From $375Cenote Diving in Riviera Maya
Cenote diving is the experience that pulls certified divers to the Riviera Maya, and nothing in the saltwater world quite matches it. A cenote is a flooded limestone sinkhole connected to the vast cave systems beneath the Yucatan, and the water is freshwater rainfall filtered through rock for years, so it is astonishingly clear, often with visibility beyond 50 metres. What divers do here is cavern diving, not full cave diving: a specialist guide leads small groups through the daylight zone, never out of sight of an exit, along permanent guide lines past stalactites, columns and fossil-studded walls. The light is the magic. In Dos Ojos and the Pit, shafts of sun cut through the surface and fan out in cathedral beams; in deeper sections you pass through a haze layer called a halocline where fresh and salt water meet and the view shimmers like looking through oil and water. The water sits around a constant 24 to 25 degrees, cooler than the sea, so a 5mm wetsuit or a hood is worth having. Cavern diving is open to any Open Water certified diver, though good buoyancy matters more than in the open ocean because silt and formations are easy to disturb. Trips usually combine two cenotes in a half or full day, with a short surface interval and a drive between sites through the jungle. Bring a dive light even though guides carry their own, and resist touching the formations, which take centuries to grow. For non-divers, many of the same cenotes offer snorkelling in the open sunlit basins, a gentle way to see the light and the fish without going under the cave ceiling.
Top Cenote Diving tours
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need cave diving certification for cenotes?
- No. Cenote trips are cavern dives within the daylight zone on permanent guide lines, open to any Open Water certified diver. Full cave certification is only needed to go beyond the cavern limits.
- How cold is the water in the cenotes?
- Cenote water stays around a constant 24 to 25 degrees, cooler than the Caribbean sea. A 5mm wetsuit, and a hood for sensitive divers, keeps you comfortable across two dives.
- Can non-divers visit the cenotes?
- Yes. Many cenotes offer snorkelling in the open sunlit basins, so non-divers and families can see the clear water, light beams and fish without going under the cave ceiling.