When we think of diving in Mexico, we may think of great views and vibrant reefs. But there is much more than that in Mexico.
Cenotes are actually sinkholes formed when limestone sediments are slowly dissolved by the rains and the ceiling collapses. The reason why there are so many cenotes in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, connected to each other like a spider web, is that almost the entire peninsula is made of limestone.
There are an estimated 6000 cenotes in Mexico and the most famous ones are in popular tourist destinations like Tulum and Playa Del Carmen.
So, since we were in Cozumel, we decided to take some time out from our courses to go diving in Playa Del Carmen. Since Cozumel is one of our busiest diving destinations, it took a while to put this plan into action.
After a 45-minute ferry ride, we arrived in Playa Del Carmen and met our dive instructor friend, a former employee of our dive center. After a short shopping break we started driving into Playa Del Carmen.
If you are going to the cenotes, be prepared for the mosquitoes!!!
Under the intense intervention of mosquitoes, we prepared our equipment and started to carry it towards the mouth of the cenote.
The water in the cenote comes from underground rivers and rainwater filtered through limestone. For this reason, the first thing that impressed me was the excellent view inside the cenote.
Not all cenotes are underwater caves. Some are open swimming pools that have completely collapsed. Some are more like caves connected by narrow passages. Dos Ojos Cenote, where we made our first dive, is a closed cenote. We continue the dive by following the safety rope that was previously laid inside.
Don’t expect much life in the cenotes, but the few creatures you will see here will impress you. The most interesting creature you will see is the Blind CatFish adapted to the darkness. Since it is already dark inside, the eyes have lost their function over time and it has developed new features to survive. You can also see small shrimps on the walls of the cenote.
You can also see algae and some aquatic plants on the lighted walls.
Some passages are narrow and some are wide enough for a few divers. In some parts the cave is pitch black while the light filtering the ceiling plays shadow games.
Although they are used as tourist attractions today, they were sacred places during the Mayan period. In my Chichen Itza article, I talked about the cenotes where people were sacrificed. The Mayans saw the cenotes as gateways to the underworld and attached great importance to them.
There is no season for diving in the cenotes. You can dive any time of the year. Water temperatures are almost constant at 23C and 25C and visibility is very good unless there is excessive rainfall. Depth varies in cenotes but varies between 8 meters and 36 meters. And of course, according to your diving experience, your dive center will already choose a suitable cenote for you.
While diving in the cenotes, I thought long and hard about both the historical importance of this place and how it is an ecologically self-contained world. Even if conditions change and new adaptations are required, life somehow finds its way and continues to exist.
Stay Safe
