Cenote Diving in Mexico – Explore The Caverns
Cenote Diving in Mexico – Explore The Caverns
Travel Back In Time & Discover The Mystical Mayan Underwater World With Our Private And Personalised Cavern & Cave Guided Diving
“Where are you off to ? I’m going on an adventure.” Bilbo Baggins
WHAT IS CAVERN DIVING?
In Mexico, Cavern Diving is open to recreational divers (single tank divers) from the Open Water Diver level (or equivalent entry levels) under the supervision of our experienced specialized Instructors – Registered Cave & Cavern Diving Guides. Each Cenote is very different from one to an other, and each dive is absolutely unique. One day is definitely not enough to enjoy all the magic these places have to offer, so make sure to make them your priority as they are unique to the region.
This experience will allow divers to enjoy the magical light shows, cristal clear waters offering limitless visibility, the majestic millennial geological formations and fossils of shells and corals, remains of the ancient coral reef, all of which will happen within the “daylight zone” of the overhead environment, following a conservative gas management rule of thirds (1/3 In, 1/3 Out, 1/3 Reserve), a continuous permanent cavern line which is alway leading to a point of surface and no more than 200ft penetration as well as no restrictions (you will swim in large spaces).
US$175
5-30m 15-90feet
25ºC-77ºF
2 Dives
DIVERS PREREQUISITES FOR CAVERN DIVING
Open Water Diver Minimum
25 Dives
Active diver within 6 months
15 years old minimum
A Typical Day Cavern Diving In The Mexican Cenotes
We will pick you up from your accommodation in Playa Del Carmen with all the equipment and tanks ready between 8-10am or from the Ferry Pier if you are crossing over from Cozumel. From there, we will be on our way to the first dive site during which your guide will give you a general briefing about the history of the Cenotes, their formation, as well as their cultural and ecological importance for the Yucatan peninsula.
All Cenotes open to Cavern Diving in the area are private properties, so once arrived on site we will need to have you registered and pay the entrance fees to the local family in cash in Mexican Pesos.
After a short stroll in the jungle, we will park the car and start preparing the equipment, then we will take you down to the Cenote to explain the water entry and exit. Your guide will then give you a first safety briefing that will apply to all your Cenote Cavern Diving days, followed by a detailed briefing of the first dive reviewing team dynamic, communication, navigation, gas management and emergency procedures.
Now let’s all gear up and get in the water for your first dive. After the first dive, we will have a little break and some snacks and water, and depending on the location of the day, we will pack the car to move to the next dive site to repeat the above and give you a second briefing before going in for your second dive. Cavern dives are usually 40-50min long depending on the depth, length of the cavern line and the gas consumption of the divers.
Once both dives are over, we will pack everything and have lunch onsite (you may decide to eat should you want to) before heading back to town and dropping you to your accommodation around 3-4pm. Coming with a non diver friend? No worries, there are plenty of Cenotes to combine snorkeling while you are diving! We also organize non-diving tours in the area.
A Typical Day Cavern Diving In The Mexican Cenotes
We will pick you up from your accommodation in Playa Del Carmen with all the equipment and tanks ready between 8-10am or from the Ferry Pier if you are crossing over from Cozumel. From there, we will be on our way to the first dive site during which your guide will give you a general briefing about the history of the Cenotes, their formation, as well as their cultural and ecological importance for the Yucatan peninsula.
All Cenotes open to Cavern Diving in the area are private properties, so once arrived on site we will need to have you registered and pay the entrance fees to the local family in cash in Mexican Pesos.
After a short stroll in the jungle, we will park the car and start preparing the equipment, then we will take you down to the Cenote to explain the water entry and exit. Your guide will then give you a first safety briefing that will apply to all your Cenote Cavern Diving days, followed by a detailed briefing of the first dive reviewing team dynamic, communication, navigation, gas management and emergency procedures.
Now let’s all gear up and get in the water for your first dive. After the first dive, we will have a little break and some snacks and water, and depending on the location of the day, we will pack the car to move to the next dive site to repeat the above and give you a second briefing before going in for your second dive. Cavern dives are usually 40-50min long depending on the depth, length of the cavern line and the gas consumption of the divers.
Once both dives are over, we will pack everything and have lunch onsite (you may decide to eat should you want to) before heading back to town and dropping you to your accommodation around 3-4pm. Coming with a non diver friend? No worries, there are plenty of Cenotes to combine snorkeling while you are diving! We also organize non-diving tours in the area.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Pick Up & Drop Off from PDC Center or Ferry Pier
Your choice of Cenotes (level & experience permitting)
Lunch, Snacks & Water
4 x Divers per guide max
11L – AL80 Tanks
Equipment Storage
Visit our gallery for some impressions of cavern diving.
NEW RULES ON LEVELS OF CENOTES
To keep divers safe and minimise damage to the cavern environment, new procedures will be put in place to allow divers to build experience gradually, starting with the more benign cenote dives. This is a summary of the characteristics of each level, the cenotes that are included, guide ratios, and the experience and qualifications needed to dive a given level.
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shallow Few depth changes Wide passages Constant natural light |
Shallow Smaller passages Limited natural light Halocline |
Deep Fragile Longer cavern lines Dark |
Beyond level 3 Experienced divers only |
| Garden of Eden Kukulkan Dos Ojos Barbie Line Carwash Casa Cenote Chikin Ha |
Tajma Ha Dos Ojos Bat Cave Chac Mool (via Little Brother) |
The Pit Angelita Nicte Ha Maravilla Kin Ha 7 Bocas Orquidea |
Dreamgate Zapote |
| Maximum 4 divers per guide | Maximum 4 divers per guide | Maximum 4 divers per guide | Maximum 3 divers per guide |
| Minimum age: 15 years OW / 1 Star certification Recent diving experience (beyond OW course) |
Level 1 requirements plus Previous dive in a Level 1 cenote |
Level 2 requirements plus Previous dive in Level 2 cenote AOW |
Level 3 requirements plus Previous dive in Level 3 cenote AOW |
NEW RULES ON LEVELS OF CENOTES
To keep divers safe and minimise damage to the cavern environment, new procedures will be put in place to allow divers to build experience gradually, starting with the more benign cenote dives. This is a summary of the characteristics of each level, the cenotes that are included, guide ratios, and the experience and qualifications needed to dive a given level.
Level 1 |
|---|
| Shallow Few depth changes Wide passages Constant natural light |
| Kukulkan Garden of Eden Dos Ojos Barbie Line Carwash Casa Cenote Chikin Ha |
| Maximum 4 divers per guide |
| Minimum age: 15 years OW / 1 Star certification Recent diving experience (beyond OW course) |
Level 2 |
|---|
| Shallow Smaller passages Limited natural light Halocline |
| Tajma Ha Chac Mool (via Little Brother) Dos Ojos Bat Cave |
| Maximum 4 divers per guide |
| Level 1 requirements plus Previous dive in a Level 1 cenote |
Level 3 |
|---|
| Deep Fragile Longer cavern lines Dark |
| The Pit Angelita Nicte Ha Maravilla Kin Ha 7 Bocas Orquidea |
| Maximum 4 divers per guide |
| Level 2 requirements plus Previous dive in Level 2 cenote AOW |
Level 4 |
|---|
| Beyond level 3 Experienced divers only |
| Dreamgate Zapote |
| Maximum 3 divers per guide |
| Level 3 requirements plus Previous dive in Level 3 cenote AOW |
Cavern diving Featured video
– Pick Up & Drop Off From Accommodation in Playa DC Center or from PDC Ferry Pier (conditions apply)
– All prices above are on a 2 divers / day base.
If booking alone, we will do our best to find you a teammate.
– Single Diver/ Private Booking By Default : + US$ 50 / Day
– Full Equipment Rental: Boots 5mm, Open Heels Fins, Balanced Regs (DIR or Standard), DIR Backplate & Wing, Wetsuit long 5mm, Frameless Mask – $US30 / Day
– Shearwater Peregrine Rental – $US15 / Day
– Cenote Entrance Fees: US$15 – $US25 / Day / Diver depending on the combination of Cenotes
– Cenote Camera Fees: Some Cenote owners are charging a cover for the use of cameras. Please let us know if photography is your primary considerations.
– AL100 – 13L Tank Rental: US$ 10 / Tank
– Nitrox: US$ 10 / Tank
– Additional 3rd Cavern Dive / Day: +US$ 70 / Diver
– Accompanying Snorkeler: +$US 120 / Person (incl. lunch & snorkel equipment / excl. Cenote entrances)
Please bring change of clothes & towels and cash in Mexican Pesos for Cenote Entrances.
No sunscreen / mosquito repellent or any chemical product to be applied on the skin for all in water activities for conservation purposes.
Schedule can be adapted and subject to changes due to logistical, availabilities and weather conditions. Such modifications are not grounds for a refund if alternate diving options are made available.
Cenote Diving: Any overhead diving is an advanced type of diving that require good buoyancy control and awareness. While we are planning all dives according to the diver’s experience, it is up to the discretion of our specialized cave / cavern guides and instructors to assess a person’s ability to proceed, adjust or terminate the dive plan and / or the dive for the divers’ safety and conservation of the cavern / cave.
Cameras in Cenotes: Please be aware that all Cenote Cavern Diving Experiences happen on privately owned land, hence the owners fix their own rules. Cameras are allowed in most of the Cenotes, however some will ask a cover for their use underwater, and some are not allowing them at all. This camera fee is going exclusively to the land owners. Kindly make us aware if the use of your camera is a priority for you so we can plan the dives accordingly.
Bullshark Observation Diving, Whaleshark / Sailfish Pelagic Encounter: Please keep in mind that while there is a very high success rate of sightings during our excursions, we’re still going in their natural environment. Hence we cannot control the number of animals you will encounter, and there is always a chance they could not be seen at all.
Students only: Students are paying for a course, but certifications must be earned. We will do our outmost to get your skills and knowledge up to scratch, and if this means extra dives or academic sessions, so be it (extra rate will apply if necessary). We recommend our students to plan at least 2 extra days for make ups / weather conditions / sickness / mid-course breaks or other unforeseen events.
Equipment storage: We wil happily keep your equipment in our storage during the duration of your dive trip with us. If you choose to do so, divers accept that our company do not bare the responsibility of loss, damage of theft that could occur to their equipment.
Equipment rentals: Our equipment is well maintained and cared for our divers comfort. When renting our equipment, the diver is accepting responsibility for its care. If an equipment is damaged or lost due to negligence or misuse, the diver is accepting to bear the cost of repair, or replacement if necessary.
Booking confirmations require a 50% or 100% deposit depending on the season. Bookings are considered confirmed upon confirmation of reception. Payment must be settled in cash in Mexican Pesos at daily rate preferably or USD on arrival before the start of your trip. Deposits for all diving / non diving activities & room rentals bookings are non refundable. Any cancellation less than 24h before your first day of diving will be fully charged.
By confirming your reservation, you accept all of the above terms & conditions.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
All the schedules below are our best recommendation for an optimal experience. They can be adapted and personalized to your convenience to fit best your itineraries and preferences.
Cenote Cavern Diving: Pick up between: 8-10am – Drop off between: 3-5pm