I just recently returned from a week vacation in Mexico. We stayed at the Occidental X-caret resort about 15 minutes south of Playa del Carmen, on the Mayan Riviera.
The weather was so-so, (week of Feb 21-28) and in fact it was too rough for the small dive boats to go out from the harbor on a couple of days. So, I opted to do some guided cavern dives instead. Well I'm glad I did. Day1 we drove to Chac Mool/Kukulkan. Two caverns right next to each other, about 1/2 hour south of Playa Del Carmen. Teams are 4:1 with a guide who wears (std cave rig) doubles/backplate/wing with 7 ft long reg hose. I'm am avid wreck diver, and use the same rig. Safety protocol is 1/3 air in & 1/3 back out, keeping 1/3 for emergency. Flutter kick is forbidden, frog kick is best to avoid stirring sediment or silt. We followed pre-laid lines into the caverns, staying single file with the guide to max penetration points designated as requiring cave certification & equipment to go beyond. Typical dives were 35-40 minutes, 40-50 ft depths. I had my own light, but those without were supplied lights for signaling. Guide had a hi-power HID light to light up the chambers. On 2nd day we drove to two other more famous caverns: Dos Ojos (two eyes) and Bat Cave, about an hour south of Play del Carman, near Tulum..
I thoroughly enjoyed the cavern dives. Interesting part is starting the first part of dive in fresh water and passing through the halocline at about 25 ft to warmer/denser salt water. The transition is 2-3 feet deep and the zone is quite blury, like looking though oil/water mixture, until your through it. Salt water was about 4-5°F warmer. Stalactites(ceilng), and stalagmites(on floor) were every numerous.
Being an avid wreck diver I found cavern diving to be second nature, while some of the others commented on feeling a little anxious as we moved away from the entrance. High points for me were some exposed fossils in the caverns and a couple of air domes we surfaced in to check out the ceilings , along with the various rock formations & numerous stalactites hanging down :etc.
I'm definitely hooked & can't wait to go again.
I don't know if I can devote the time to get full cave certified, but I'd certainly like to.
Mike D
The weather was so-so, (week of Feb 21-28) and in fact it was too rough for the small dive boats to go out from the harbor on a couple of days. So, I opted to do some guided cavern dives instead. Well I'm glad I did. Day1 we drove to Chac Mool/Kukulkan. Two caverns right next to each other, about 1/2 hour south of Playa Del Carmen. Teams are 4:1 with a guide who wears (std cave rig) doubles/backplate/wing with 7 ft long reg hose. I'm am avid wreck diver, and use the same rig. Safety protocol is 1/3 air in & 1/3 back out, keeping 1/3 for emergency. Flutter kick is forbidden, frog kick is best to avoid stirring sediment or silt. We followed pre-laid lines into the caverns, staying single file with the guide to max penetration points designated as requiring cave certification & equipment to go beyond. Typical dives were 35-40 minutes, 40-50 ft depths. I had my own light, but those without were supplied lights for signaling. Guide had a hi-power HID light to light up the chambers. On 2nd day we drove to two other more famous caverns: Dos Ojos (two eyes) and Bat Cave, about an hour south of Play del Carman, near Tulum..
I thoroughly enjoyed the cavern dives. Interesting part is starting the first part of dive in fresh water and passing through the halocline at about 25 ft to warmer/denser salt water. The transition is 2-3 feet deep and the zone is quite blury, like looking though oil/water mixture, until your through it. Salt water was about 4-5°F warmer. Stalactites(ceilng), and stalagmites(on floor) were every numerous.
Being an avid wreck diver I found cavern diving to be second nature, while some of the others commented on feeling a little anxious as we moved away from the entrance. High points for me were some exposed fossils in the caverns and a couple of air domes we surfaced in to check out the ceilings , along with the various rock formations & numerous stalactites hanging down :etc.
I'm definitely hooked & can't wait to go again.
I don't know if I can devote the time to get full cave certified, but I'd certainly like to.
Mike D
