tulum-must-do: Guide to the Cenotes of Tulum

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What is a cenote? General description

gran_cenote

What is a cenote? General description

Cenotes are holes in the ground that reveal the underground rivers of the region. This river system is a natural wonder that has been carved over millions of years. Cenotes will captivate you with their crystalline waters, unique cave formations, and mysterious darkness.

A cenote (from the Maya “ts’ono’ot” or water whole) is an opening in the ground that connects the underground rivers to the surface. The word “cenote” comes from the Mayan word “ts´onot” and means “hole with water”.

The entire Yucatan peninsula is made of limestone that was formed millions of years ago by the sedimentation and compaction of shells and other ocean detritus. Like the shells that formed it, limestone is mainly composed of calcium carbonate, a compound that is soluble in acidic water. It is also a highly porous and permeable rock. Consequently, when rain falls in the Peninsula, the water (which is acidic[1]) rapidly drains through the rock, slowly dissolving it. As a consequence, we have two phenomenons: first, the peninsula has much fewer superficial rivers than it should considering the quantity of water that precipitates in the area; and second, there are many caves and underground rivers. These caves grow larger over time. Eventually, the roof of a cave may become too thin to support its own weight and may then collapse, creating an opening to the surface known as a cenote.

Some people describe cenotes as being like natural Gothic churches. They evoke awe and wonder, and their tucked-away locations make one wonder what else lies beneath the ground! The underground world of the cenotes calls for exploration! Agua Clara provides unforgettable tours of these magical windows into the underworld.

iguana_cenote_animals
Cenote surroundings are very rich withanimal life. Iguanas of all colors can be seen on our tours.
mot_mot
Mot Mot bird relaxing in a branch.

 

 

List of the Cenotes near Tulum

All of these cenotes are part of our guided eco tours both for snorkeling and scuba diving

Agua Clara offers both scuba diving eco tours into the cenotes as well as snorkeling tours for the entire family to enjoy. We take groups to numerous cenotes around Tulum.

[1] Rain water gets acidified by the dissolution of air´s carbon dioxide and of the organic acids that result from the decomposition of the jungle´s organic mater.

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Cenote Dos ojos – Beautiful & easy cavern dive site

Diving Cenote Dos Ojos

Cenote Dos ojos – Beautiful & easy cavern dive site

Map cenote Dos ojos
Map cenote Dos ojos

2 dive sites

Difficulty: Easy 

Dive or snorkel

Maximum depth: 10 meters

Features: cave formations, bat cave

Map of Cenote dos ojos, Tulum Mexico
Map of Cenote Dos Ojos, Tulum Mexico

Dos Ojos (Two Eyes) refers to two neighboring cenotes that are connected by a large cavern that also connects to a subterranean river. The original explorations of this water system, one of the largest in the world, started in the Dos Ojos cenotes. The total length of the combined system was measured at 310.95 kilometers (193.22 mi). Dos Ojos was filmed for IMAX in 2002 and for BBC/Discovery in 2006.

The snorkeling in Dos Ojos is primarily around the entrance of the cenote from where one can see divers entering and exiting the cenote. The water is a beautiful blue hue.

Dos Ojos is an excellent place to do the first cenote dive due its wide spaces, crystal clear waters and heavy sediment, which is not as easily disturbed. This cenote dive site consists of two independent circuits: The first dive starts at the Barbie Line, a 415 meters line with wide spaces and large light galleries. We always start the dive with this line because it is very close to the surface and is a great way to become acquainted with the feeling of the fresh water, in which buoyancy changes are faster and more delicate. The duration of this dive is 45 minutes and the maximum depth is 6 meters. The second dive circuit is called the Bat Cave, a very different experience. The Bat Cave is an adjacent cenote, next to Dos Ojos, and represents a much more preserved environment, mainly due the fact that the roof of the cenote hasn’t collapsed yet and all of the formations around it are in very good shape. The dive circuit has a length of about 300 meters with a maximum depth of 10 meters. It is darker and takes about 35 minutes. If you are interested in this dive, please check our diving tours page.

 

 

List of the Cenotes near Tulum

We give guided eco tours of both snorkeling and scuba diving for all of the cenotes below. Please feel free to contact us to discuss our personalized scuba diving eco tours into the cenotes of the Mayan Riviera.

Click on the cenotes for details about each:

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Casa cenote training dive site

Light Beam Casa Cenote

Casa Cenote, the training dive site

map casa cenote

1 or 2 dives

Difficulty: very easy

Snorkel or dive

Maximum depth: 8 meters

Features: saltwater and freshwater wildlife, mangroves

Casa cenote is an open cenote that is located right next to the sea and is connected to it via a huge cave. The cenote has fresh water coming from an underground river and salty water coming in from an ocean connection. The cenote is also completely surrounded by mangroves. These factors come together to make it a very special place. Casa Cenote is home to many young fish that seek refuge from sea currents inside its calm waters. It is also home to many freshwater fish that belong to the cenote ecosystems. Both ocean and cenote fish share this piece of paradise. Many egrets and cormorants love it here, and we can often see them inside and outside of the water. The protected nature of this cenote as well as its beauty make it ideal for almost anyone. Snorkelers, scuba diving students, scuba divers that need a refresher or even very experienced divers want to explore its magic. It offers beautiful mangrove views, algae gardens, small caverns and a variety of marine inhabitants. The dives taken here go to a maximum depth of 8 m (24 feet) and last for about 45 min.

 

 

List of the Cenotes near Tulum

All of these cenotes are part of our guided eco tours both for snorkeling and scuba diving

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Cenote The Pit / Dive its huge open space

Diving Cenote El Pit

Cenote The Pit – dive its huge open space

 

Difficulty: advanced

Maximum depth: 40 meters

Features: light beams, clear water, huge chamber

The Pit is one of the deepest cenotes in the state of Quintana Roo. It is part of Sac Aktun cave system (the longest flooded cave system in the world) and is a spectacular dive site in a huge chamber. It has exceptional water clarity with a visibility of more than 100 meters. It also features strong light beams that during the summer penetrate the cavern for more than 27 meters. At this depth, there is a thick hydrogen sulfide cloud. Additionally, small and large stalactites are visible.

Scuba diving in The Pit requires previous deep scuba diving and cavern scuba diving experience. Always go with a cave diver guide. When you dive in this cenote, frequently check your air, and remember that deeper dives consume more air: at 40 meters, you breathe 5 times more compressed air than at the surface. One should also be aware of their decompression limits. It is also important to stay near your dive guide and to ascend slowly and do a safety stop. We follow the rule of thirds for air consumption on this dive. The dive we operate in this cavern usually lasts for about half an hour.

The Pit is in a league of its own. if you are interested in diving it, feel free to check our diving tours Learn more about the different cenotes in the area.

List of the Cenotes near Tulum

All of these cenotes are part of our guided eco tours both for snorkeling and scuba diving. If you are planning to visit Mexico to discover this amazing natural places, do not hesitate in contacting us we offer personalized scuba diving eco tours into the cenotes of the Mayan Riviera. Contact Us

Click on the Cenotes to find details about each of them:

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Cenote Calavera – the dive site of the hallocline

hallocaline of cenote calavera

Cenote Calavera, the dive site of the hallocline

Map cenote Calavera
Map cenote Calavera

Difficulty: moderate

Maximum depth: 15 meters

Features: halocline, bizarre rock formations

Located only 5 km from the sea, Cenote Calavera is a very special dive site due in part to its very distinct halocline at a depth of 12 meters. A halocline is a meeting point between fresh and salt water. The two waters meet but do not mix due to different densities. The halocline may appear to the diver first as the surface of water beneath the water that the diver is already in. Once mixed, the fresh and salt waters take on a blurry appearance, like that of old glass. The effect is truly beautiful, especially when combined with the emerald light that penetrates this complex cenote.

This cenote is also known for its pure white rock and otherworldly appearance. Its winding passages convey a mysterious mood, and bizarre formations await around each corner. The result is a truly unique cenote that is sure to impress those looking for adventure and mystery.

 

List of the Cenotes near Tulum

All of these cenotes are part of our guided eco tours both for snorkeling and scuba diving

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Cenote Carwash – The gate of cave diving

Cenote Carwash – The gate of cave diving

Map Cenote Carwash (Aktun Ha)
Map Cenote Carwash (Aktun Ha)

1 tank

Difficulty: easy

Maximum depth:

Features: black cave formations, lily pad garden

Car Wash (or Aktun Ha, meaning water cave in Mayan) was one of the first cenotes that cave divers explored. The name originated from taxi drivers who used to go to this cenote to wash their cars.

The open water part of this cenote is like a small lagoon. It has a beautiful underwater garden that houses fish, turtles, and even a small crocodile. The cavern dive we operate here starts in the garden area and then proceeds into the cavern. The speleothemes in this cavern are black, stained by the tannic acid that once passed trough this system. The cavern is large, and the most beautiful part of the dive is perhaps the view of the light when moving back out into the garden from the cavern. Fallen trees can be seen silhouetted against the bright entrance. To finish, we do the safety stop while looking around the garden and at its various inhabitants.

This is an easy cavern dive, and the cavern spaces are very large. The way in seems dark, but the sunlight is always visible. There is a thin sediment at the bottom of the cavern, but since the cavern is very large, there is no need to swim near the sediment. Diving in one of the beginner caverns (like Dos Ojos and Gran Cenote) is recommended before visiting Car Wash, but this cenote does not require special skills.

List of the Cenotes near Tulum

All of these cenotes are part of our guided eco tours both for snorkeling and scuba diving

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Cenote Angelita – the dive site of the clouds

Diving Tulum, Cenote Angelita

Cenote Angelita, the dive site of the clouds

Map cenote Angelita
Map cenote Angelita

Difficulty: advanced

Maximum depth: 40 meters

Features: hydrogen sulfide cloud, small cave

Angelita is a magical cenote that is often described as mysterious and a bit spooky. At first, the cenote appears to be unassuming, just a small pond in the middle of a very thick jungle. However, the deepest parts of the cenote go down to 204 ft (66 m). Its most amazing feature is a 4.5 ft (1.5 m) thick hydrogen sulfide cloud that starts at 83 ft (27 m). This cloud is made up of gases that have leaked out of decomposing trees and leaves that fall from the jungle into the cenote. This gas accumulates where the fresh and the salt water meet (the halocline). This creates a false floor at the bottom, which can be traversed to reach a dark, otherworldly chamber that is full of jungle detritus. The base of this mountain of detritus starts below but reaches above the cloud. Rising again from below the cloud, the peak of the mountain of detritus takes on a new face, as if one is ascending a cloud-topped mountain. On the way out of the cenote, there is a small cave loop, and at the surface, one can get an appreciation for all of the trees that provide this cenote with its hydrogen sulfide cloud.

The dive lasts about half an hour. It requires experience in deep diving and cavern diving.

Scuba diving video shot in Cenote Angelita, Tulum by Agua Clara Diving Tulum diveshop located in Tulum. The video shows the amazing “clouds” that form in the cenote depths. Angelita in Spanish means “Little Angel”.

 

List of the Cenotes near Tulum

All of these cenotes are part of our guided eco tours both for snorkeling and scuba diving

 

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Cenote Dream Gate: the dive site with the most rock formations

Cenote Dreamgate is the cavern with the most rock formations in Tulum

Map cenote Dreamgate
Map cenote Dreamgate

2 tanks

Difficulty: moderate to difficult

Maximum depth: 5 meters

Features: beautiful cave formations

Dream Gate is a cenote and large cavern that it is part of Sac Aktun underwater cave system (like Gran Cenote and Casa Cenote). It is located about 10 km north of Tulum. Dream Gate has some of the nicest speleothemes (cave formations): the cavern is completely full of stalactites, columns, and stalagmites.

There are two independent dive circuits in this cavern: The upstream line and the downstream line. The upstream line is the most elaborately decorated, and at the furthest point of the dive there is an air pocket with a fully decorated ceiling where we come to the surface. When heading back to the entrance, the light streaming into the cenote silhouettes the stalactites for a breathtaking view. This dive takes about 35 minutes and the maximum depth is 5 m (15 ft). The downstream line is quite different; it is also fully decorated and connects with another cenote. Many tree roots from the jungle penetrate the cave to absorb water. At the furthest point of the circuit, light from the other cenote can be seen. The dive time and depth are similar to those of the upstream dive: 35 min and 5 m (15 ft).

Diving in this cavern is recommended for people who were comfortable in the beginner caverns because it is small, fragile, and dark in some places.

 

List of the Cenotes near Tulum

All of these cenotes are part of our guided eco tours both for snorkeling and scuba diving

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Cenote Saac aktun amazing cave snorkeling site

Cenote Saac aktun, an amazing cave snorkeling site

Features: highly ornate cave formations

Located 5 km away from the popular Cenote Dos ojos, Saac aktun (white cave in Mayan) is part of the largest underwater cavern system in the Yucatán. One passes through a small hole from the jungle into this underground Xibalba (the mystic Mayan underground world).

This cenote has 3 entries. One of them is a little hole that opens up in the middle of a huge extremely decorated cavern. The second entry is a large collapse with lots of light and an island of trees surrounded by the clear water of the underground river. The third is a small crater in the top of a cavern where a tree root winds its way all the way to the floor below.

Saac Aktun is also known by the cave diving world as Pet Cemetery because there are remains of tapirs and prehistoric camels. It is the entrance to one of the most special cave dives in the area to a huge underwater cavern that is more than 60 meters deep called the Blue Abyss (also offered by our tour company). Saac Aktun, as with many other cenotes, is also one of the snorkeling destinations provided by our tours.

 

 

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Gran Cenote dive & the nearest snorkel Tulum

Gran Cenote dive & the nearest snorkel Tulum

Since 2017 it has closed its doors to diving. Only snorkel is allowed

1 dive

Difficulty: easy

Dive or snorkel

Maximum depth: 10 meters

Features: cave formations, light

Gran cenote is a huge cenote located only 3.5 km from Tulum. Its size, clarity, and beautiful views make it an ideal site for snorkelers and scuba divers. It is part of the largest cave system in the area, Saac Aktun (which includes Casa Cenote and Calavera, and Dos Ojos), and it is one of the most frequently used cave diving entrances.

The cavern area for the dive is a huge space full of ornate cave formations. The beautiful light from the cenote opening can also be seen from this area. These conditions make it an ideal place for scuba divers who are diving caverns (cenotes) for the first time.

The scuba dive we operate here lasts for about 40 min and goes to a maximum depth of 10 m (33 ft). The main viewpoints for this cavern dive are the views of light streaming into the cavern and its beautiful cave formations.

 

 

List of the Cenotes near Tulum

All of these cenotes are part of our guided eco tours both for snorkeling and scuba diving

Cenote Nicte-ha spectacular underwater garden diving & snorkel site

Cenote Nicte-ha spectacular underwater garden diving & snorkel site

Map cenote Nicte-ha
Map cenote Nicte-ha

Cenote Nicte Ha is located in the Jacinto Pat ejido just a couple of kilometers form cenote Dos ojos.

The meaning of its name in mayan is water flower since it is fullfilled with lillyis plant and flowers in all its surroundings.

It is a great site for snorkeling and chilling while the sun rays heat you up for one more dive in its super clear waters. Continue reading Cenote Nicte-ha spectacular underwater garden diving & snorkel site