CAVE DIVING
“Discover the Mayan Mysteries: Dive into the Unknown, Relive History.”
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF XIBALBA
ALREADY A CERTIFIED CAVING DIVER? DON’T MISS THE UNDERGROUND EXPLORATION OF THE MAYAN WORLD, “EL MUNDO DE XIBALBA”, HIDDEN UNDER THE JUNGLE OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA.
Mexico has more than 150 submerged cave systems, 1680 km of galleries and passages have already been mapped, making the Riviera Maya the world’s cave diving sanctuary.
The variety is endless, from black walls to white walls, from ceilings adorned with delicate limestone formations to colossal stalactites, from tennis court sized rooms to major restrictions letting the body just extricate themselves, insane haloclines, unreal tannic colors slashed by natural lights from another universe, all in warm 25°C (77°F) water with endless visibility give the cenotes an unlimited playground for exploration.
Cave diving is TECH diving, is only allowed to cave diver with recognized cave diving certification.
CAVE DIVING RULES
Cave divers use the following acronym to remember the most important rules of cave diving:
“The Good Diver Always Live”
- T–Training: All cave divers must have appropriate training to the diving they are doing.
- G–Guide Lines: Always have the line in sight and stand above it.
- D–Depth: Deep cave dives should be avoided without sufficient training.
- A–Air: Rule of thirds on gas consumption.
- L–Lights: In a cave, one main light and two backup lights, each with enough battery to complete the dive.
For safety reasons, teams are always limited.
Certification agencies
There are several cave diving certification agencies that offer excellent cave diving courses. Here is a list of the most popular.
Note: PADI has a Cavern course but not a Cave course.
Why a certified and local guide?
Underground safety is our guide line with the perfect maintenance of the equipment. Your professional and experienced cave guide takes you to the depths of the Riviera Maya. Here is a non-exhaustive list of reasons to hire a local guide:
- He is up to date with diving conditions, with extensive cave diving experience and consistent practice.
- He already knows the cave and the system and can assure you that it is suitable for your level and cave diving skills.
- He will take you directly to the correct entrance to the cenote and give you directions to the cave entrance and directions.
- It saves you time driving you to the dive site and avoids the frustration that can result from the refusal of access to the cenote by the site managers.
- He has a real passion for caves in general.
- He lives in the Riviera Maya and is fluent in Spanish and English
THE cenotes
Here is a list of a small part of the launches (cenotes and/or systems) that we offer (from North to South):
- Chac Mool
- Cristalino
- Ponderosa
- Tajma Ha
- Minotauro
- Xunan Ha
- Cop1
- Nai Tux Ha
- Xuxhi-Koi
- Dos Palmas
- El Toh
- Taak Bi Ha
- El Pit
- Pet Cementery
- Los Monos
- Mil Columnas
- Nohoch Na Chich
- Caracol
- Balam
- La Virgen
- Concha
- Fenomeno
- Otoch Ha
- Yax Xin
- Vaca Ha
- Calavera
- Kalimba
- Gran Cenote
- Zazil Ha
- Isla Alamo
- Dos Pisos
- Naharon
- Mayan Blue
- Jail House
- Chan Hol
- Doggy
- Corazon
- Xulo
- Caterpillar
- Mosquito factory
List of Long Underwater Caves in Quintana Roo Mexico
https://legacy.caves.org/project/qrss/qrlong.htm
DAILY RATES
Teams are limited to a maximum of 3 cave divers per guide (depending on cave system and navigation schedule)
1 DAY – 1 DIVE W/ STAGE(S)
1 SET OF SIDEMOUNT OR TWINS EAN32 + 1 or 2 STAGE CYLINDER(S) EAN 32
1 DAY – 1 DIVE W/ DPV
1 SET OF SIDEMOUNT OR TWINS EAN32 + 2 STAGE CYLINDERS EAN32 + 1 DPV
INCLUDED
- Sidemount or Backmount Twinsets AL 80ft/c3 (12L)
- NITROX 32% (analyzer available).
- Transportation from Playa del Carmen.
- Tool box and spare parts, cave system maps if available.
- O2 cylinder and first aid kit.
- Full Cooler w/ ice, drinks, natural juices and snacks EVERYDAY.
- Consistent Mexican Lunch (Gluten-free, vegetarian options).
- Multilingual experienced guide.
- Gopro 10 and videolights 10K lumens.
MINIMUM EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
- Sidemount or backmount complete system with buoyancy compensator
- Redundant DIN regulators system
- Primary + 2 Back-up lights
- Thermal protection (7mm w/ hood or drysuit recommended)
- Fins, booties and 2 masks
- Nitrox dive computer and back-up bottom timer
- Wrist compass, 2 line cutters – 2 safety spools
- Primary Reel and jump spools
NOT INCLUDED
- Entrance cenotes fees (around $350MXN per day)
- Sherpas available if needed for heavy equipment
- Full gear rental: $60 USD (sidemount or backmount harness, DIN regulators, primary light, 2 backup lights, safety spools, markers, line cutters)
- Rental of individual equipment:
- Wing+backplate: $20 USD
- Sidemount harness: $20 USD
- Backup Lights, Spools, Markers, Line Cutter: $5 USD/each
- Primary light: $30 USD
- DIN regulators: $10 USD/each
- Professional photographer (on request)
