What are the cenotes?
Cenotes are natural sinkholes or pits formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock, exposing groundwater underneath. They are typically found in regions with extensive limestone formations, like the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Cenotes are often filled with clear, fresh water and are connected to underground rivers and cave systems. They hold cultural and historical significance, particularly in Mayan culture, and are popular for swimming, snorkeling, and diving due to their unique geological features and biodiversity.
Unveiling the Marvels of Cenote Diving in Mexico: Diver’s Paradise – Discover cave diving
The best way to discover cave diving, technically speaking this kind of diving is called cavern diving or Cenote diving.
Everything you need to know about Cenote Diving.
Chac Mool
- Depth: 14m
- Level 2
- OW Diver min
Kukulkan
- Depth: 14m
- Level 1
- OW Diver min
Chikin Ha (2 dives)
- Depth: 14m
- Level 1
- OW Diver min
The Pit
- Depth: 30m
- Level 3
- Adv Diver min
Eden
- Depth: 15m
- Level 1
- OW Diver min
Taj Ma Ha
- Depth: 14m
- Level 2
- OW Diver min
Yaa Kun
- Depth: 30m
- Level 3
- Adv Diver min
Nicte Ha
- Depth: 8m
- Level 3
- Adv Diver min
Dos ojos – Barbie Line
- Depth: 8m
- Level 1
- OW Diver min
Dos Ojos – Batcave
- Depth: 10 m
- Level 2
- OW Diver min
Taak Bi Ha
- Depth: 7 m
- Level 3
- Adv Diver min
Orquidea
- Depth: 30m
- Level 3
- Adv Diver min
Cenote Dreamsgate (2 dives)
- Depth: 8m
- Level 4
- Adv Diver min
Aktun Ha – Carwash
- Depth: 14 m
- Level 1
- OW Diver min
Angelita
- Depth: 30 m
- Level 3
- Adv Diver min
Calavera – Temple of Doom
- Depth: 15m
- Level 2
- Adv Diver min
Casa Cenote – Manati
- Depth: 8m
- Level 1
- OW Diver min
Kin Ha
- Depth: 30 m
- Level 3
- Adv Diver min
Maravilla
- Depth: 30 m
- Level 3
- Adv Diver min
Siete Bocas
- Depth: 15m
- Level 3
- Adv Diver min
Taak Be Lum
- Depth: 8m
- Expert
- Adv Diver min
Zapote
- Depth: 30 m
- Level 4 – Expert
- Adv Diver min
Laguna Kaan Luum
- Depth: 30 m
- Expert
- Tech Diver min
Pet Cemetary
- Depth: 7m
- Expert – Closed
- Adv Diver min
Experience Extraordinary Cenote Diving
Cenote cavern diving promises a truly one-of-a-kind and indelible experience. Picture-perfect diving conditions await – think endless visibility, tranquil currents, and a comfortable water temperature of 76°F (25°C) that remains constant throughout the year.
Dive into the Diversity of Cenotes
With 15 distinct cavern dive sites to explore, each site offers exceptional features that promise to captivate your senses. The offerings are intriguing, from stunning rock formations to hidden underwater passageways.
Unraveling Cenote Diving Mystique
Let us introduce you to the mesmerizing world of cenotes, the natural sinkholes that are not just captivating diving spots but also windows to the rich geological history of the Yucatan peninsula. These submerged marvels serve as repositories of the past, continually offering insights into the evolution of life on Earth, including humans. Explore deeper into the cenote phenomenon and discover the secrets they hold.
Every Cavern Dive is a Discovery
The appeal of cenote diving lies in the unique surprises each cavern conceals within its depths. There’s no definitive “best” cavern dive; the experience is personal, with each diver forming an intimate connection with their chosen site.
Cenote Dives Guided by the Best
Our team of cenote guides comprises skilled professionals and instructors with a wealth of experience. Prioritizing safety above all else, they adhere rigorously to the established safety protocols for Cavern Diving. Count on them to ensure security and an enriching and fulfilling cavern diving encounter.
Your Cenote Diving Tailored to You
At Deep Dark Diving, we understand that every diver’s journey is special. We meticulously recommend or select the perfect cenote dive site based on the certified diver’s experience and past cavern diving escapades.
Are you ready to plunge into the mystical realm of cenote diving? Allow us to be your companions as you unravel the hidden treasures of Mexico’s cenotes. Whether you’re an inquisitive explorer or an experienced Open Water Diver seeking a fresh thrill, cenote diving promises an adventure like no other. Embrace the allure of these captivating underwater caverns and let your underwater odyssey begin. Book your cenote diving experience today! And feel the excitement.
Ask us for your Private Diving or Group packages
Cenote Sac Actun (Pet Cemetery)
Closed for diving at the moment :'( But… we love this place so much that we recommend you take a snorkel tour there, it is worth it!!
Casa Cenote – Cenote Manati
Also known as Cenote Tank Ha, Something different! A simple dive full of surprises. It is an open cenote surrounded by mangroves.
Casa Cenote connects one of the longest underwater Cave Systems in the world with the ocean. Located a few kilometers north of Tulum, while diving into the cavern in Casa Cenote, you will truly get the feeling of diving underneath the jungle.
The Cenote is shaped like a horseshoe in the middle of the mangrove. The dive follows one side under the roots to protect from the current. Yes, there can be current there! Navigate through passages and fissures in the limestone and then return through the beautiful tunnels under the mangrove.
Due to the connection with the ocean, you will dive in brackish water and meet fresh and saltwater fish. If you are on a lucky day, be patient and open your eyes for cormorants fishing. There is nothing like seeing a bird underwater in the middle of a mangrove.
This cenote is perfect for novice divers and will allow you to see more life than other cenotes. It also has a very nice halocline and beautiful light effects. The maximum depth is 8m/30 feet.
More advanced divers will appreciate the variety and contrast of this unique cenote.
Cenote Calaveras or Temple of doom
Although its nickname – Cenote Temple of Doom – sounds threatening, it’s just referring to the three holes in the top of the cenote that create the image of a skull. At just over 15m/50 feet, it’s relatively shallow, and the ambiance is outstanding and full of surprises. You enter with a 3m/10 ft high giant step. You will come across a stunning halocline with bluish saltwater that highly contrasts with the slightly tannic fresh water. The shallow part is highly decorated with fascinating layers of speleothems.
Gran Cenote – Cenote Grande
This site is very popular with swimmers, snorkelers, and divers. This large cenote features beautiful lily plants and hosts many turtles. Caver divers will visit the large cavern, which is very shallow and highly decorated with white speleothems that look like melted candles, for certified cavern divers only. Please get in touch with us for your cavern diver training.
Cenote Carwash (Actun Ha)
This cenote has the best of everything! The open water area is like an aquarium, and the cavern area is spectacular.
Cenote Carwash is located on Coba Road, 15 minutes from Tulum. The Cenote is just a few meters from the road and has effortless access. For that reason, taxi drivers used to wash their cars there. Carwash presents a large and shallow open water pool with two entrances (upstream and downstream) to the cave system. The Cavern general takes place on the upstream side, which is way bigger and more decorated. Carwash now has a permanent Cavern Line, but a few years ago, your guide had to install one using a primary reel, a mandatory skill that any trained cavern and cave divers should master.
During the summer months, an alga blooms at the surface of the cenote. It can be a few meters thick and considerably reduces the visibility. That layer can be quite warm and filter the sunlight, but once you pass below it, the water is crystal clear and feels much cooler. Below the algae layer, the light takes a surprising and amazing greenish color.
You will always enjoy the cavern’s atmosphere during your cavern dive. The dead trees at the entrance create a beautiful forest that gives photographers a great subject and composition.
At the furthest point of the cavern, where a clear sign points out the beginning of the cave, you will observe many brownish cave formations.
Open water is also of great interest. The basin has many beautiful, fragile, and colorful water lilies. You will see many turtles, and don’t forget to look around for the crocodile as you return to the open water. Carwash is also a popular training site for full cave diving training.
Cenote Angelita
Angelita means “little angel” in Spanish. It is an atypical Cenote dive in Tulum and a once-in-a-lifetime underwater experience. Situated 17 km south of Tulum.
After a 5-minute walk through the jungle, you reach this circular-shaped Cenote that goes straight down to more than 60m/200ft.
After descending the clear freshwater, you will reach the mystical hydrogen sulfate layer at around 30m/90 ft. It resembles a huge cloud surrounding an island with dead trunks and branches.
Those of you who feel comfortable will cross the cloud. The cloud is like a heavy fog with low visibility and is a bit smelly. Then, once you are below the cloud, the visibility is perfect again, but it is completely dark, giving the feeling of being in a forest at night. After a few minutes, we go back up and start ascending in circles along the walls.
There are few stalactites, but the few are huge and are here to remind us of those times when the water level was much lower. Angelita is a dive for the experienced diver because of its depth.
It is also a great training site for Technical Diving.
Deep Dark Diving loves taking their Deco Procedures, Extended Range, and Trimix students at depth on the graduation dive after completing the course. The conditions are perfect for safely enjoying a Deep Dive. Plan a multilevel dive with a maximum depth of 45m/135ft or 55-60 m/165- 180 ft, stay some time at depth, below the cloud, ascend to 28-30m/90-100 ft, right above the could stay some time and execute the decompression plan. It is a unique experience for any technical diver.
CAVE DIVING TRAINING
Do you want to know what’s behind the cavern area? Do you want to take charge of your cavern dive and fully understand and handle your security?
