What experience level is required for a cenote cavern tour near Cancun?

Most cenote cavern tours near Cancun are for certified Open Water divers with recent dives and solid buoyancy. Comfort with neutral trim, calm breathing, and gentle overheads is more important than deep credentials. If it has been a while since your last dive, a quick reef tune up before cenote cavern diving is recommended.

What is the difference between cavern rules and full cave diving limits?

Cavern tours stay in the daylight zone, follow a continuous guideline, and use conservative gas rules within recreational depth limits. Full cave diving goes beyond daylight, uses complex line systems, and requires specialized training and equipment. Cenote tours for visitors are run as cavern dives, not full cave penetrations.

Which gear is included for cenote caverns and do I need a primary light?

Core scuba gear such as BCD, regulator, tanks, weights, and wetsuit is typically included for cenote cavern tours. Each diver uses a primary light and a backup light, and guides carry additional lights. Many divers bring their own mask and computer for familiarity, but a dedicated primary light is always required in overhead environments.

What is the typical water temperature and exposure suit for cenotes near Cancun?

Cenote water around Cancun usually sits around 24 to 25 degrees Celsius, in the mid seventies Fahrenheit. Most divers choose a 5 mm full wetsuit and many add a hooded vest for longer profiles. Gloves are generally avoided to protect delicate rock and formations.

How are gas planning and turn points managed in cenote cavern zones?

Cavern dives use conservative gas planning, often based on the rule of thirds or stricter. The guide explains starting pressure, turn pressure, and exit pressure before the dive, then calls the turn with extra reserve so exits stay relaxed. Overhead environments use stricter gas margins than open water drifts.

Are cenotes a good addition to a multi day dive package with reef and Cozumel?

Yes. Cenote cavern days fit well between local reef dives and a Cozumel wall day. Many divers start with reef dives to tune buoyancy, add a cenote day for a calm overhead experience, then visit Cozumel for drifts and walls. Planning no fly time and rest days keeps the whole week varied but not exhausting.

CENOTE DIVING: exploring the 'Hidden World'

mantadiversoffice
Mar 9, 2021
3 min read

Updated: Oct 4

Cenote. Pronounced say-no-tay.

Scuba diving the cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula should be on every diver’s bucket list. Exploring these ancient limestone caverns is a unique experience, one that you will never forget. The team at Manta Divers Cancun is here today to introduce you to this hidden world.

What is a cenote, and how were they formed?

The Yucatan Peninsula was once underwater. As the marine life and corals died, their remains fell to the bottom of the seabed, which compacted over many years, eventually forming a limestone layer approximately 1 mile thick. During the last ice age, the sea level dropped, and the Yucatan Peninsula became exposed. Over time, what once was a reef became fertile soil and eventually developed into a tropical jungle. Rainfall trickling into the porous limestone over time caused further erosion, creating vast caverns and caves. When the roof of an underground cavern or cave structure collapses, BAM, you have a cenote opening!

Check out this video here for a visual representation.

What scuba certification do I need to dive in the cenotes?

There are so many accessible cenotes to choose from, each one varying in depth, structure, and complexity. This means that some are suitable for novice divers. Even if you’re not the most experienced diver, divers entering the cenotes should have decent buoyancy control to avoid damaging the surrounding fragile environment!

For those who do not hold a scuba diving license, some dive centers offer 'Discover Scuba Dive' or 'Try Divers' programs to explore cenotes, allowing participants to avoid swimming in areas with an overhead environment.

Swim and Dive Cenotes Cancun — An example of an open cenote

Is cenote diving cave diving or cavern diving? What’s the difference?!

Diving in the cenotes as a recreational diver is a form of cavern diving. During a cavern dive, whilst you are swimming in an overhead environment, you are always within sight of an entry/exit point, and you can see natural light. On the other hand, cave diving involves going deeper into these systems. Visiting these areas requires special qualifications.

Difference Cave and Cavern Diving — The difference between a cavern and a cave

What am I going to see?

Diving in the cenotes is incomparable to diving in the sea or a lake. Here are some examples of what you can witness:

Stalactites and Stalagmites: mineral-deposit formations, created over millions of years
Spectacular light displays: arrays of light beams, pouring in from the surface
Halocline layers: a shimmering layer where freshwater and saltwater meet
Sulphur clouds: hydrogen sulphide, which has resulted from the decomposition of organic material that has fallen into the cenote
Fossils: as the cenotes used to be underwater, you can find fossilized shells and sea creatures in the limestone

The best thing about diving in the cenotes is that you can witness all of this with ease due to the OUTSTANDING VISIBILITY.

Scuba Diving Cenote Cancun — Stalactites and Stalagmites

Is it safe?

Cenote dive guides are trained to dive in this particular environment. They have specialized training and equipment to increase safety. Before your dive, your guide should provide a thorough briefing on safety procedures. You will notice that the rules are more conservative than when diving in open water. While no diving activity is entirely risk-free, following the instructions of your guide will increase safety and enjoyment for the entire group.

Signing up for your first cenote dive may feel a little daunting, but you won’t regret it. The enchanting tranquility of this hidden world will take your breath away. Contact Manta for more information by emailing info@mantadivers.com or book directly online on our website!