Cenotes of Mexico

I never even dreamed of scuba diving in a cenote until recently. At 13 years old, I first learned about the cenotes of Mexico while reading an issue of National Geographic. At the time, I definitely did not consider the possibility I might one day actually dive in one. I assumed this type of opportunity was reserved exclusively for scientists or filmmakers. I’m pretty sure that was true at the time.

The Cenotes of Mexico

I learned to scuba dive, when I was in college at San Diego State University. Diving was offered as part of their physical education curriculum. Since La Jolla cove was known as a great place to dive, I decided to give it a try. Jump forward about 10 years, and I was back under water again. I was developing a visual depth illusion technique for my business Aqua-Terra Studio. So, I purchased a Nikonos underwater camera and went to Hawaii. Diving in the clear warm water at the islands ignited my passion for scuba, and I ended up falling in love with underwater photography.

Playa del Carmen Mexico

Kathy and I were planning our next trip, and we were researching things to do in Mexico. I came across some photographs of the cenotes near Playa Del Carmen, and they looked awesome. As I explored the subject further, I discovered there are hundreds of these geological features in the Yucatán Peninsula and down near Playa Del Carmen. Many now allow scuba diving, snorkeling and swimming.

Visiting these cenotes is one of the most popular things to do when visiting Playa Del Carmen Mexico. It is also a one of the most popular things to do while visiting the Yucatán Peninsula. How did these cenotes slip by my awareness? After looking into the options further, I got quite excited about the prospects. I consulted with my local dive shop and decided Dos Ojos would be the best selection for my first cenote dive. Its maximum depth is only about 30 feet. It’s also easily accessible and relatively safe for scuba diving.

Diving Dos Ojos Cenote

As a scuba diver, once you enter a cavern, you can’t go to the surface. You need to reach an exit point to surface. Without special training and cave diving certification, you can never venture further than 200 feet from an exist point. Passing through the cenotes are guide lines, permanently installed for the divers to follow. You dive with cave certified dive masters who bring you in, and you cannot dive without a guide. They carry extra tanks, and are trained to save your life if necessary.

*Sign along the dirt road leading to Dos Ojos cenote; Photo by Richard Bilow*

While you are not required to have any special scuba certification beyond open water for Dos Ojos, you should have excellent buoyancy control. The water is crystal clear, and you do not want to be the one who stirs up sediment, ruining the dive for those behind you. You also do not want to hit any of the gorgeous stalactites and other formations that adorn the caverns. For those of you who are not scuba divers, you can still enjoy these magical places. There are numerous easily accessible cenotes with an abundance of tours that will take you to them. You don’t even need to swim to enjoy your visit, because some are just so beautiful to look at.

More About the Cenotes of Mexico

Cenotes are typically filled with fresh water that flows under the earth. The water colors span the range of blues, greens and turquoise. Many feature beautiful rock formations or large holes in the earth surrounded by lush greenery. Some are filled with stalactites and stalagmites. They are truly magical. Scuba diving in Dos Ojos turned out to be one of the greatest experience I have had connecting with nature. I was scheduled to dive Dos Ojos through Blue Life Scuba. I was given vip-treatment with a private dive guide named Andrea. She was born in Spain and got hooked on cenote diving after her first experience scuba diving Dos Ojos.

*Dive guide Andrea from Blue Life Scuba in Playa del Carmen takes me to the bat cave; photo by Richard Bilow*

Andrea trained for many years before finally getting her certification to dive in both the caverns and deeper into the caves. I got the referral for Blue Life in Playa del Carmen from Jake at my local shop, Eco Dive in Culver City, California. This business was exceptional, I highly recommend Blue Life Scuba, and Andrea.

My Cenote Diving Experience

Needless to say the dive was amazing. We did two dives. One followed the Bat Cave line. The other followed the Barbie line. Both were awesome routes, but surfacing in the bat cave turned out to be a highlight for me. I didn’t realize we would be doing that. I’m so happy we did, because it was super cool.

There were bats flying around with natural light streaming through holes in the ceiling. Stalactites pierced the water from above, and the scene was hypnotic. I felt completely at peace in there despite the fact that a small group of snorkelers were in there at the same time. I am so happy I selected Dos Ojos as the location for my first cavern dive. It truly was one of the best experiences of my life. If diving the denotes is of interest to you while you are in Playa del Carmen, Blue Life Scuba will take good care of you. https://bluelife.com/