Cenote diving in the Riviera Maya
Explore crystal-clear caverns, natural formations, haloclines and stunning light effects with a certified, experienced guide.
Discover the underground world of the Riviera Maya on a cenote dive with certified guides experienced in this type of diving.
Cenotes are among the most iconic natural landscapes of the Yucatán Peninsula. Beneath the jungle you’ll find crystal-clear water, rock formations, haloclines, plays of light and vast cavern systems that make every dive different.
From Playa del Carmen we take you to some of the best-known cenotes in the Riviera Maya so you can explore this environment safely, comfortably and at a pace suited to your experience.
Choose your cenote dive
Cenote diving in the Riviera Maya
Dive the cenotes of the Riviera Maya: 2 dives in freshwater caverns with stalactites, haloclines and light that feels out of this world. Entrance fees and transportation included.
- Duration: 5 hours
- 2 dives in 2 cenotes
- Level: Minimum certification Open Water or equivalent
Deep cenote diving
For divers who want to go further: 2 dives in deep cenotes such as El Pit, Angelita, Hell Bells and Maravilla, with clouds of sulfuric acid and unique underground landscapes.
- Duration: 5 hours
- 2 dives in 2 cenotes
- Level: PADI Advanced or equivalent, with experience
What to expect on a cenote dive
Every cenote is different, but they all have one thing in common: a completely different environment from ocean diving.
During the dive you may see:
Our goal is for you to enjoy the surroundings without rushing and focus on the experience while your guide leads the way.
Cenotes you can dive with Dive-X
The Riviera Maya has a huge variety of cenotes, and each one offers a different experience.
Depending on the type of dive you want, your certification, experience and the day’s conditions, we can visit different cenotes.
Cenotes for cavern diving
Cenotes for deeper experiences
Cavern diving
Casa Cenote
- Tulum
- Open cenote
- Depth 7 m/23 ft
Clear waters, mangrove roots and an open environment filled with light.
Cenote Chac Mool
- Riviera Maya
- Cavern
- Depth 12 m/40 ft
Haloclines, rock formations and plays of light during the dive.
Dos Ojos Cenote
- Tulum
- Cavern
- Depth 6 m/20 ft
Crystal-clear water, rock formations and spectacular plays of light underground.
Cenote Dream Gates
- Tulum
- Cavern
- Depth 6 m/18 ft
Stalactites, dark passages and striking beams of light in its caverns.
Cenote Tajma-Ha
- Riviera Maya
- Cavern
- Depth 12 m/40 ft
Large formations, haloclines, and spectacular contrasts between light and darkness.
Deep cenote diving
Cenote Angelita
- Tulum
- Depth 30 m/100 ft
A unique dive among tree trunks, deep water and a mysterious hydrogen sulfide cloud.
The Pit Cenote
- Riviera Maya
- Depth 30 m/100 ft
A descent through layers of water, a halocline and an impressive hydrogen sulfide cloud.
Cenote Hell Bells
- Puerto Morelos
- Depth 45 m/150 ft
Discover its famous rock formations and incredible underground landscape.
Cenote Maravilla
- Puerto Morelos
- Depth 30 m/100 ft
A spectacular beam of light cuts through the water down to the depths.
Casa Cenote
Diving Casa Cenote, Riviera Maya
Casa Cenote offers a different experience thanks to its connection with the mangrove environment and its open areas.
Its clear water lets you spot small fish and other aquatic life as you glide between roots and vegetation.
It’s a great option if you want to combine a cenote landscape with a more open experience and plenty of natural light.
Approximate max. depth: 7 m
Dive type: cenote diving
Cenote Chac Mool
Diving Cenote Chac Mool, Riviera Maya
Chac Mool is a great choice for discovering cavern diving. For most of the route you’ll keep the entrance in sight and enjoy the light effects filtering through the limestone formations.
One of its most striking features is a halocline, where fresh and salt water meet and create a very unusual visual effect during the dive.
It’s an especially appealing cenote if you want to combine formations, light and a cavern diving experience.
Approximate max. depth: 12 m
Dive type: cavern diving
Dos Ojos Cenote
Diving Cenote Dos Ojos, Tulum
Dos Ojos is one of the best-known cenotes in the Riviera Maya and one of the most popular places to discover cavern diving.
Its name (“Two Eyes”) refers to its two main entrances, connected within an extensive cavern system. During the dive you’ll enjoy crystal-clear water, rock formations and spectacular light effects.
Dos Ojos is especially good for experiencing the underground world of the cenotes for the first time, without doing a technical dive.
Approximate max. depth: 6 m
Location: Tulum area
Dive type: cavern diving
Cenote Dream Gates
Diving Cenote Dream Gates
Dream Gates is a choice for divers who want a cavern environment with a darker atmosphere and lots of formations.
The route reveals countless stalactites and spots where beams of light pierce the darkness of the cavern.
It feels different from the more open cenotes, so please tell your guide beforehand about any concerns with enclosed spaces or low light.
Approximate max. depth: 6 m
Dive type: cavern diving
Cenote Tajma-Ha
Diving Cenote Tajma-Ha
Tajma-Ha offers one of the most varied cavern dives in the Riviera Maya.
Along the route you’ll find darker areas contrasting with chambers lit by daylight streaming in from outside. The rock formations, changing light and haloclines create a landscape unlike any ocean dive.
The route lets you enjoy both the shadowy zones and the open, bright areas of the system.
Approximate max. depth: 12 m
Dive type: cavern diving
Cenote Angelita
Diving Cenote Angelita
Angelita is one of the most unusual cenotes in the Riviera Maya.
Its best-known feature is the hydrogen sulfide cloud that appears at depth and makes you feel like you’re crossing a landscape suspended underwater.
Above this layer you can see tree trunks and remains of jungle vegetation, creating a scene completely different from the more open, brighter cenotes.
This dive is for divers with the right experience and certification for the site.
Approximate max. dive depth: 30 m
Dive type: deep cenote
The Pit
Diving Cenote The Pit
The Pit is one of the deepest and most spectacular cenotes in the Riviera Maya.
As you descend, the scenery changes, revealing different layers of water and a distinct halocline. One of the cenote’s signature features is the hydrogen sulfide cloud at depth, which creates a very unusual landscape.
The dive combines depth, changing light and varied natural formations, making it especially rewarding for divers with the right experience and certification.
Max. dive depth: approximately 30 m
Dive type: deep cenote diving
Hell Bells
Diving Cenote Hell Bells
Hell Bells is the name divers use for Cenote Zapote.
This cenote is famous for the underwater formations known as “Hell Bells”, which have made it one of the most unusual cenotes in the area.
The dive also reveals different layers of water and the hydrogen sulfide cloud that appears at depth.
Because of its features and depth, it’s intended for experienced divers with the appropriate certification.
Cenote depth: approximately 45 m
Location: Ruta de los Cenotes
Cenote Maravilla
Diving Cenote Maravilla, Puerto Morelos
Cenote Maravilla is on the Ruta de los Cenotes, near Puerto Morelos, and offers a very different landscape from the more open-water cenotes.
Its distinctive bell shape lets daylight enter from above and pass through the water, creating a spectacular beam of light you can see during the dive.
At greater depth, a cloud of hydrogen sulfide appears, adding another dimension to the underwater landscape.
It is an especially interesting option for experienced divers and for those who enjoy underwater photography.
Approximate max. depth: 30 m
Location: Puerto Morelos
Dive type: deep cenote
Why dive in a cenote?
Diving a cenote isn’t just a freshwater dive. It’s a chance to discover an ecosystem and an underground landscape you won’t find on any Caribbean reef.
Crystal-clear water
The water in many cenotes offers exceptional visibility, so you can see the formations and surroundings in great detail.
Haloclines
In some cenotes you can see a halocline, where bodies of water with different salinity meet. Passing through it creates a particularly striking visual effect.
Plays of light
Daylight streaming through the entrances and openings of the cenotes creates beams and contrasts that completely transform the dive.
Rock formations
Stalactites, stalagmites, columns and other limestone formations are part of the landscape in many cavern systems.
A different environment
You won’t find the same marine life in a cenote as on a reef. Instead, the experience revolves around fresh water, geological formations, the jungle and the underground world.
Mayan history and culture
For centuries cenotes were sources of water and held special meaning in the Mayan worldview. Today they preserve archaeological evidence that helps us understand the region’s past.
Cavern diving vs. cave diving: what’s the difference?
It’s important to distinguish between recreational cavern diving and cave diving.
Cavern diving
Cavern diving takes place in the part of an underground system that stays within reach of natural light, following the procedures and limits set for this type of dive.
Our recreational cenote experiences are planned so you can explore this environment with a specialized guide.
Cave diving
Cave diving goes deeper into the underground system, where direct access to the surface may not be available.
This type of diving requires specific cave training and should not be confused with a recreational cavern dive.
If you have a cave diving certification or specialized training, please let our team know so that we can recommend the appropriate options for you.
What certification do I need to dive in a cenote?
For our recreational cenote experiences you need a valid dive certification.
The certification and experience required vary by cenote and type of dive. Some sites suit certified recreational divers, while deeper cenotes require more training and experience.
If you’re not sure which cenote is right for you, contact us before booking and we’ll help you choose.
What’s included in a cenote dive with Dive-X?
Depending on the experience you choose, the service includes:
Availability of certain cenotes may vary depending on the day’s conditions, the group’s experience and operational planning.
Cenote diving FAQ
WE’LL HELP YOU CHOOSE
Which cenote is right for you?
Every cenote is different. Tell us about your experience and we’ll recommend the one you’ll enjoy most.