Help "figuring out" cenote diving

[ReefHound]

Another question on gear. Would tanks and weights be provided?
What is the average cost for diving at cenotes? Is it a single or two tank dive?
Thanks.

Typically, 2-tank cenote dives will run $120-140 and include tanks/weights, lunch, transportation, and full cave certified guide with cave gear, leading max 4 divers per guide. I've done 14 cenote dives and all I've seen are very competent. They will assess your background and spend some time at the beginning going over basics (gear check, use of lights, signaling, turn pressures, following the line, frog kicking, etc). The cenotes have defined trails and first one to 2000psi signals. If you're past halfway you continue on else you retrace back.

 

[Norwegian Cave Diver]

Word of advise. There are operators that will “take you experienced guys somewhere special”. And that could mean off line. Don’t let that happen. Every year people die in overhead environments and too many of those deaths are untrained divers in an overhead environment.

 

[El Graduado]

Just to be clear, all these answers relate to cenotes on the mainland and not on the island of Cozumel. To do these above mentioned cenote dives, you need to go to the mainland. The cenotes on Cozumel are mostly on private property and the owners typically don't encourage divers. Many of the cenotes on Cozumel have areas that can silt up, resident crocodiles, narrow passages, and/or long hikes through the bush to get to them.

 

[Jake]

Just to be clear, all these answers relate to cenotes on the mainland and not on the island of Cozumel. To do these above mentioned cenote dives, you need to go to the mainland. The cenotes on Cozumel are mostly on private property and the owners typically don't encourage divers. Many of the cenotes on Cozumel have areas that can silt up, resident crocodiles, narrow passages, and/or long hikes through the bush to get to them.

Thank you. I should have clarified that I was referring to the mainland.

 

[jonhall]

Since you already have the answers to your questions, I'll add an experience that might be helpful. When I dove cenotes last fall (Oct./Nov.), I was expecting cold temperatures so I opted to use a 7mm wetsuit from the dive op (which was included in the dive cost.) My dive profile for 2 dives had the water temp a consistent 77 degrees F no matter what the depth was. Wished I would have used the 5mm. I had only brought a shorty for my other diving on this trip.

Also, although I had calculated weight needed for the cenote dives with a 7mm, I still needed more. Be prepared to make some adjustments. The dive master will most likely be carrying extra weights. Be careful making air adjustments to your bc so you don't wind up ascending/descending to fast. Proper buoyancy goes a long way in a cenote.

Didn't see this mentioned earlier, but a safety feature in cenotes are guide lines to show you the way out, which may instill a little more confidence to anyone with a little apprehension. Sounds like your group will be fine.

 

[Scuba-74]

I dove two mainland cenotes a few years ago. Great experience. My guide picked me up from the resort, then we stopped in Playa del Carmen and picked up a lady coming by ferry from Cozumel, so it was just the three of us diving. I had AOW and much fewer dives than your buddies, it was perfectly fine. I was told that if cenote is a cavern, no special certification was needed. A cave would be a different story. No special gear, I had my 3mm suit on and it was fine in April. Don't remember the price, but it was about 50% more than the salt water dives I did there.

We were originally scheduled to dive at a different location, but sadly three divers died there a day before, and investigation was ongoing. I believe two newlyweds from Brazil(?) and their guide from Spain.

 

[Norwegian Cave Diver]

Yes I remember reading about that. If I am correct the guide took them off the main line and on to a secondary line with out using "jump line". they got confused as to where they were and went deeper into the cave - turned around and ran out of air/gas. Again - DONT go off the main line.

 

[Norwegian Cave Diver]

I would much prefer to have you post about your fantastic experience in a cenote.

 

[ggunn]

It may have not yet been mentioned, but compared to the open water around Cozumel the cenotes are pretty cold.

 

[Dogbowl]

It may have not yet been mentioned, but compared to the open water around Cozumel the cenotes are pretty cold.

Yup. Average 77F or 25C year round. I require 5mm wetsuit but by day 3 of 2-tank dives, I'm chilled even in my 5mm. YMMV. Guides I have come across are usually in 7mm or semi-dry.