Many of us have a thirst for exploration – and cave diving either quenches, or deepens that thirst, depending upon how you look at things! Some of the best cave diving in the world takes place below the surface of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, where a vast system of cenotes invite unlimited exploration. While some of Mexico’s cave dives are extremely challenging and even death-defying, there are others which provide a pleasant visit to an ethereal underground world. Chac-Mool, or Jaguar Cave, and Kikulkan are two of these, and provide visitors with a wonderful introduction to cenote diving.
Chac-Mool
Chac Mool, or Jaguar Cave, is named after the Mayan god, Chac-Mool, who had the head of a jaguar. Mayans revered these cenotes as pathways to the underworld, and some cenotes were used as sources of water for these ancient people. As Chac-Mool contains a halocline, where fresh water lies atop salt water, and as it is easy to penetrate, it is very likely that this cenote was once a sacred source for the Mayan people.
There are two separate water entries at Jaguar Cave, both of which lead divers through the same rooms. At the main opening, trees line the entryway; their roots reaching thirstily to the water below. As you enter the water, look up to see the backlit trees and their roots, which create a stunning visual effect. On bright, sunny days, the sun’s rays appear like lasers. Swimming through these ethereal shafts of light, one cannot help feeling a sense of wonder.
As you descend further into the cave system, you will come to the halocline, where the water mingles to create a stunning, swirling visual effect. Continue your descent, and the water once again becomes crystal clear – you are now swimming in pure salt water!
Maximum depth at Chac Mool is just 45 feet, which makes this cave ideal for relatively new cave divers. Still, the massive caverns hold appeal for anyone who enjoys cave diving. Massive stalactites descend from the ceiling, and huge areas of flowstone make you wonder what this cavern was like before it became filled with water. As you ascend back to the second entryway, the halocline effect makes the water’s surface appear closer than it really is. The light effect here is dazzling, and as you break the surface, you may feel an odd sense of disbelief, and certainly a sense of accomplishment.
Kukulkan
Kukulkan, or “Plumed Serpent” is a Mayan god – a feathered serpent. Depicted in carvings on the stones at the base of Chichen Itza, he was thought to be a warrior-god or alternately, a facilitator of visions. The visions you will find at Kukulkan may cause you to feel more drawn to the second depiction of the deity, as this cavern is filled with spectacular sights.
To enter, you will walk into the cave for about 100 feet, where you will find a massive, crystal clear, turquoise-colored pool. The sun penetrates the entryway here, creating a magnificent curtain of light. Alternately, you can get here from the Chac Mool main entrance, where two permanent gold lines point the way. Once you are at Kukulkan, you will head toward the Little Brother Cenote. The route you take will be determined by your guide, who will plan to take you through the best-lit area, so you can enjoy the sun’s rays to maximum effect. If you get the right angle, you can see rainbows from the sun’s interaction with the water, projected on the cavern ceiling.
Kukulkan Cenote’s maximum depth is fifty feet, and the halocline can be experienced at forty feet. Once you are down further, out of the sun’s rays, your light will pick up sparkles that come from the crystals embedded in the cavern walls here. You will make your way through the cavern system, where massive stalactite formations descend from the ceiling and huge, often broken off, stalagmites push their way up from the floor. In areas where the sun penetrates, the rocks are overgrown with plant life, which fades away to pure stone once you are beyond the sun’s reach.
Both Cenote Kukulkan and Cenote Chac-Mool are open to divers who possess advanced open water certificates or above, so it is possible to visit these unique underground treasures, even if you have never dived in a cave before.
The entryways to these two incredible caverns are just a few hundred feet from each other, and the entire cenote system here has been set up for safe diving. Be sure to follow your guide’s instructions and keep track of the lines that lead to safe diving zones. Stop signs have been placed at the limits. Do not pass them under any circumstances!
Some other simple guidelines you should be aware of are these:
First, be sure to keep a streamlined profile at all times. Check yourself for loops and possible snag hazards, and try to use a frog kick whenever you are in an area that is more tightly enclosed. The sediment that has settled on the floor will come up and inhibit visibility for the diver behind you if you do not keep a horizontal profile in these areas.
Second, do not try to squeeze yourself through any enclosed area. The cenotes have been explored and specific areas designated for cave diving here. All the areas open for recreational diving are large enough for at least two divers to penetrate simultaneously.
Third, never try to take a souvenir. The crystals in the walls, as well as the stalactite and stalagmite structures are fragile and are meant for enjoyment by all. Can you imagine what these areas would look like if they were picked over? So, leave things as they are and do not add any markings or leave any items behind.
You will be well briefed before entering the water, and the guides here are experienced. By following instructions closely, you can enjoy a safe and incredible dive into some of the world’s most unusual and spectacular underwater caverns and take a look into another incredible facet of diving.