Cenote snorkeling?

[Sorrows]

Muy buenas dias!

We leave for Cozumel at the end of this month for Spring break. We're staying at Scuba Club. I have managed to convince my husband and son to possibly give up one day of diving so we can visit the mainland.

My son is keen to dive one of the cenotes, but from what I've gathered here, they are all dark and confined--truly cave diving. My husband would definitely not go for that. I did read about snorkeling cenote trips, where there seems to be light and obviously air space. Has anyone experienced that and, if so, how was it? Worth giving up a day of diving, IYHO?

I've read that there are cenotes on Cozumel itself, but can't find any tour information about them. Hubby and I went to Coba and Tulum years ago, and I would love to go again with son, but--good or bad--we tend to be dive, dive, DIVE vacation sort of people (sleeping and eating optional). When you only get two dive trips a year, you have to make the most of them, , I guess.

In any case, I would love to hear from the Cozumel regulars or anyone who has experience with diving/snorkeling the cenotes.

Thanking you all in advance...

 

[ggunn]

Muy buenas dias!

We leave for Cozumel at the end of this month for Spring break. We're staying at Scuba Club. I have managed to convince my husband and son to possibly give up one day of diving so we can visit the mainland.

My son is keen to dive one of the cenotes, but from what I've gathered here, they are all dark and confined--truly cave diving. My husband would definitely not go for that. I did read about snorkeling cenote trips, where there seems to be light and obviously air space. Has anyone experienced that and, if so, how was it? Worth giving up a day of diving, IYHO?

I've read that there are cenotes on Cozumel itself, but can't find any tour information about them.

I've see folks snorkeling in the open cenote at Dos Ojos over on the Yucatan. There are no cenotes on Cozumel that are open to the general public.

 

[scubawife]

Hidden Worlds does a good snorkel trip www.hiddenworlds.com And Dennis at Diablo Divers www.diablodivers.com can put together a nice day for you too. With Dennis you could do a snorkel, dry cave and maybe go to the Tulum ruins as well.

Dennis takes no more then 4 a day and books up during peak travel times. You can get in for Hidden Worlds just booking the day before, even at peak periods.

 

[covediver]

I did Hidden Worlds three years ago after a week on Cozumel. The dive (not snorkel) was quite safe, you never quite get into an complete overhead environment and the guide was fabulous. We had a very neophyte, marginally skilled diver in our group who did quite well. The snorkeling groups swam above us at time and seemed to be having as much fun as we did.

 

[DandyDon]

It's not cave diving, and I think the safety standards set by the DMs are superb. Each DM can lead no more than 4 divers. And it is a mind boggling experience.

 

[Sorrows]

Thanks to all for your encouraging and informative replies. Scubawife, I've already contacted Dennis and I will check out HiddenWorlds as well. We've seen the IMAX film they promote on their website--which is probably why my husband is not too crazy about the idea. Good to know it's not so extreme as that. Light and access to air are good things.

It sounds quite chilly! May need to wear a vest over the 3.2 m wetsuit?

 

[scubawife]

I did Hidden Worlds three years ago after a week on Cozumel. The dive (not snorkel) was quite safe, you never quite get into an complete overhead environment and the guide was fabulous. We had a very neophyte, marginally skilled diver in our group who did quite well. The snorkeling groups swam above us at time and seemed to be having as much fun as we did.

I'm not saying this to start a debate but I beg to differ with you regarding the overhead environment. I've done the dives with Hidden World and other cenotes/caverns with private guides. Although you are technically in the "cavern" zone that is described as the natural daylight zone and never more then 200ft from an exit, it's not an open space where you can ascend whenever you want to or need to. Caverns are very much an overhead environment.

If you're in a cavern and have an unexpected equipment problem, you'll notice very quickly that you don't have very many options. There is no way to make a safe ascent to the surface and not alot of time or room to figure out what's gone wrong.

I've been very comfortable on the cenote dives I've done and found them to be no big deal. I've seriously considered the cavern or intro to cave cert but never wanted to take the vacation time to complete it. On my last trip, in one of the easier and very popular caverns, mid-dive my power inflator (that I had not touched the entire dive) decided to stick in the inflate position. Coming into a sort of tight, very dark section it's not a fun thing. In open water it would be a no brainer. In the cenote you loose the warm fuzzy feeling really fast. Not sure if I'll be doing any more of these until I do the course.

Enjoy your cenote dives but take them seriously. You ARE in an overhead environment and although 98% of the time your dive will be non eventful, things can happen and it's alot different then in open water when they do. If you think you'll do these dives even just once or twice a year, consider getting the proper training for them. And when you hire a guide make sure you are getting a good one. Don't just pick the cheapest or most easily available option. The one I was with was great. Once we got out and figured out the problem in about 30 seconds, he spent time in the water with me going over what happened, how to handle it, etc., and since he felt that my handling of it was good and my diving was good, he encouraged me to do the next dive. I did, (sticking very close right behind him the first 5 minutes), and was glad I did.

...stepping off my soap-box now.

 

[Sorrows]

All good points, scubawife, and I appreciate you sharing them. When we were down in Cayman Brac this past Christmas, I wouldn't even go into the gallley of the Tibbets. I don't think I'm claustrophobic, necessarily; I was more worried about banging into stuff. And I do really hate low viz.

So maybe we'll just stick to the snorkeling.

In my "Diving in Cozumel" guide book, there's a site called "Beachcomber Cavern." Is anyone familiar with it? I'm thinking this might be a good intro to the whole experience. We could just sort of hang out by the entrance, per the author's suggestion, and get the feel of it, without doing anything stupid, if you see what I mean.

 

[ggunn]

All good points, scubawife, and I appreciate you sharing them. When we were down in Cayman Brac this past Christmas, I wouldn't even go into the gallley of the Tibbets. I don't think I'm claustrophobic, necessarily; I was more worried about banging into stuff. And I do really hate low viz.

So maybe we'll just stick to the snorkeling.

In my "Diving in Cozumel" guide book, there's a site called "Beachcomber Cavern." Is anyone familiar with it? I'm thinking this might be a good intro to the whole experience. We could just sort of hang out by the entrance, per the author's suggestion, and get the feel of it, without doing anything stupid, if you see what I mean.

Viz is not a problem in the cenotes; I think the viz in Dos Ojos is rated at 1200 feet or some such ridiculous number. If it weren't for the bubbles you'd think you were in zero G in air.

I've never heard of Beachcomber Cavern, but the only cavern entrance I know of on Cozumel is in Chankanaab Park. It's pretty cool, with a curtain of glassy slippers over the opening and 5 foot tarpon cruising around inside. You'll have to go in from shore in the Park with a guide to get to it.

 

[Sorrows]

When I said viz, I also meant light. Not crazy about the dark.

I think we are speaking of the same cavern. I'm guessing then that the DM at Scuba Cozumel won't be going there?