When searching for Cenotes to dive along the Riviera Maya, you will find many options. One of them is Cenote The Pit. This famous Cenote is well-known among divers and the diving community. A deep pit-like collapse in the middle of the Mayan jungle opens up to a huge column of fresh water.
This is a dive site especially for advanced open water divers, due to its depth and overall complexity. But what is it all about? This and more is what we will explain to you in this blog about The Pit Cenote. Get ready to scuba dive into Cenote The Pit with us!
Diving in Cenote The Pit
Many Cenotes are accessible to recreational divers on the Yucatan Peninsula. Some of them are really famous and visiting divers are eager to dive into them. Cenote The Pit is one of them. The dive in one of the deepest Cenotes in Mexico is a unique adventure for experienced divers.
The Pit Cenote is located south of Playa del Carmen, inside the Dos Ojos Cenote park.
After leaving the highway and driving into the park, you will continue for some minutes into the jungle. The Pit Cenote has parking options, tables to set up equipment, bathrooms, showers, and changing rooms on site.
A steep stairway leads down to the water level, with a small platform to put on your fins and prepare for entry. A mindblowing adventure awaits you underwater, the clear water allows a first view of what to expect.
Quick Facts
How deep is Cenote The Pit?
The dives during a Cenote dive tour in The Pit are to a depth of 30 meters. But the maximum depth here reaches a stunning 119 meters. This makes it one of the deepest ever explored Cenotes and the deepest point of the Sac Actun cave system.
Water Temperature & Conditions
The dive conditions in this Cenote are just amazing. The water temperature is around 25°C and the crystal clear water and visibility will impress you. You can see from the surface to 30 meters depth easily, and from one side to the other.
Dive Time
A dive at Cenote The Pit lasts around 35-45 minutes. Beginning the dive you will descend to the maximum dive depth of 30 meters. As there is no guideline in this Cenote, your guide will lead you around the Cenote slowly ascending. Towards the end of the dive, you will do a 3-minute safety stop at 5 meters depth before ascending to the surface.
What Are The Requirements to Dive The Pit Cenote?
According to local rules, the dive at Cenote The Pit is considered a Level 3 dive.
Due to the maximum dive depth, participants must have an advanced open water certification to dive here. Another requirement to dive in the Pit is having dived two other Cenotes before (Levels 1 & 2). To dive in any Cenote, divers have to be above the age of 15.
Group Size
As Cenote dives usually are overhead environment dives, Cenote diving rules require group sizes reduced to a maximum of 4 divers per certified Cenote dive guide.
What to Expect From A Dive in The Pit Cenote
The scuba diving experience in The Pit is unique and mindblowing. Especially on sunny days, you can admire the light penetrating the surface and the sunrays reaching all the way to the bottom. At around 30 meters depth you will find an organic debris island, with tree branches and huge rocks.
Hydrogen Sulfide Cloud
This debris island rises from the hydrogen sulfide cloud. It is caused by organic material that fell into Cenote The Pit. The decomposing process releases hydrogen sulfide gas, which because of the water pressure remains trapped at around 30 meters. This creates a mystic scenery in this beautiful Cenote.
Halocline
This Cenote features a halocline layer, which you can notice at around 14-16 meters. The difference in the density of salt and fresh water causes this natural presentation. The top layer of the water column is filled with fresh water, while the underlying part is filled with salt water.
You can notice passing through the halocline by the impact on visibility. While diving through the halocline, you will have a blurry impression of your surroundings. But no worries, once you submerge fully in saltwater the clarity comes back.
Dripstone Formations
During the dive here you will have the chance to admire huge dripstone formations. Formations such as stalactites are reaching down from the roof, and dripstone deposits are covering the walls of Cenote The Pit.
Other Cenotes to Combine With A Dive in The Pit
A Cenote dive day usually consists of two different dives. Therefore we mostly combine the dive at The Pit Cenote with a dive at another nearby Cenote.
Dos Ojos Cenote and Nicte Ha Cenote are both close to The Pit, and offer some real unique views.
Nicte Ha Cenote is beautiful inside and out. Its open water area features countless water lilies. It makes for a picturesque background for underwater photoshoots and the cavern area is somewhat special to dive into.
Cenote Dos Ojos is another famous dive site for sport divers, offering two different dives in a huge cavern area.
Featuring unique dripstone formations, clear water, and all the infrastructure, both of these shallow dive sites are ideal to combine with a dive at The Pit.
Dive The Cenotes With BlueLife
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, we’ll take you to the most beautiful Cenote dive sites on our daily Cenote diving trips. We create bespoke packages for divers and focus on safety during your dives. Our professional instructors and Cenote guides are looking forward to making you fully enjoy your dive experience here in the Riviera Maya.
Offering full service means we provide all necessary infrastructure, equipment rental, storage, and licensed vehicles to take care of all the logistics. We’re committed to making your dive days unique, memorable, and enjoy to the fullest.
Get in touch for more information or to book your Cenote or ocean dives with us.