Diving the Cenotes of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula
This one is for Wilson – who is leaving Shanghai to Cancun – close to the best cenotes in the world.
To the Maya, the water-filled cenotes in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula were portals to the underworld, Xibalba, and considered sacred wells. Today they are a magnet for cave and cavern divers who find these mystical sinkholes irresistible. The caverns and caves offer a beautiful backdrop for exploration and underwater photography.
Cenotes are the result of the collapse of limestone bedrock, characteristic of the Yucatan Peninsula, which exposes groundwater underneath. They are the lovely connection to subterranean rivers, formed by rainwater filtering slowly through the ground and into underlying cave systems. Some cenotes are part of a cave system that leads to the ocean. Here are five that have captivated recreational and cave divers alike.
Here are five of the best ones for scuba divers.
Garden of Eden
Cenote Jardín del Edén — Garden of Eden — is also known as Ponderosa. Stocktrek Images, Inc./Alamy
Location: Near Puerto Aventuras
Shine your light upwards at the surface to see moss-covered rocks, fish and plant life or use it to bring out the fascinating architecture of the stalactites and stalagmites on the ceiling and floor. A halocline at 30 feet makes for interesting photographs.
Dos Ojos
The exploration of Dos Ojos began in 1987; the cave system has been surveyed for 51 miles. Martin Strmiska/Alamy
Dos Ojos — “two eyes” in Spanish — is one of the most popular cavern dives in the region and is actually two neighboring cenotes that share a cavern. In 2010, Carlos Coste made a record-breaking freedive — 490 feet — at Dos Ojos. You don’t have to dive that deep to see this cenote’s beauty. Use your dive light to make the stalactites and stalagmites shine like giant candles in a cathedral.
The Pit
Arrive early in the morning for the best light penetration at The Pit. Jennifer Penner
Location: Near Xel-ha
Gran Cenote
You’ll need to be on scuba to appreciate all of Gran Cenote’s splendor, but snorkelers love this site, too. Christian Vizl/Tandem Stock
Location: Near Tulum
Tajma Ha
One of the wonders in the world of cenotes, Tajma Ha used to be called Taj Mahal by explorers. Jo-Ann Wilkin
Location: Near Akumal
A cavern tour here leads into a spacious, stalactite-strewn room underneath an air-filled bat cave. Use your dive light to find hidden fossils. Haloclines formed by salt and fresh water coming together in the deeper areas create interesting mirror-like effects.
Get the Right Tools for Cenote Diving
Planning a dive trip to dive Mexico’s cenotes? Water temps can be cool, so plan to wear at least a 7mm wetsuit. Make sure your dive computer has backlit illumination so you can read important dive info easily. Don’t forget your camera. And maybe most important of all: Make sure you pack a powerful dive light that brings out all the splendor of the cenote
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