The famous cenotes of the Riviera Maya are a must-visit for all divers who come to this area. Not only because of their dazzling beauty but, above all, because of their uniqueness. Diving in cenotes is an experience like no other. It is a place full of magic…
For many years, I was lucky to work as an instructor in Playa del Carmen, and above all, I had the enormous fortune of becoming a Cenote guide, allowing me to show these wonderful caverns to divers from all over the world.
What is a cenote?
But now… What exactly are cenotes? What makes them so special? Cenotes were a sacred place for the Mayans (a gateway to the underworld where some of their gods resided) and are natural entrances to the vast underground river system of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.
All rivers in Yucatán are underground, and cenotes are essentially parts of the river ceiling that collapsed over time, forming entrances to this huge system of underwater caves and caverns. This region of Mexico has the largest number of cenotes in the world, around 7,000 cenotes, with many still waiting to be discovered.
But of course, when explained like this, the idea of diving there may not seem so exciting. One might wonder what’s so interesting about diving in an underground river with little marine life, or what makes it one of the most unique dives in the world. It was a common question people asked me when I was an instructor there. And when I closed my eyes, just visualizing the magic of the place, I didn’t know where to start explaining why they should dive there. But the first thing that came to mind, and the first thing I told them, was that it is a place straight out of a fantasy tale, a magical site, a setting from a Tolkien book.
Why dive in cenotes?
“It’s like flying underwater in completely crystal-clear water”
It’s like flying underwater in completely crystal-clear water—so clear that it feels like you are surrounded by air rather than water. Flying through tunnels and enormous underwater cathedrals while admiring the incredible and ancient formations that decorate their walls and ceilings (stalactites, stalagmites, and gigantic columns), all while beams of light from various entrances create halos of green and blue tones, penetrating the water and forming a magical ambiance.
But it’s not just the mystical environment that makes this place special. Inside, you can also find million-year-old marine fossils (from when this area was still a massive reef) and in some of them, remains of Mayan civilization (offerings thrown inside). Additionally, experiencing the unique visual effect caused by the halocline (similar to the effect of a thermocline but not exactly the same) is fascinating—it results from the mixing of saltwater and freshwater. Some blind marine species also inhabit these cenotes, making them intriguing to observe.
But for me, it’s not really about what you can see in the Cenotes, but rather about how it feels to dive there. In the end, I always told them the same thing… No matter how much I explain, it’s something you need to experience to truly understand. You simply have to do it and let yourself be enchanted by its magic…
What do you need to dive in Cenotes?
This magical underground river system allows for both cave and cavern diving. Below are the basic requirements to dive in Cenotes in Mexico:
- To dive in the cave section, you need a full cave diver certification (full cave diver).
- However, what makes it accessible to all divers is that to dive in the cavern area, you only need a minimum Open Water certification, as long as you are under the supervision of an instructor/full cave diver.
Best Cenotes for Diving in Mexico
- El Zapote Cenote (Hell Bells)
- Chikin-Ha Cenote
- Dos Ojos Cenote
- Angelita Cenote
- The Pit Cenote
- Casa Cenote
- Calavera Cenote
- Etc.
We hope you found this article helpful! Discover more interesting articles about marine life and diving spots on our blog, as well as amazing dive trips from our agency.
