Cenote diving is a great and unique adventure for any certified diver. Often divers plan their dive trip around the Cenotes especially to see these unique natural sinkholes in the Yucatan Peninsula.
In this blog, we’ll answer many frequently asked Questions about Cenote diving. You’ll learn everything you need to know, from what a Cenote is, to the requirements for Cenote diving and life you can find in Cenotes. Get in touch with us if any questions remain unanswered, and we’re happy to clarify!
What Is A Cenote?
A Cenote is basically a natural sinkhole that allows access to groundwater. They come in many different shapes and sizes. Some Cenotes are only tiny holes in the ground, while others are huge and open. Cenotes are filled with fresh water, and more often than not serve as entry points to far-reaching cave systems.
It’s estimated that there are approximately 10.000 Cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula alone, however, it is nearly impossible to point down an exact number.
According to the Maya, Cenotes are portals to the underworld Xibalbá and therefore are sacred.
Is Cenote Diving Cave Diving?
When you book a Cenote dive with a dive operator in the Riviera Maya, we’re usually talking recreational diving. Cave diving is a form of technical diving, that requires thorough training and a cave diving certification. Therefore, when we talk about “Cenote diving”, we refer to a recreational cavern dive.
Recreational Cenote dives take place in the cavern zone, where natural light is still visible and we stay in spacious areas, with clear visibility, and close to an exit at all times.
How Cold Are the Cenotes?
The water temperature in Cenotes does not vary much throughout the year. Generally, we have around 24°C/77°F water temperature in most Cenotes fresh water sections. When dropping below the halocline, the underlying saltwater may be a little warmer though.
As Cenotes are mostly connected to bigger cave systems, and the water is flowing slightly, that temperature doesn’t change even in the hot summer months.
What Wetsuit Thickness Is Recommended For Cenote Diving?
This is a tricky question that many divers ask before diving in the Cenotes for the first time. We recommend a full 5mm neoprene wetsuit, though this highly depends on your comfort level and preferences.
Many divers prefer thicker exposure protection, choosing the 5mm full wetsuit and maybe even a hooded vest. Others are totally comfortable in a 3mm long wetsuit, and some even prefer diving in a shortie during their Cenote dives.
For safety and maximum comfort, we generally rent 5mm long wetsuits for Cenote dives.
Do I Need A Cave Diving Certification to Dive in Cenotes?
Most of the so-called “Cenote dives” for recreational divers take place in the cavern area of the respective Cenote. We won’t lead you into the actual cave, therefore a cave diving certification is not required to dive in Cenotes. You have to be a certified diver though, with some experience and proper buoyancy control.
This is to keep you and other participants safe and ensure you enjoy the dive to the fullest. You at least need an open water diver certification to participate in Cenote dives.
Can I Dive in Cenotes With My Open Water Diver Certification?
You can participate in Cenote dives with your open water certification. Although the Cenotes requiring only an open water diver certification are limited, there are some beautiful and stunning dives you can partake in. Most important is, that you feel comfortable in the water and have proper control of your buoyancy. This is because most Cenote dives lead us through a cavern area with a roof, a so-called overhead environment. Therefore direct access to the surface is not always given.
Some of the deeper Cenotes and more complex dives do however require any participant to carry an advanced open water certification. Get in touch to find out which Cenotes you can dive into with your certification!
What’s the Minimum Age To Participate in Cenote Diving?
To dive in Cenotes it’s not only required to have obtained your open water diver certification. Also, you have to be at least 15 years old. This is a local rule for any Cenote dive, although younger participants can always choose to visit Casa Cenote for a dive, without entering the cavern area.
How Many Divers Are in My Group?
Local Cenote diving rules limit participants to a ratio of 4 divers per certified Cenote dive guide. However, some of the more complex Cenotes require a maximum ratio of 3 participants per certified Cenote dive guide to maintain maximum safety and supervision during the dive.
Are All Cenotes Similar?
There are many Cenotes all over the Yucatan Peninsula, and none are the same as another one. Each and every Cenote has its own conformation, environment, and features. Some Cenotes are just open sinkholes, filled with fresh water. But others offer access to a whole new underwater world in their cavern and cave areas.
Most of them feature dripstone formations, stalactites, stalagmites, and others to admire. In the deeper Cenotes, you’ll generally find a halocline, separating the overlaying fresh water from the underlying salt water.
In some open water areas of Cenotes, you can find organic debris like trees, rocks, and mangroves to explore. Few Cenotes also feature a huge amount of different colored water lilies!
Is There Marine Life in Cenotes?
Generally, Cenotes are filled with fresh water. Therefore you won’t find the typical marine life you would encounter during a dive in the ocean. But in fact, there is life in Cenotes! Ranging from plant life like water lilies, over turtles and hogfish, and small schools of silverfish to specially adapted cave life you can sometimes encounter in the cavern area. With some luck, you may even see a small crocodile!
There are endemic species that you can only encounter in the Mexican Cenotes, like the blind brotula! Also, you may see a remipede, isopods, and other cave-adapted life!
In the open water areas of Cenotes, you often find the Mesoamerican slider turtle, blue crabs, catfish, and other fish.
Some Cenotes close to the coast, that have a direct connection to the ocean may even feature some marine life. In Casa Cenote, you find tarpon fish, the occasional moray eel, smaller shrimps, guppies, platys, and mollies hiding between the mangroves.
What Is A Halocline?
A typical feature of many deeper Cenotes is the so-called halocline! It describes the separation layer between fresh and salt water. Generally, the underlying salt water does not mix up with the fresh water in Cenotes, due to their different salinity and density. Imagine water and oil. The point of separation is called a halocline. You can find a halocline at Cenote Garden of Eden or The Pit!
When diving through a halocline, many divers get blurry vision from the stirred-up different water densities. This only lasts a couple of seconds, as soon as we descend or ascend further, the visibility stabilizes again and we can continue our dive normally.
It’s important to control our buoyancy when crossing through the halocline, as we may have to release some air from our BCD when descending into the saltwater.
Can I Bring My Camera on A Cenote Diving Tour?
Most Cenotes permit bringing your GoPro or camera on a dive. Although we recommend only bringing your camera if you’re totally comfortable handling your buoyancy, camera and follow the Cenote rules during the dive.
Most Cenotes charge an extra fee to bring your GoPro or camera, which can range from 200-500 MXN depending on the Cenote. This fee has to be covered by the diver and is not included in the Cenote diving price.
It’s important to note, that our guides are not allowed to take cameras or pictures during any Cenote dive. Let us know when you’re planning to bring your GoPro or camera!
Do I Have To Take A Flashlight?
Most cavern dives in Cenotes lead through underwater tunnels and are rather dark. As there’s little natural light, the flashlight is a requirement for every participant. We provide dive lights for every diver and carry backup lights also. It’s important to understand the briefing properly, as the lights are not only used for lighting up your path but also to communicate underwater.
Can I Bring My Friend/Family To Snorkel While I’m Cenote Diving?
Most Cenotes offer snorkeling/swimming and diving alike. Only a few Cenotes are for divers only, so depending on where you’re headed, you can definitely bring your family or friends along to snorkel while you dive. Please let us know ahead of time if you’re looking to bring someone along, so we can organize for it.
The best Cenotes for snorkeling are Dos Ojos, Garden of Eden, Carwash, and Chikin ha Cenotes. They feature a beautiful, clear open water area that even allows snorkelers to watch you dive in certain parts during the dive.
Can I Choose Any Cenote as First Cenote Dive?
Local Cenote diving rules classify every recreational Cenote dive to a certain level. These levels go from 1-4, with level 1 being the easiest and level 4 being the most complex type of dive site.
Generally, we start with a level 1 & 2 Cenote dive to get you comfortable before heading to more challenging and complex dives. Also to assure your safety and buoyancy control, it’s required to conduct your very first Cenote dive in a level 1 classified Cenote. Once you completed a dive in a level 1 Cenote, you can access a level 2 dive, and so on.
Most level 3 & 4 Cenote dives require participants to have completed their advanced open water certification.