Dove the Cenotes (chac mool) in Mexico for the first time - very dangerous.

[anbrundage]

Dove Choc Mool with Tank Ha. Just two of us and the DM, Ivan. Ivan had double tanks and his octo had a hose about 8 feet long. Ivan was very safety conscious, it was a great dive.

First time posting here but I just wanted to say I also dove with Tank Ha. Not with Ivan, another guy (I can't remember his name although I have it written down somewhere around here). They were amazing. My husband and I did our AOW course with them, then did 2 cenote dives with them. We dove at Dos Ojos though. Beautiful, gets very, very dark but there's always sunlight and our guide was AMAZING. Never went more than 15 seconds without turning to check on us and it was just me, my husband and the guide that went. (Sorry for hijacking the thread lol)

Ashley

 

[knfmn]

Chac Mool was my 9th and 10th dives. The guide I was with, from Mexico Blue Dreamwas fantastic. Very safety-oriented and checked on us all the time. I don't even remember there being anywhere you could kick up silt if you tried. Staying with the group and following the line kept us well off the bottom. The cavern wasn't cold, it was barely cool. I swam with my wetsuit unzipped most of the time. The halocline was interesting. I'd read about it before and couldn't wait to experience it. I got to experience it and found that it was awesome. I can understand getting a little weirded out if you don't like tight spaces, but I grew up in Tennessee and was in a hole in the ground every other weekend as a kid. I wouldn't completely write off the cenotes. They're awesome and beautiful dives. I have every intention of going back and doing my cavern cert as soon as I get some more experience under my belt. Good luck!

Kristopher

 

[Scuba_ref]

I dove Chac Mol with Phantom Divers a few years ago shortly after getting certified. They did an adequate job of keeping us safe and treating us to a very enjoyable dive. I dove with Phantom the last three trips to Playa but made the conscious decision not to use them this time and won't in the future either.

I also just returned from Playa last week and I dove all week with Dive Mike including the Chikin Ha Cenote. Dive Mike is a fantastic shop. The harbor was closed due to wind and so everyone and their diving dogs where at the Cenotes. Dive Mike sent three full cave certified instructors and split us up into groups based upon skill. I had more dives than the rest of the group so they paired me up with one of the instructors and we dove before the other groups - just the two of us.

 

[warmwaterturner]

"You have to understand that this is Mexico and safety is last on the list."

This is really an undeserved condemnation of the whole. There are lots of good operators in Mexico that are extremely safe - especially in the Cozumel and Playa area. Perhaps skill in this case did not equal desire?

 

[Jax]

Choc Mool

Location: Just south of Puerto Adventuras on the right. 22 Kilometers south of Playa del Carmen.

Hours of operation: 10-5 / everyday of the week
Bathrooms: Yes, but at the entrance none at the cenote
Restaurant on site- Yes. Restaurante Anita has finished remodeling and is now serving a variety of local flavors to divers and those looking for a home-cooked meal while driving through the Riviera Maya.
Distance from gear up to water: just down the stairs at either entrance.
Gear tables: yes many cement tables at both of the entrances along with plenty of parking
Cavern Dives: One of the more popular in the area due to proximity to Playa del Carmen. Both entrances enter the same rooms underwater with the first one being a larger opening with a lot of water exposed and the second a smaller fracture a large collapse. . Easy 40 minute dive with a maximum depth of 45 feet. Large airdome in back near fallen walls of decorations. Guided cavern tour standards.
Cave Dives: Yes. Upstream and downstream In the caves here you can find one of the largest underwater stalagtite measured. Either way you go your local guide can take you on a number of great cave dives in this cave system.

Snorkeling: Yes, the larger of the two entries has more area to snorkel. The cenote is larger and offers a view to a large room as well as the entries to the cavern tour area. There are some hammocks and plenty of space to lounge around if you are waiting for divers or just taking a break.

No history with Chac Mool, but our Dos Oches cenote dives were an instructor and three of us. We swam around the cavern area while the instructor "pointed out the structures", but I noticed he was gauging our reactions to be sure we weren't anxious. I found the whole thing very safety conscious.

While the Mexicans are not as litigiously wound up as Americans are, I have found no lessor dedication to safety.

 

[johny1]

It is not like I did not enjoyed the dive, it was definitely one of the coolest dives I have done. I am just saying that if you have a handful of dives, you probably won't handle an emergency under water very well especially in the Centoes - just be aware. My guide may have taken us to a slightly different route, my dive computer for sure recorded over 50 feet max depth, I may have been when I was near the bottom of some of the caverns, not sure…
Yes, I did have the diver incident in my head a little, from two days ago..., I am not sure why he had to shoot for the surface. He explained that he was able to grab the regulator and place it in his mouth, purged too but he said that he had taken waaaay to much water already and felt like he had to go - not sure if he could have handled it better, maybe...
When it comes to the dive shop I used, the guide appeared cool and cautious on safety, except that he took some divers with less than 10 dives under their belt (I don’t agree with that)…., but the equipment was BAAAD. Some of the divers could not control their buoyancy very well and in there that is key. I was last in the chain and I am telling you, bottom sediment was kicked several times where I could barely see.
Yes you are right, I should not have said that in Mexico all shops don’t care about safety but Phantom Divers don’t (based on the way they maintain their equipment)

 

[Dirty-Dog]

It is not like I did not enjoyed the dive, it was definitely one of the coolest dives I have done. I am just saying that if you have a handful of dives, you probably won't handle an emergency under water very well especially in the Centoes - just be aware.

If you don't handle emergencies well, you will not handle them well anywhere. Handling a lost regulator is no different in a cenote than in OW.

My guide may have taken us to a slightly different route, my dive computer for sure recorded over 50 feet max depth, I may have been when I was near the bottom of some of the caverns, not sure…

If you stayed on the line, then you would not have been over 50 feet, and certainly not the 65 feet you claimed in your original post. Where did that number come from? As I said, I've dove Chac Mool twice, and I certainly peeked into some of the holes below the line (without ever losing sight of the line, or getting seperated from my buddy) and the deepest I ever saw was 43 feet.

Yes, I did have the diver incident in my head a little, from two days ago..., I am not sure why he had to shoot for the surface. He explained that he was able to grab the regulator and place it in his mouth, purged too but he said that he had taken waaaay to much water already and felt like he had to go - not sure if he could have handled it better, maybe...

No maybe about it. He handled it in just about the worst possible way and exposed himself to a lot of unnecesary risk. I'm guessing he freaked out, pure and simple, and forgot how he was taught to handle such events. Your concern with not being able to "shot[sic] to the surface" in the cenote shows that you, too, might need to get a little more comfortable with how to deal with such situations.

When it comes to the dive shop I used, the guide appeared cool and cautious on safety, except that he took some divers with less than 10 dives under their belt (I don’t agree with that)…., but the equipment was BAAAD. Some of the divers could not control their buoyancy very well and in there that is key. I was last in the chain and I am telling you, bottom sediment was kicked several times where I could barely see.

Our two dives in Chac Mool were #13 & 14. I was also the last person in line. I really doubt that the 3-4 additional dives made any huge difference. Yes, you need to have decent bouyancy, but it does not need to be up to the level of perfection expected from cave divers. You also need to be relaxed and comfortable with your skills, with the environment, and with emergency procedures.

Yes you are right, I should not have said that in Mexico all shops don’t care about safety but Phantom Divers don’t (based on the way they maintain their equipment)

Exactly what was wrong with the gear?
I would also ask: why did you dive with a shop with gear you considered unsafe?

 

[rongoodman]

I didn't feel at all stressed on my first cenote dives, although later on a couple of things about them gave me pause. The biggest danger is the one I ran into, getting totally hooked, and spending lots of money on return trips, cave instruction, dive computers which double as back-up lights... The list goes on, but every trip I see more wonderful things. I've haven't been home two weeks yet, and I'm wanting to go back tomorrow!

 

[johny1]

OK “Dirty-Dog”, got it, here are my comments:
Equipment – seals were leaking, one pressure gauge busted at the hose connection, dirty filters, rust, air adjustment knob on regulator does not turn and that tells you that it was nut flushed well. One 2st stage was bent and nervier sealed right, had to put back in the truck. Stage 2 hose too short, could not turn your head to the left fully…

Dive operators – the shop looked very pristine and professional, the reality about the equipment was not revealed until you were on site – I guess I could have bailed out on site…, I learned a lesson for sure

About emergencies under water – all I am saying is that there is less room for error in the Cenotes

About the guy’s regulator popping out of his mouth – not sure how he felt and how much water was inhaled, it is very possible he was in panic , it is easy to talk and say on paper what he could/should have done, you never know how you will react until you are in the situation. Just practice in your mind for now for such situation and bite hard

Buoyancy – yes, you don’t have to be exactly perfect but people in our group were all over the place scarping at the sealing, stirring sediment.

 

[kathydee]

Chac Mool and many other caverns in Mx are quite spectacular!

Yes I agree, caverns can pose great hazards and it’s healthy that you can recognize the dangers. However, these hazards can be greatly reduced through proper training & equipment.

Just in the last year, I have logged nearly 100 cavern/cave dives in Mx. Unfortunately I have seen some frightening behavior by certain cavern guides. I highly recommend connecting with trusted guides and not taking chances with random scuba shops.

If you don’t feel comfortable replacing a reg underwater, then you really shouldn't be in a cavern quite yet. Polish your basic skills, refine your buoyancy, gain more scuba experience, seek proper training then return to enjoy the beauty of the exquisite cenotes !

I feel very fortunate that my introduction to caverns and caves was in the hands of GUE cave instructors. The GUE Fundamentals course is one way to build an exceptional foundation of skills for both cavern and cave diving, long before you visit Mx.