Maybe this does not belong in the Cozumel Forum...but we were staying in Coz, so the details apply.
We make it to Cozumel 2-3 times a year. We dive with Aldora and have no regrets, but this trip I wanted to do something a little different. I have heard of the Cenote dives in Playa and decided it was time.
I found a recommendation of Cenote Xperience on Scubaboard, but not much else. I rolled the dice and basically won big. First of all, the communication was immediate. emails were answered quickly and with any and all information I needed. We booked the three dive trip and were told that they would meet us at Senor Frogs and 7:45 am. We caught the 7:00 am ferry and as soon as we were off the boat, Martin was waiting for us exactly where we were supposed to meet.
He wanted to carry both our gear bags, but I carried mine (Im not THAT old), he carried my wifes. We walked to his truck for a quick ride to their shop for paperwork. He asked about out wetsuits and we had brought full 3 mils. They loaned us 3 mil shorty's to wear over them since the water temp was 74. They did not even charge us for the rental suits.
With paperwork signed, nitrox tanks loaded, and the included lunch picked up, we were off to the cenotes. I'd guess it was a 45 minute to an hour drive. Once you get off the highway, the dirt roads to the cenotes are pretty bad. It takes a while, but Martin is friendly and passionate about cenote diving. His enthusiasm is contagious and he is just a great guy to be around. The travel time passed quickly.
The first dive was "The Pit." Its a 90 foot deep hole with a partial overhang. You drop to 90 feet, passing through the halocline at around 40, to get to a layer of hydrogen sulfide that hangs on the bottom like fog. There are some old tree trunks that make the scene look like the headless horseman is about to come out and drag you away. Very spooky, but beautiful as well. The halocline resembles the dessert heat streamers you see off in the distance...but they are right in front of you and much more intense. You just have to experience it to understand. It like a hallucination where you cant really focus on anything. It not scary at all....I could have stayed in the halocline for a long time. From the bottom, you just make a slow spiraling assent for about a 45 minute total dive time. I suspect that this dive is to check your air consumption rate and buoyance skills before going on to Dos Ojos.
We paid a local $5 to lower our gear to the water (and raise it) so we would not have to go down the relatively steep steps geared up. Were old, with bad knees. It was money well spent. The water is cool. We were grateful for the extra shortys.
Dos Ojos is the real deal. You follow one of two lines and there is some full overhead, but there is always light visable...mostly. The Barbie Line and Bat Line were lots of fun. Martin goes slow, but there is still finning involved. My wife was done after the Barbie Line. I did the Bat Line with Martin and three dives had me worn out....but grinning from ear to ear. Ds Ojos is basically a swimming safety stop from start to finish. I don't think I was ever deeper than 30 feet, mostly 20 or less.
Afterwards, I showered off, changed clothes, and we headed back to the shop. They only charged me for Kelly's 2 dives even though we had booked three. The staff was friendly and just as passionate about the cenotes. It honestly felt like diving with friends.
We paid, and they dropped us back at the ferry pier. It was a long, tiring day, but I cant wait to do it again. When we got back to Cozumel, I had an email saying that I had left a coozie in his truck. The coozie has our local dive shops name on it and I told them I would get it next time. Instead, they met us the ferry as we were headed back to the Cancun Airport on our way back to the states. When tried to pay them for their gas and time...they refused to accept anything.
The service we had was perfect, no surprises whatsoever, and they went out of their way to make sure we had a great day of diving the cenotes. My wife was not a fan of the cenotes, she is glad she did it...but does not care if she does them again. I can wait to do it again!!! The only difference is I will only dive 2 in a day.
If you are considering cenotes (and you should be) you can not go wrong with Cenote Xperience. I will absolutely see them in March when we go back!!!
Safe Travels,
Jay
We make it to Cozumel 2-3 times a year. We dive with Aldora and have no regrets, but this trip I wanted to do something a little different. I have heard of the Cenote dives in Playa and decided it was time.
I found a recommendation of Cenote Xperience on Scubaboard, but not much else. I rolled the dice and basically won big. First of all, the communication was immediate. emails were answered quickly and with any and all information I needed. We booked the three dive trip and were told that they would meet us at Senor Frogs and 7:45 am. We caught the 7:00 am ferry and as soon as we were off the boat, Martin was waiting for us exactly where we were supposed to meet.
He wanted to carry both our gear bags, but I carried mine (Im not THAT old), he carried my wifes. We walked to his truck for a quick ride to their shop for paperwork. He asked about out wetsuits and we had brought full 3 mils. They loaned us 3 mil shorty's to wear over them since the water temp was 74. They did not even charge us for the rental suits.
With paperwork signed, nitrox tanks loaded, and the included lunch picked up, we were off to the cenotes. I'd guess it was a 45 minute to an hour drive. Once you get off the highway, the dirt roads to the cenotes are pretty bad. It takes a while, but Martin is friendly and passionate about cenote diving. His enthusiasm is contagious and he is just a great guy to be around. The travel time passed quickly.
The first dive was "The Pit." Its a 90 foot deep hole with a partial overhang. You drop to 90 feet, passing through the halocline at around 40, to get to a layer of hydrogen sulfide that hangs on the bottom like fog. There are some old tree trunks that make the scene look like the headless horseman is about to come out and drag you away. Very spooky, but beautiful as well. The halocline resembles the dessert heat streamers you see off in the distance...but they are right in front of you and much more intense. You just have to experience it to understand. It like a hallucination where you cant really focus on anything. It not scary at all....I could have stayed in the halocline for a long time. From the bottom, you just make a slow spiraling assent for about a 45 minute total dive time. I suspect that this dive is to check your air consumption rate and buoyance skills before going on to Dos Ojos.
We paid a local $5 to lower our gear to the water (and raise it) so we would not have to go down the relatively steep steps geared up. Were old, with bad knees. It was money well spent. The water is cool. We were grateful for the extra shortys.
Dos Ojos is the real deal. You follow one of two lines and there is some full overhead, but there is always light visable...mostly. The Barbie Line and Bat Line were lots of fun. Martin goes slow, but there is still finning involved. My wife was done after the Barbie Line. I did the Bat Line with Martin and three dives had me worn out....but grinning from ear to ear. Ds Ojos is basically a swimming safety stop from start to finish. I don't think I was ever deeper than 30 feet, mostly 20 or less.
Afterwards, I showered off, changed clothes, and we headed back to the shop. They only charged me for Kelly's 2 dives even though we had booked three. The staff was friendly and just as passionate about the cenotes. It honestly felt like diving with friends.
We paid, and they dropped us back at the ferry pier. It was a long, tiring day, but I cant wait to do it again. When we got back to Cozumel, I had an email saying that I had left a coozie in his truck. The coozie has our local dive shops name on it and I told them I would get it next time. Instead, they met us the ferry as we were headed back to the Cancun Airport on our way back to the states. When tried to pay them for their gas and time...they refused to accept anything.
The service we had was perfect, no surprises whatsoever, and they went out of their way to make sure we had a great day of diving the cenotes. My wife was not a fan of the cenotes, she is glad she did it...but does not care if she does them again. I can wait to do it again!!! The only difference is I will only dive 2 in a day.
If you are considering cenotes (and you should be) you can not go wrong with Cenote Xperience. I will absolutely see them in March when we go back!!!
Safe Travels,
Jay
