanding Cenote dive as it is deep and fairly dark, and you will also encounter a sulfide cloud. But most of all, it is enriching as you will face extraordinary formations in the shape of a bell out of this cloud. Keep in mind that not only are they unusual, but they are still new to science.

Casa Cenote or Cenote Manati

  • Maximum Depth: 7 meters / 23 feet
  • Average Depth: 5 meters / 15 feet
  • Water Temperature: 24°C / 76F year round
  • Location: ​Casa Cenote is located south of Dos Ojos Park.
  • Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Facilities: Toilet, changing rooms, restaurants nearby, seaside
  • Combine with: The Pit, Dos Ojos, or Carwash
  • Note: This cenote charges for big cameras and a smaller fee for Go Pros.
  • Difficulty: Easy

Casa Cenote is one of the easiest cenote dives. You will dive directly under the mangroves and get the chance to meet some marine life since the Cenote is directly connected to the ocean. You will swim across a dense halocline and observe beautiful light effects.

Casa Cenote - Cenote Manati - Tank Ha

Cenote Taak Bi Ha

  • Maximum Depth: 7 meters / 23 feet
  • Average Depth: 4 meters / 12 feet
  • Water Temperature: 24°C / 76F year round
  • Location: ​Cenote Taak Bi Ha is located after the entrance of Cenote Dos Ojos.
  • Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Facilities: Toilet, changing rooms, souvenirs
  • Combine with: The Pit, Dos Ojos, or Taak Be Luum
  • Difficulty: Difficult

Dive into Taak Bi Ha, a captivating cenote meaning “Hidden Route of Water” in Maya. This newly opened underwater wonderland shows delicate stalactites, stalagmites, and stunning columns. With a steep stairway leading to an illuminated cavern area, adventurers can descend into its depths. Expert diving skills and buoyancy control are essential due to the fragile nature of the decorations. Taak Bi Ha is part of one of the world’s longest-explored underwater river systems, the Sac Actun System, traversing an impressive 369 kilometers (229 miles).

Cenote Nicte Ha

  • Maximum Depth: 8.5 meters / 25 feet
  • Average Depth: 4 meters / 12 feet
  • Water Temperature: 24°C / 76F year round
  • Location: ​Cenote Nicte Ha is located in the Ecopark of Dos Ojos.
  • Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Facilities: Toilet, changing rooms
  • Combine with: The Pit, Dos Ojos, or Taak Be Luum
  • Difficulty: Difficult

Immerse yourself in the enchanting realm of Cenote Nicte Ha, nestled within the captivating ecopark of Dos Ojos. A short journey along a rustic dirt road from the park entrance leads you to this mesmerizing cenote. Its name, “Flower of the Water,” derives from the abundant water-lilies that grace the open water area, adding a natural elegance.

Descending into Nicte Ha’s depths reveals a cavern adorned with a multitude of majestic stalagmites and stalactites, showcasing the distinctive formations characteristic of the Dos Ojos system. The maximum depth of 8.5 meters presents a perfect opportunity for exploration and discovery.

For underwater photographers seeking sublime panoramas, Nicte Ha beckons with its exquisite lighting conditions and the ethereal presence of the water lilies. Every frame captured in this picturesque cenote is bound to be a work of art. However, exercising precision and care is important, as the fine sediment coating the floor leaves no margin for error.

Prepare to be captivated by the enchanting allure of Nicte Ha, where nature’s delicate beauty and stunning formations converge, offering an idyllic haven for both divers and photographers alike.

Cenote Orquidea
  • Maximum Depth: 40 meters / 120 feet
  • Water Temperature: 24°C / 76F year round
  • Location: ​Cenote Orquidea is located South of Puerto Aventuras.
  • Facilities: Toilet
  • Combine with: Taj Ma Ha, Taak Be Ha
  • Difficulty: Difficult

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