Scuba Diving the Cenotes in Mexico

Mexico offers excellent diving along all of its shores, but some of its most popular dive sites are those that lie further inland. Scattered across the Yucatan Peninsula are thousands of cenotes, ancient sinkholes that have become major diving destinations for many. Offering an experience unlike any other, cenotes provide drivers with an up-close and personal look at some of the world’s largest and deepest caverns and cave systems. If you’re planning your own trip to Mexico and would like to dive the cenotes, then be sure to read on to learn all there is to know about these incredible dive sites!

 

When To Go

 

The great thing about diving in the cenotes is that they are largely unaffected by adverse weather conditions. Regardless of what’s happening above ground, the visibility in the caverns tends to remain ideal for diving – that is, unless someone stirs up sediment – and the water temperatures rarely fluctuate. This means that it’s possible to dive the cenotes year-round. That being said, if we had to pick the best time to visit, we’d say that it’s between the months of May and September. During this period, the sun is at its strongest. Therefore, more natural light can penetrate into the caverns, which is especially important if you are interested in underwater photography. 

 

What To Expect 

 

The majority of cenotes in Mexico are spread out on the Yucatan peninsula, between Tulum and Playa del Carmen. Depending upon where you are staying, you can typically sign up for group diving trips that also include transportation to and from the cenotes. Or, if you prefer to go on your own, you can always rent a car and meet up with local dive operators at the cenotes of your choice.

 

In order to dive in the cenotes, you will need at least an open water dive certification. However, it is recommended that you also have reasonable control over your buoyancy so you don’t stir up sediment or knock into rock formations. The limestone formations that line the caverns are fragile and can easily break, so it’s essential to keep your distance from them. In areas that are especially delicate and difficult to navigate, more advanced qualifications will likely be required of divers.

 

While in the cenotes, you will technically be cavern diving, which means you’ll be diving under overhangings. You will never drop deeper than 40 to 60 meters, although if you only have your open water certification, your diving will be restricted to 18 meters. In addition to this, there will always be natural light to guide you to the surface, meaning you will never stray far from the entrance. Your group will typically dive in a line to ensure that everyone stays together, and each diver will be provided with their own dive torch. While cavern diving can be intimidating at times, it is not nearly as risky as cave diving. Cave diving typically involves diving deeper underground into more confined areas, where light is minimal and the entrance is not always visible – this is not what you will be doing while in the cenotes. 

 

What You’ll See 

 

As you dive through the caverns, you’re likely to encounter several rock formations. This includes stalactites and stalagmites, which are downward and upward growing formations that almost look like icicles. Made from mineral deposits, these structures take thousands of years to form and are known to create an otherworldly atmosphere. Among these formations, you may also spot some small fish. While there isn’t too much marine life in the cenotes, a few species of fish are known to frequent the caverns, including catfish, molly fish, and tetra fish. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to catch sight of a turtle or small crocodile in some of the larger openings to the cenotes.

 

As many of the cenotes consist of both freshwater and saltwater, you are also likely to encounter the unique natural phenomena known as halocline. Typically freshwater flows into the cenotes from above, and the saltwater seeps in from below – where these waters meet is where you will find the haloclines. Generally speaking, the layer of water where halocline occurs offers poor visibility but fascinating refractions of light from above. 

 

Hydrogen sulfide layers are also common in cenotes and are known to produce cloudy layers of fog towards the bottom half of cenotes. Since many cenotes have little to no current, hydrogen sulfide, which is formed from the breakdown of plant material and bacteria, becomes suspended in the water, creating hydrogen sulfide layers. These layers in the water are quite interesting to explore and make for eerie underwater photos. 

 

Best Dive Sites 

 

It can be hard to narrow down your list of dive sites with thousands of cenotes to choose from. To help with this, we’ve included below our list of the top three cenotes to dive in Mexico!

 

The Pit 

 

The Pit is part of the most extensive underwater cave system in the world – the Dos Ojos cave system! Located in Dos Ojos Natural Park, just north of Tulum, the Pit is famous for the light that filters in and penetrates the cavern, illuminating the water to a depth of about 40 meters. Here you can expect to find enormous stalagmite formations, an enchanting halocline, and a wispy hydrogen sulfide layer.

 

Tajma Ha 

 

Nicknamed the Taj Mahal, Cenote Tajma Ha is located just north of Tulum near Xpu Ha village. Known for its incredible light effects, many divers come here to experience what is called the “Points of Light” room – an area in the cenote where several holes in the roof allow sunbeams to enter and illuminate the water. In addition to this, Tajma Ha is home to some incredible stalactite and stalagmite formations and several fossil shells. 

 

Angelita 

 

Located just south of Tulum, Cenote Angelita is one of the deepest cenotes in Mexico. It offers a straight up and down dive that reaches depths of up to 60 meters. Given this, diving in the cenote does require more advanced certifications. One of the most notable features of Cenote Angelita is its hydrogen sulfide layer, which lies at 30 meters. The layer is so thick that when divers descend into it, they seem to disappear completely.



References:

 

Blue Water Travel: https://www.bluewaterdivetravel.com/cenotes-diving

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