cenote diving-is one day enough?

[Brian2828]

I'm planning to dive cenotes mid-December after a week of diving on Cozumel. There are packages that include two to three dives over the course of a day. I think cenotes would be an exciting change from ocean diving, but I'm wondering if more than a day might feel repetitive. For people who have done the cenote dives, would you recommend several days? I have no interest in cave diving so would only be doing the basic cenote dives.

Thanks

 

[mselenaous]

During the Scubaboard Invasion in June, a four of us did one day (2 Cenote dives) at Tajma Ha and Dream Gate (in Dos Ojos) and they were awesome. In fact, so awesome that we are planning on doing several days of Cenotes either before or after the next Invasion.

 

[TSandM]

The cenotes that are used for tourist dives are quite different from one another. Ponderosa, for example, is very open and has views out to the light through a great deal of the dive. Taj Maha has halocline, and at the right time of day, the Points of Light, and bats. Dos Ojos has extraordinarily white limestone, and is probably the second most "cave-like" cavern tour. Grand Cenote has immense, grand formations; I often swim the cavern line there to end my cave dives, just because it's so pretty.

I would say there is enough variety there that you could do two or three days without getting bored at all.

 

[jeremyl]

Not to hijack, but what op is recommended for cenote diving, and which ones should I try to hit? I will be there in Jan for ~3 days, so should easily get 2 days of diving, maybe a third. Also do you have to stay in PDC to do the Cenotes or can I stay in Cancun?

 

[TSandM]

Most of the cavern tour cenotes are south of Playa del Carmen. It's about an hour's drive from Cancun to PDC. I know that there are some Cancun dive operators who will run cenote tours from there, but it will make a long day, and I would guess they would be more expensive, just due to transportation costs. Especially if you are planning on two or three days of tours, I think you'd be happier in PDC or even further south, in Puerto Aventuras, Akumal or Tulum. This will also give you a wider choice of tour guides.

There are a lot of good guides. I have a couple I particularly like -- my good friend and dive buddy Jason Renoux (jason@essentialdivetraining.com) and Natalie Gibb and Dennis Weeks of Diablo Divers (nat@diablodivers.com). They're really nice people and also good company, and know the caves well. But there are a lot of other choices as well, and some of it may depend on where you decide to stay.

My personal favorites for caverns are Grand and Dos Ojos, but Taj really does have some lovely halocline effects if you are there at the right time of day. I did not think that much of the cavern at Chac Mool, but I know other people who have loved it.

 

[Byte Me]

Good advice as usual from TSandM. We always stay in Playa where it's a pretty easy 40-60 minutes drive to almost all of the cenotes. In addition to the shops she's recommended I dove with Nico from CenoteXperience two weeks ago and had a wonderful experience. I've done Dos Ojos, Temple of Doom, Grand, El Eden and DreamGates. Each time I get out I always say "THIS cenote is my favorite!" If you're looking for better developed above water setting I'd stick with Dos Ojos, El Eden or Grand, all have decent roads for access, bathrooms (even if it is just a hole in the floor and a toilet) stands for setting gear up, etc. Temple of Doom and DreamGates don't have many (any) comforts, although I heard they have improved the exit ladder at Temple of Doom since I've been there.

As for the OP, IMO one day is never enough, they're all very different and each one an almost religious experience in an of itself.

 

[Dirty-Dog]

One day is enough to tell you if it's something you enjoy. If it's not, you'll go back to the ocean. If it is, then you'll be back in the Cenotes every chance you get.

We have dove Chac Mool, Tajma Ha, Grand Cenote, Dos Ojos, and Angelita. And like others we can't get enough.

We have no technical training, and thus we only go on the tourist cenote trips, but if there's anything that can convince us to get tech training despite living in landlocked Colorado, it will be these caves.

 

[leabre]

My only exposure to Cenotes was a cave class a few weeks ago, some cave dives after, and some cavern dives with my wife (at Dos Ojos and Gran Cenote). As far as I'm concerned, I can live there and never get bored. But my wife feels quite differently. She knew that on her first dive. So it's one of those things that you can do just a day and get a feel for it. You'll end up either like me (ready to live there) or like her (been there done that).

 

[alwaysdiving]

Hi there, my name is Alvaro Gonzalez from Alwaysdiving, I beggin to dive i cenotes 26 years ago, yes, when most of these cenotes had no access roads, now is very easy and you don´t have to take to expend all day long to make a 2tk dive. If we pick up divers from Playa del Carmen, despite we come from Cancun, we do not charge more than other dive op´s from Playa del Carmen, now, if you are staying in Cancun, of course, the prices change.
There is many different Cenotes where you can dive, you will not get bored if you decide to dive many days.
Best regards to all from the paradise.
Alvaro Gonzalez.

Most of the cavern tour cenotes are south of Playa del Carmen. It's about an hour's drive from Cancun to PDC. I know that there are some Cancun dive operators who will run cenote tours from there, but it will make a long day, and I would guess they would be more expensive, just due to transportation costs. Especially if you are planning on two or three days of tours, I think you'd be happier in PDC or even further south, in Puerto Aventuras, Akumal or Tulum. This will also give you a wider choice of tour guides.

There are a lot of good guides. I have a couple I particularly like -- my good friend and dive buddy Jason Renoux (jason@essentialdivetraining.com) and Natalie Gibb and Dennis Weeks of Diablo Divers (nat@diablodivers.com). They're really nice people and also good company, and know the caves well. But there are a lot of other choices as well, and some of it may depend on where you decide to stay.

My personal favorites for caverns are Grand and Dos Ojos, but Taj really does have some lovely halocline effects if you are there at the right time of day. I did not think that much of the cavern at Chac Mool, but I know other people who have loved it.