Search Divequest

The Caribbean

CENOTES OF THE YUCATAN PHOTOQUEST

Water, light and time in the land of the Mayans

The Yucatan Peninsula is steeped in the history of the ancient Mayans, famed for their pyramids and stone settlements, now preserved as ruins for visitors to explore and admire. Whilst the best ‘big animal’ diving in Mexico can be found in Baja California, or amongst the Revillagigedo Islands, what is special about a dive trip to the Yucatan is the opportunity to dive the famous ‘cenotes’ (pronounced ‘seh-no-tehs’) or underground caves and wells. Most of the best sites are dotted along the Riviera Maya, the stretch of land running from Cancun in the north to the coastal ruins of Tulum further south. These picturesque limestone caverns are known as some of the best in the world for their accessibility and geological splendour. Most of these freshwater sink-holes are inland, accessible by road followed by a short stroll down a board walk and then splash – into the hole you drop! Some cenotes open up into underground flooded caverns with enough room to surface, while others extend into narrow water-filled passages and yet others extend far underground and back out into the sea! These cenotes were the key to existence for the Mayan population as they provided seemingly endless supplies of fresh water, particularly during periodic droughts.

When thinking of cave diving, many people might have visions of dark holes and cramped spaces, but what makes the diving here so appealing is the way the light falls through the cave openings as the sun casts its strong but gentle beams down into the sinkholes. Underwater photography is a union of so many factors, but surely none is more vital than light. Just think how much fun you can have creating images when experimenting with the natural light from the surface, which first of all glints emerald green as it filters through the foliage above the entrance and then cascades onto the surface of the piercing blue water and bends in every direction. In the deeper wells, the water changes colour as you go deeper and as you look up and turn around to admire the light show, see how many shades of blue you can count from the bright blue-white light at the opening of the cavern to the inky midnight shades beneath you as you descend into the Mayan underworld. See how the grand stone columns cast shadows onto the water’s surface and the cave floor below. The water in the cenotes is nearly always crystal clear too. Here you can see how water, light and 65 million years have interacted to create such intriguing rock formations. Stalactites and stalagmites, ranging from the very tiny to the very large, are shaped into cones, funnels or sharp points. Some look like tiny but sharp crystal teeth, others look like great ivory towers supporting the very cavern in which you swim. It could almost be a wax sculpture, as it seems the rocks ‘drip’ off the ceiling or create candle-like columns and pillars of varying length and width. Fossils can often be seen set into the walls of the cavern. Which beasts lie captured in these walls after so many millions of years?

The Mayan Riviera has an extensive underground web of caverns and caves and your guide, Dennis Weeks from Diablo Divers of Puerto Aventuras is the perfect man to help us co-ordinate some fantastic photographic opportunities in come of the most beautiful cenotes the Yucatan has to offer.

Dos Ojos, or ‘Two Eyes’, located north of the ruins at Tulum is a flooded cave system still being explored. This massive cave system extends for no fewer than 61 kilometres under the water, with 25 known sinkhole entrances, making it one of the world’s longest underwater cave systems. Dos Ojos is an anchialine cave system, meaning that the main body of water is landlocked but it is connected to the ocean by an underground passage, though no human has ever entered the cave system from the open ocean. The water here is always extremely clear as the rainwater that fills the cavern is filtered by the limestone rocks. Dos Ojos is so called because two neighbouring entrances in the ground connect into one larger cavern.

The adventurous diver (or obsessive photographer!) might want to make a particularly daring journey to The Pit, accessible only after a 300 metre walk through the jungle and a jump of approximately 10 metes directly down into the deep entry pool! The cavern contains human bones and has some particularly impressive geological formations.

Grand Cenote begins as you step over a large lip of rock into what seems like a giant mouth set into the limestone. The entrance is quite shallow and is suitable for snorkeling, though divers can continue deeper into the cavern. In the afternoon light the sun glints gold against the limestone in the shallower parts.

Car Wash is well known for its beautifully decorated ‘Room of Tears’ where the delicate-looking stalactites could be made of silver. Hundreds of these slender structures rain down from the ceiling and the ‘room’ seems to be held up by what could be hand carved posts stretching from floor to ceiling.

Sylvia is usually on hand to provide an effective buddy service or model.

An excursion to see the Mayan ruins of this part of the Yucatan is highly rewarding. The coastal ruins of Tulum are delightful. Set right on the edge of the land, the more intact larger structures look proudly out to sea. The King of Tulum certainly had a great view from his bedroom window! You can get down to the beach for a snorkel or just enjoy wandering into the past and imagine the Mayan people going about their daily lives among what were living quarters and shrines.

Day trips to dive at famous Cozumel can also be arranged from Puerto Aventuras, should you want a short extension to your holiday.

Accommodation will be in the very comfortable, beachside Omni Hotel & Beach Resort in Puerto Aventuras. The hotel comprises 30 rooms, all with en-suite facilities and television, mini-bar, safe, air-conditioning and coffee making facilities. The rooms all have queen-sized beds and are very spacious so there will be lots of room to spread your camera gear out! Hotel facilities include two swimming pools and a Jacuzzi, a tennis court and a 9 hole golf course.

OUTLINE ITINERARY

Saturday 4th June: Continental Airlines morning departure from London Heathrow, bound for Cancun via Houston, arriving in the evening. Transfer to Omni Hotel & Beach Resort, Puerto Aventuras.

Sunday 5th June – Thursday 9th June: 5 days of diving the cenotes and caverns of the Riviera Maya.

Friday 10th June: Optional diving at some favourite cenotes in the morning. Optional excursion to the ruins of Tulum in the afternoon.

Saturday 11th June: Transfer to Cancun airport. Continental Airlines midday flight bound for London Heathrow via Houston

Sunday 12th June: Morning arrival at London Heathrow.

£1323 Cancun/Cancun (provisional price, to be confirmed)

Includes:

• Airport transfers.

• 7 nights accommodation with room and continental breakfast on a twin/share basis at the Omni Hotel & Beach Resort.

• 5 days diving the cenotes and caverns of the Riviera Maya with Dive Aventuras.

• Services of Martin and Sylvia Edge as leaders.

Optional 6th day of diving: £82 (provisional price, to be confirmed).

Optional excursion to Tulum ruins: £45 (provisional price, to be confirmed).

Single Occupancy Supplement: £241 (provisional price, to be confirmed). Please note that, while we will endeavour to find a room-mate for those on the tour who are single travellers and would prefer to share accommodation, in the event of a room-mate not being available the single occupancy supplement will apply. Room-mates will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis.

Note: Should two people travelling together apply for the last place on the tour, we may, at our discretion, increase the group size by one.

Flights: From about £830 to Cancun.

HOLIDAY COMBINATIONS AND ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS: You can easily extend your holiday at Puerto Aventuras if you wish, for more cenote diving, optional reef diving (including to nearby Cozumel Island) or simply for relaxation or sightseeing. Talk to us about the possibilities.