CENOTE DIVING
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT DIVING IN CENOTES
Diving in cenote caverns is unlike any diving you have done before. The visibility is so clear it literally feels like you're flying. There are no currents or external conditions to worry about, it's just calm and slow diving inside. The displays of light rays that peek through the surface are mystical and beautiful. The rock formations are endlessly unique and make the imagination wander. Even the logistics of getting there is fun as you drive by truck through the jungle, gear up and walk right in.
Can anyone dive into cenotes?
In order to dive in the CAVERNS, you will need to be a certified diver and hold a valid scuba license. However, there are 2 cenotes in the area that non-certified divers may go for a Discover Scuba Dive because they are not cavernous, always have direct access to the surface, and are considered an open water environment.
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Do you need a special license to dive in the caverns?
You just need your open water diver or valid scuba certification. You will need to always dive with a certified cavern guide and always follow them. Some cenotes require advanced open water or higher due to depth or difficulty.
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What's the difference between Cavern diving and Cave diving?
Cavern diving respects limits in which divers must stay within the natural sunlight zone, and within 60 linear meters of the surface of the water. To go anything beyond those limits you must undergo proper cave dive training.
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Is cavern diving safe?
Your guide will explain to you a list of appropriate cavern diving rules put in place by the cave diving committee. As long as you respect and obey all rules and remain with your guide at all times you will be safe inside the caverns. There is also a strict 1 guide to 4 divers ratio rule so you will always be in a small group.
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What is a cenote?
Aside from practically being a portal to a new underground dimension... a cenote is really the entrance to an underground cave system. Caused by the ceiling of a cave collapsing or a natural sinkhole occurring, that exposes underground water. Cenotes come in many different shapes and sizes, from cave to semi-open, and fully open.
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How do cenotes form?
The history of cenotes started millions of years ago. The entire Yucatan peninsula used to be a shallow sea bed, until the water levels dropped and exposed the seafloor turning the land into a flat level of limestone rock. Limestone is very porous and the whole landmass is covered with thousands of caves and cenotes below the ground. The rain that falls in the flat jungle has nowhere to go but down inside the fractures and veins of the limestone, flowing into the largest cave systems in the world.
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Do cenotes have rock formations?
They have many different kinds of speleological rock formations. When the caves were dry, the rainwater would drip down from the ceiling and leave behind calcium deposits and minerals in various unique formations like stalactites and stalactites. Eventually, when the caves filled with water the formations stopped growing and remained in the caves. You'll find various stalactites such as coralloids, soda straws, cone-shaped, and curtains in the cavers.
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Are all cenotes connected?
In theory, they could be. Systema Sac Actun (just to name one system) is the largest cave system here with around 226 cenotes connecting it. There are many large systems and the biggest concentration of cenotes in the world, so it would make sense they are all connected. However, it hasn't been proven quite yet as there are still explorers discovering more passages and cenotes to this day. The caves have various styles of passageways from saltwater passageways, massive pits, large tunnels, small swim-throughs, and small veins and pores.
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How many cenotes are there?
There is an estimated 9000+ cenotes in the whole Yucatan, and approximately only 2200 of those are registered, meaning that not all cenotes are even discovered yet.
WHAT ARE CENOTES
HOW TO CAVERN DIVE WITH ME
For the quickest response, please message me directly on WhatApp. (see button below). Secondarily you may email me at divewithtaz@gmail.com.
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During the booking process please tell me your desired dive dates to ensure my availability. I also make sure that you will be placed with divers of the same skill level or you can book a private tour.
