Cenote The Pit Diving

Cenote The Pit is a spectacular sinkhole hidden in the deep jungle and an upstream branch of the Sac Actun System, the world’s longest underwater cave system. At 119 m (391 ft), it is the deepest cenote in the state of Quintana Roo—an unforgettable dive for experienced divers.

Access to The Pit has changed dramatically over the years. Before the entrance road and stairs were built, divers had to walk approximately 300 m (1,000 ft) through the jungle from the dirt road, then lower their equipment roughly 7 m (24 ft) to the water using ropes. Today, improved access makes reaching this remarkable site far more convenient.

Sunbeams penetrate deep into the cenote, reaching approximately 30 m (100 ft) before meeting a dramatic hydrogen sulfide cloud. Until 2011, archaeological remains—including animal bones, a human skull, and a jaw with four molars—could be seen below the cloud. INAH (Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia) removed these artifacts for conservation and study; they are now housed at the Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City. Divers can still observe traces of what appears to have been an ancient fireplace, including small pieces of burnt charcoal.

The dive follows a multilevel profile with a gradual ascent around the cenote’s immense cylindrical walls. In the shallower sections, dark horizontal lines on the walls reveal changes in water level over past ice ages. Above, a beautifully decorated ceiling features thousands of delicate white formations.

This dive is recommended only for experienced divers holding, at minimum, an Advanced Open Water Diver certification or a Deep Diver Specialty certification.