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The Cenote / Cavern Diving
So far there was no one who was not fascinated by the crystal clear fresh water, the colourful games of the sunlight and the unique and incredible beautiful decorations of Yucatan’s cavern and cenotes. This amazing experience you can find only here in Yucatan!
What do you need to dive in a Cenote / Cavern?
If you are a certified Open Water Diver (or equivalent) you can go on a guided tour. No previous cavern diving experience is required, also we follow strictly the rules of cavern diving. Your guide is a fully trained cave diver with an intimate knowledge of your dive sites.
Cenote dive trip
We start the Cenote dive trip from our dive center Halocline Diving in Tulum downtown. The cenotes are between 5 - 30 min. car ride away from Tulum.
To avoid the crowd during a double tank dive, we start either
early at around 8.00 (back between 12.00 – 01.00 pm) or in the afternoon around 12.00 pm (back between 4.00 – 5.00 pm)
Price includes all equipment, entrance fees, transport, drink and snack.
What are Cenotes / Caverns?
The entire peninsula of Mexico, known as the Yucatan, consists of limestone. Over millions of years the rain water has permeated the porous stone forming caves, passageways and huge caverns. These cenotes are actually collapsed entrances leading to the underground rivers that run through this part of Mexico and form the largest interconnected cave and cavern systems in the world. The collapses ( Cenote ) are picturesque water filled sinkholes in the middle of the jungle which are supremely suited for scuba diving and snorkel tours. The Mayans called these sinkholes "Dzonot" (sacred well), thus the Spanish word cenote. Cenotes and caverns were used for religious ceremonies as well as a water supply.
The fresh water of a cenote is crystal clear and around 78°F/26 C° all year round. The caverns and caves of a cenote are highly decorated with stalactites (hang from the ceiling) and stalagmites. These delicate thin structures or in some instances massive columns abound in the secret depths of the cenote. The varying colours of the sediments and the walls supply every single cenote with a distinctive painting. And looking back at the entrance you will see the amazing interplay of light and water. The beauty of these lost worlds is breathtaking.
Rules for Cavern Diving
Cavern Diving takes place in an overhead environment where a direct ascent to the surface is not always possible. Therefore we follow strictly the rules for safe cavern diving which are
- Stay in the limits of the natural daylight
- Do not exceed a distance of more than 60m/200 linear ft from the next opening
- Follow permanent guideline or temporary guideline placed by a professional cavern diving guide
- Carry at least one light per diver
- Adhere to rule of thirds for air consumption: 1/3 for the way in, 1/3 to come out, 1/3 reserve
- Minimum air pressure to exit with: 1200 psi or 80 bars
- Maximum 4 divers per guide
- No restrictions (small ‘holes’)
- No decompression
Maximum depth of 21m/70ft
Divesites
- Aktun Ha/Car Wash
- Angelita
- Calavera
- Casa Cenote
- Chac Mool
- Dos Ojos
- Grand Cenote
- Kukulkan
more about divesites >>