About your Guide

“Cavern Guides” are certified Full Cave Divers who are also Open Water Dive Masters or higher.

These qualified professionals will be outfitted with complete Full Cave Diving Equipment, Oxygen/First Aid, and have successfully completed

a “Cavern Guide Program” and display authorized identification.

The sacred wells of the Mayas

To the ancient Mayas, the Sacred cenotes were home of the rain god, who were celebrated with human sacrifices. Furthermore, cenotes also guaranteed the only fresh water supply in the jungle and fostered the development of magnificent Maya cities all around the peninsula. Nowadays, these crystal basins offer spectacular sceneries to divers who explore them.

The name cenote finds its origin in the ancient Maya Dznot (sacred well). Among the most spectacular ones there are Ponderosa, Dos Ojos, Grand Cenote, Carwash and Angelita, all within a short trip from Playa del Carmen.

You’ll get much fun and great thrill from the Maya Riviera and its fascinating dives!!! Cenotes are opened to any certified diver from OWD onward.

Dives are guided by extremely competent dive guides especially trained for cenotes and follow a defined pathway marked and delineated by a guiding line fixed to the bottom. Depth is usually in the range of 9 to 17 meters.

The current is slow and can be divided into upstream and downstream according to its direction. No special equipment is needed, as 12 liters tanks and wet suits (5 mm) are commonly used with a water temperature usually around 25°C. Usually divers get in the water from a platform excavated in the rock..

The Cenote history

Welcome to a Unique Experience : Diving the amazing caverns of the Riviera Maya.

The Yucatan Peninsula lies on a limestone platform, which was formed millions of years ago. During several glacial periods ocean levels varied greatly. At different eras this region found itself submerged under water and at other times above the ocean surface.

It is during lower water level periods that the caves were originally formed. Heavy rains fell on this rock plainand found it’s way deep into the ground absorbing carbon dioxide from the soil and decaying plants.

This mixture is known as carbonic acid and is able to dissolve the weaker rock creating large underground voids and passages as the water finds its way to the sea. In this process, Speleothems (stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, etc.) were formed in the passages as the “liquid stone” re-solidified creating a magical environment beyond imagination.

During the last ice age, ocean levels were 100 feet/30 meters lower than today. Approximately 18.000 years ago the ice began to melt and the ocean eventually rose to its current level, flooding the passages and creating a massive network of subterranean rivers unlike anywhere else on Earth.

The mysterious Maya civilization whose culture rose to it’s highest phase from 300 AD to 900 AD, inhabited this unique region. Using the Cenotes (sacred wells) not only as a water source but also as an important part of their mythology, believing that the Cenotes are “windows to the underworld” and a key to their after life. Ceremonies and rituals were performed and offerings were made to the “Gods of the Underworld”. In some cavern systems artifacts can still be found.

It is very important never to touch or disturb anything in the caverns, especially something of an archeological nature. Today adventurous Scuba divers can safely visit this enchanted and awesome place!!!

The water is so clear and the colors so shining that once you are immersed every distance seems quite short.

A magnificent natural show where inside large submerged rooms you can discover some fossil fishes and shells together with pieces of quartz and huge stalactites and stalagmites.

Safety Limitations

Divers must always remain:

Within the Natural Daylight zone

Maximum 60 m/200ft from the surface

Maximum depth: 21 m/70ft

Minimum visibility 15m/50ft

In large passages where at least 2 divers can comfortably get through

Within “no decompression limits”

Within “Arms Length” of a guideline that leads back to the open water

Not beyond warning signs

Air management using “rule of thirds” and exiting with minimum 60 bar/900psi

At a ratio of no more than 4 participants per “Cavern Guide”