Cenote diving is an extraordinary aquatic activity for divers during their vacation in the Riviera Maya. Especially for advanced open water divers, many mind-blowing Cenotes like Cenote Angelita allow you to spend a marvelous day exploring.
In this blog, we will share with you all the secrets and information about this amazing dive site. We’ll tell you what to expect when booking a dive at Cenote Angelita, the requirements to dive here, and more.
Diving in Cenote Angelita
Booking a Cenote dive at Angelita opens the doors to a unique and mystic experience underwater. This Cenote is widely known for its depth and conformation, featuring a hydrogen-sulfide cloud and a picturesque scenery to dive in.
Many divers who visit this Cenote call it their favorite dive site. Upon visiting again they don’t refrain from diving here for a second time.
Cenote Angelita definitely is a one-of-a-kind dive site and blows divers minds when descending into its depths. Located past Tulum to the south, this Cenote is close to the highway into the jungle and surrounded by lush vegetation.
A short path leads from the parking area to the pit-like Cenote, that already spreads a feeling of unknown just on the surface.
Quick Facts
How deep is Cenote Angelita?
Cenote Angelita has an absolute depth of 56 meters, but our dive depth is limited to 30 meters. This is where the hydrogen-sulfide cloud is located. Below this depth it’s pitch-black and there’s no natural light available.
Water Temperature & Conditions
Most Cenotes’ water temperature is 24°C year-round, and Angelita is no exception to this. Visibility at Angelita Cenote is sometimes a bit reduced in the first couple of meters but clears up below. This especially happens after strong rains, washing organic matter into the Cenote. After 5-8 meters descending you will find yourself in glass-clear fresh water, with impressive visibility.
Dive Time
As the dive at Cenote Angelita is a deep dive up to 30 meters of depth, the average dive time here is 35-45 minutes. We’ll descend to the hydrogen-sulfide cloud and debris island at 27-30 meters upon initiating the dive. Throughout the dive, we will slowly ascend circling the Cenote, conducting our safety stop at 5 meters, and resurface after completing the dive.
What Are The Requirements to Dive Angelita Cenote?
To dive in Cenote Angelita, divers must have an advanced open water certification. This is due to the maximum depth during this dive. Also, this Cenote is classified as a level 3 dive by local regulations. This means, that to dive this Cenote you will have to have dived at least a level 1 & 2 Cenote before diving in Cenote Angelita.
Group Size
For all Cenote dives, including Cenote Angelita, we reduce group sizes to a number of 4 participants per Cenote dive guide. This is to ensure your safety and give you the most possible attention during pre-dive setup, checks, briefing, and during the dive.
Camera Fee
If you’re planning to bring your GoPro or camera on a dive to Angelita, be aware that the Cenote charges a small fee for taking it underwater. Depending on the size of your camera this fee varies between 200-500 Mexican pesos per participant.
What to Expect From A Dive in Cenote Angelita
If you’re looking for a truly unique and mystic scenery during a Cenote dive, don’t miss out on diving in Angelita. With all its underwater features and distinct views, Angelita is a must-dive for advanced open water divers in the area.
Hydrogen-Sulfide Cloud
Cenote Angelita is the perfect combination of features when it comes to picturesque, mystic scenery underwater. The hydrogen-sulfide cloud wobbling at around 30 meters depth is very dense. It’s caused by organic matter that washes into the Cenote in the rainy season. Leaves, mud, and other vegetation fall into Angelita and begin decomposing. That releases hydrogen sulfide, which gets trapped at depth due to the water pressure.
This cloud covers the whole width of Angelita and defines our maximum depth during the dive. As it’s highly acidic and very dense, we can’t dive through the cloud. Also, reduced visibility to nearly zero inside the cloud, and there’s no natural light penetration below.
Debris Island
In the middle of the hydrogen-sulfide cloud, there’s a small island-like debris pile reaching out of the cloud. It is made from organic matter, wood, trees, leaves, and other vegetation that has previously fallen into the Cenote. It reaches from the bottom of the Cenote to around 27 meters depth.
Some trees a little off the island reach higher, and the combination of all these features assists in the spectacular and almost spooky appearance found underwater.
Perfect Circular Shape
Cenote Angelita is not your typical cavern-dive. You won’t find any overhead environment as found at for example Cenote Dos Ojos. Its pit-like shape is considered open water, as there’s no roof anywhere over our heads during the dive here.
Upon standing on the surface platform next to Angelita, we can admire its perfectly circular shape, which continues with vertical walls underwater.
Other Cenotes to Combine With A Dive in Angelita Cenote
As the dive in Cenote Angelita is a deep dive, we generally combine this experience with a second, shallower Cenote dive site. Because of its location south of Tulum, we usually combine this site with a second dive at Cenote Carwash.
Just a short drive from Angelita, Carwash Cenote is the perfect second dive. Offering an impressive cavern dive with some bones, Mayan pottery, and a beyond beautiful open water area, many divers enjoy this site as a second dive to Angelita Cenote.
Another option for a second dive is combining Angelita with Cenote Dreamgate. Impressive underwater halls covered in dripstone formations are just one of the reasons why divers enjoy this Cenote so much.
Dive The Cenotes With BlueLife
When choosing your dive operator for Cenote dives, you should focus on safety and quality rather than cheap. Diving in Cenotes requires top planning and logistics. BlueLifes Cenote dive guides are highly trained and experienced when it comes to all the logistics of conducting Cenote dives.
We’ll take care of everything, from transportation to lunch, so you can fully focus on enjoying this unique underwater experience.
We’re happy to clarify any questions or doubts you may have before your dives and help you create bespoke diving packages in the Riviera Maya.
Get in touch about your Cenote & Ocean dives, and book your next underwater adventure with us.