Photo credit: Ivan Ayala, Triton Productions
Cenote Diving
Discover a different world beneath the jungle with cenote diving in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Exceptionally clear water, spectacular rock formations, and natural light make every dive a memorable experience.
We offer guided cenote diving tours in the area around Playa del Carmen, Akumal, and Tulum. Each cenote has its own character and beauty, offering something new to explore.
You don’t need cave diving certification to join. Divers with an Open Water certification or equivalent can experience suitable cenotes on guided cavern dives. Our tours stay within the cavern’s daylight zone, where natural light remains visible, and follow established cenote diving limits.
All our guides hold full Cave Diver certification and are qualified Divemasters or Instructors, as well as CREER-certified Cenote Dive Guides. With hundreds of dives in the local cenotes, they bring extensive experience and knowledge of this remarkable underwater environment.
Ready to explore? Contact us to find the right cenote diving tour for your certification and experience level.
Guidelines to be followed for safe cenote diving
As with any other activity, there are clear and distinct limitations to cavern diving and it is of prime importance that divers be well aware of the limitations imposed and strictly adhere to those limits at all times.
- Never exceed the ratio of divers to guide which is 4:1 (4 single tank divers conducted by a guide with double tanks);
- Divers shall not dive deeper than they have been previously certified. The maximum depth for cavern dives is limited to 100 ft/30 m;
- Dives must begin with a minimum visibility of 40 ft/12 m. This distance is determined by the ability of the diver to clearly recognize and acknowledge a lighted hand signal;
- Divers must always stay within the “daylight zones” of the underground river system…though it is not necessary to have view of the physical opening to the cavern, clear view of ambient light radiating through that opening must be plainly visible;
- Maximum penetration is limited to 200 ft/60 m from where you can surface and breath air without the aid of scuba equipment;
- Divers must remain within the no-decompression limits of the dive computer;
- No restrictions (narrow passages)…at all times, two divers must be able to comfortably pass through the area next to each other;
- Divers must maintain a continuous guideline (life line) to open water as a visual reference…never go beyond the cavern line areas;
- Diver must be equipped at least with one light (the sun or daylight is considered as the cavern diver’s primary light source);
- Never make a cavern dive at night. Without natural light, a cavern becomes a cave and access is restricted to only those divers with cave training.
- Follow the instructions of the guide provided during the dive briefing. Instructions include topics such as air supply management by the “rule of thirds;” communication with light signals; the ideal horizontal position and kicking techniques to avoid silting; the use of the proper amount and placement of weights; the “diving on a line” team system; the distance between the divers and their general behavior; safety procedures; environmental respect and conservation.