Cenote Diving in Mexico

woman in black bikini sitting on rock near body of water during daytime

What is a Cenote?

A cenote is a natural freshwater sinkhole, which can found in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. These unique formations are created when the limestone bedrock collapses, revealing a pool of crystal clear water below. Cenotes hold significant cultural and historical importance to the Mayan civilization, who considered them to be sacred and used them for both religious ceremonies and as a vital source of fresh water. Today, cenotes are popular tourist attractions, offering visitors the opportunity to swim, snorkel, and dive in these mesmerizing underground caves. The cenotes are also home to a diverse array of aquatic life, making them a haven for nature enthusiasts.

A Typical Day Cavern Diving In The Mexican Cenotes We will pick you up from your accommodation in P

Depending on your level or interest of diving, the best way to enjoy the cenotes are to either scuba dive in the cavern or cave spaces, or freedive in the open caverns, otherwise known as breath hold diving.

Exploring a cenote through scuba or freediving techniques is an incredible experience that evokes a whirlwind of emotions. As you descend into the crystal-clear waters, a sense of awe and wonder engulfs you. The sensation of weightlessness as you glide through the cenote is both exhilarating and liberating. Time seems to stand still as you explore the intricate rock formations and ancient mayan relics. It is a truly magical experience that leaves an everlasting impression on your soul.

Cavern, Cave, Freedive ?

WHAT IS CAVERN DIVING?

In Mexico, Cavern Diving is open to recreational divers (single tank divers) from the Open Water Diver level (or equivalent entry levels) under the supervision of experienced specialized Instructors – Registered Cave & Cavern Diving Guides. Each Cenote is very different from one to an other, and each dive is absolutely unique. One day is definitely not enough to enjoy all the magic these places have to offer, so make sure to make them your priority as they are unique to the region.

This experience will allow divers to enjoy the magical light beams, crystal clear waters that offer limitless visibility, as well as majestic millennial geological formations and fossils of shells and corals, remains of the ancient coral reef. All of this will happen in relatively large spaces, as caverns are always lit from daylight from the sun.

A Typical Day Cavern Diving In The Mexican Cenotes

You will be picked up from your accommodation in Playa Del Carmen between 8-10am, or from the Ferry Pier if you are crossing over from Cozumel. From there, you are on your way to the first dive site during which your guide will give you a general briefing about the history of the cenotes, their formation, as well as their cultural and ecological importance for the Yucatan peninsula.

All cenotes open to Cavern Diving in the area are private properties, so once arrived on site you will need to register and pay the entrance fees to the local family in cash in Mexican Pesos.

After a short stroll in the jungle, we will park the car and start preparing the equipment, then you will accompany your dive guide to the cenote, where they will explain the water entry and exit. Your guide will then give you a first safety briefing that will apply to all your Cenote Cavern Diving days, followed by a detailed briefing of the first dive reviewing team dynamic, communication, navigation, gas management and emergency procedures.

After the first dive, there will be a little break and some snacks and water, and depending on the location of the day, we will pack the car to move to the next dive site to repeat the above and give you a second briefing before going in for your second dive. Cavern dives are usually 40-50min long depending on the depth, length of the cavern line and the gas consumption of the divers.

After the dive, you will be dropped off at your accommodation around 3-4pm.

Coming with a non-diver friend? No worries, there are plenty of Cenotes to combine snorkeling while you are diving! We also organize non-diving tours in the area.