Do I need a cavern cert to do a guided Mexican cenote dive?

[Antarctic-Adventurer]

I am planning to go to Mexico sometime next year (so plenty of time), and am very interested in looking at the cenotes in the Yucatan. What kind of training/cert would I need to do a guided dive inside some of the cenotes there?

I currently have only OW certs.

Thanks.

 

[w ripley]

It sounds like you've got the caving "bug." There's a lot you can learn by taking a cavern course that will make your trip to Mexico that much more enjoyable + you'll learn some new skills that you can use no matter where you dive. You've got the time and you've got the interest, so...

 

[Dive-aholic]

You don't need a cavern cert to do guided cenote dives. However, the dives will be much more enjoyable and you'll see a lot more if you know what you're doing and not having to worry about keeping an eye on the guide the entire time and about getting lost or having the overhead become an issue. Even if it isn't for you, the class will add great skills to all of your diving.

 

[Antarctic-Adventurer]

It sounds like you've got the caving "bug." There's a lot you can learn by taking a cavern course that will make your trip to Mexico that much more enjoyable + you'll learn some new skills that you can use no matter where you dive. You've got the time and you've got the interest, so...

You don't need a cavern cert to do guided cenote dives. However, the dives will be much more enjoyable and you'll see a lot more if you know what you're doing and not having to worry about keeping an eye on the guide the entire time and about getting lost or having the overhead become an issue. Even if it isn't for you, the class will add great skills to all of your diving.

Great, that sounds reasonable. I'll look into a cavern course over the next few months. Am I correct in assuming that if you dive a cenote in Mexico without being cave certified you are always in a place that one can see light, however dimly? (On a guided dive I should add)

 

[TSandM]

Part of the definition of the cavern zone is that you must always have some ability to see ambient light -- but in some of the tours, it can be faint and appear very far away!

I agree with everybody who has said that a cavern class is a good thing, because it is. But you can do the tours without cavern training. You will have a much better time on them (and be much more respectful of the cave) if you have mastered very good buoyancy control (within a foot or so), horizontal trim, and some kind of non-silting propulsion technique.

 

[Antarctic-Adventurer]

Part of the definition of the cavern zone is that you must always have some ability to see ambient light -- but in some of the tours, it can be faint and appear very far away!

Thanks TS&M. I hear you here. I was watching some videos on youtube of non-cave divers doing a cenote tour in Mexico, and it was so dark it didn't look much like a cavern to me, more like a full-blown deep cave!

I agree with everybody who has said that a cavern class is a good thing, because it is. But you can do the tours without cavern training. You will have a much better time on them (and be much more respectful of the cave) if you have mastered very good buoyancy control (within a foot or so), horizontal trim, and some kind of non-silting propulsion technique.

I have read a lot of your posts over the years, and I remember from somewhere in the past you said that doing Fundies was a good idea before cavern. Would that course actually teach me anything new, or is it just an evaluation of my current skills with advice on how to improve?

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

I have had several people come take my cave classes after doing guided cenote dives in Mexico. Two of them I recall like it was yesterday when they told me that their guided cenote dives were guided trust me cave dives, and not cavern dives at all.

It is Mexico...choose your guides carefully. Make sure you don't end up on guided trust me cave dives.

Take the cavern class before you go. This is the advice I'd give a loved one or a close friend.

 

[Doppler]

I have had several people come take my cave classes after doing guided cenote dives in Mexico. Two of them I recall like it was yesterday when they told me that their guided cenote dives were guided trust me cave dives, and not cavern dives at all.

It is Mexico...choose your guides carefully. Make sure you don't end up on guided trust me cave dives.

Take the cavern class before you go. This is the advice I'd give a loved one or a close friend.

Just one more voice in the "take the class first" camp. I believe Jim has summed the situation up perfectly. I also believe that you will enjoy a wonderful experience, be more aware of your surroundings, and be more relaxed and in charge if you opt to complete a cavern course beforehand.

Be safe and have fun.

 

[Doc Harry]

...It is Mexico...choose your guides carefully. Make sure you don't end up on guided trust me cave dives....

Also ensure that the client-to-guide ratio is legal. I believe it should not exceed 6:1. Can someone confirm this number?

I have seen a lot of concerning practices in Mexico. Once we saw a single guide taking a dozen OW divers for a cavern tour. :shocked2:

 

[Dirty-Dog]

Also ensure that the client-to-guide ratio is legal. I believe it should not exceed 6:1. Can someone confirm this number?

I have seen a lot of concerning practices in Mexico. Once we saw a single guide taking a dozen OW divers for a cavern tour. :shocked2:

Actually, I belive it is 4:1. And the guide must be full cave and use full cave gear, all divers must have lights, etc.
My wife and I have not done a cavern course (we'd like to, but doing so in Colorado is problematic). We've done 2 tanks in Chac Mool, 2 in Dos Ojos, 1 in Angelita, 1 in Tajma Ha and 1 in Grand Cenote. We enjoyed them enormously, and certainly never felt unsafe. We do have fairly good bouyancy and trim, and dive with a guide we know very well. (Alvaro from AlwaysDiving.com - we have about 50 dives with him.)

You do need to be careful who you dive with, but with the right guide and following the guidlines set down on these tours, you should have a great time.