Exploring the Grand Cenote
The cenote is a deep natural well or sinkhole formed by the collapse of surface limestone that exposes groundwater. Mexico has numerous cenotes around its territory, and they are considered significant by the locals. The ancient Maya respected the cenotes, and the Mayans depended on the cenotes for the freshwater sources all year round. They believed Xibalba, the underworld, and the god of rain, Chaac, lived at the bottom of the cenotes.
Interestingly, most cenotes in Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, are connected through an underwater cave system called Sistema Sac Actun. Sistema Sac Actun with the length of 335 km (208 miles) is the longest cave system in the world after Mammoth Cave in Kentucky (USA).
Sistema Sac Actun
We visited the Grand Cenote in Tulum (Mexico), one of the cenotes that also in the Sistema Sac Actun. The cenote is popular for snorkelers and scuba divers. Dutchie and I did scuba dive inside the cenote and it was magnificent. We did not enter the caves that connected throughout the cave system Sac Actun, but we scuba dove around the cenote itself. The inside of cenote is covered by the freshwater and it was surprisingly huge. We were diving following the yellow line. As you notice, it was not deep but the cenote was covered by water except the snorkel area.
Inside of the cenote, we saw stalagmites, stalactites, and columns, just like the following images. Our dive master, Julio, was in these images. He led us when we were exploring the cenote. It’s exciting to see the stalactites under the water but at the same time, it’s weird to scuba dive without seeing any other living species other than us.
I wonder if there were more underwater cave systems in the world that still unknown. Have you been exploring a cave?
indahs: dive, travel & photography 
Wow! Intriguing pictures and the legend is interesting as well… You are having some great adventures… 🙂
Thank you so much! It was lots of fun to dive inside the cenote, historically, the cenote is interesting to know 🙂
Excellent photographs and thanks for the bits of legend shared. You are having a great time…:-)
No cave diving for me, too risky. I’ve done caverns a couple times, but never a cenote.
Hi Dave, we did cavern diving inside the cenote, as it appears some parts of the cenote are open. But for sure, always choose a reputable dive center that just bring you to the caverns instead of the caves.
He he, I am still few dive and a certificate away to be qualified for cave diving. How long did it take to dive this route, and how many stops did you do? Did you change tanks at all?
That’s superb!! Wishing you the best for the certification!!
We did not do the cave diving inside the cenote but we did cavern diving. It only took us 50 minutes and some cenotes are shallow so we did not change the tanks. For cave diving, I think the dive center may have special rate and time allocation may different than cavern diving.
Looks awesome!
Thank you so much!
Gorgeous pictures, Mbak Indah! Eksotis… 😍
Thank you so much 🤗🤗
Cenotes look so cool. Dark and light at the same time…looks darker around those rocks. Maybe you and Duchie didn’t have time to dive through the caves? They sound like a great place for exploring 😊
Thank you, Mabel! We didnt do the cave diving because we are not certified cave diver. For diving inside the cave in Mexico is very strict and required certification 🙂
Another fun adventure (or mess?) you’ve gotten into Indah. 🙂 I’ve never explored a cave underwater, only land caves like in Kentucky or small ones in Arkansas.
I like land caves too!! Hahaha..I guess it was a mix of mess and fun 🙂
🙂