Maya Riviera cenote database

[k4kafka]

Wondering if there exists a complete survey of cenotes along the so-called Maya Riviera ? What I would be interested in seeing is a listing of all cenotes open to the public.My ideal list would also include cenotes which allow both diving and snorkeling,skill levels recommended,and average water temperature. Open pits,rather than swim-through caverns might be a separate category. Your thoughts,please.

 

[JohnnyC]

You can check out Cave Atlas, and I’ve got another link saved in my bookmarks on my computer that I can add later. What you’re looking for doesn’t exist however. It’s just collections of maps, some with location data, etc.

 

[k4kafka]

You can check out Cave Atlas, and I’ve got another link saved in my bookmarks on my computer that I can add later. What you’re looking for doesn’t exist however. It’s just collections of maps, some with location data, etc.

Thank you for your reply. I am hoping someone will take the time to research this and post their results. If I had more knowledge of this area,I would do this myself.

 

[Nomad-Diver]

Try :
http://caves.org/project/qrss/QRSS QRoo Long Underwater Caves.pdf
Long Underwater Caves
If not the links then the sites may point you somewhere helpful.

There's also a book The Cenotes of the Riviera Maya 2016: Steve Penn Gerrard: 9781682134016: Amazon.com: Books
I bought it and wouldn't recommend it.

Better to get hold of someone local, tell them where/what you're looking for and buy them a few beers for info

 

[kafkaland]

LOL - no such thing exists, and it would be very hard to create and maintain one.
There are over a thousand known cenotes in that area, and their openness varies widely and changes frequently. Even for the most public ones where you can just come, pay, and enjoy the water, the rules like whether you need a local guide change often and sometimes even depend on who is at the gate that day. Then there are cenotes that are open when the landowner or caretaker happens to be around and is happy to make a few pesos. For other cenotes, you have to know where to pick up the key, and knowledge of that is somewhat closely held as an informal way of controlling access. And for the majority of the cenotes, you need to know the land owner, or know someone who knows the land owner and can vouch for you. And other cenotes are completely off limits, or limited to scientific exploration.
Overall, cenote diving is still a bit of an adventure that involves getting to know the people and the land as soon as you leave the resort tour groups behind.

P.S. Nice username!

Edit: Steve Gerrard's book was an attempt at something like that, and it mostly illustrates the futility of such an effort.

 

[k4kafka]

LOL - no such thing exists, and it would be very hard to create and maintain one.
There are over a thousand known cenotes in that area, and their openness varies widely and changes frequently. Even for the most public ones where you can just come, pay, and enjoy the water, the rules like whether you need a local guide change often and sometimes even depend on who is at the gate that day. Then there are cenotes that are open when the landowner or caretaker happens to be around and is happy to make a few pesos. For other cenotes, you have to know where to pick up the key, and knowledge of that is somewhat closely held as an informal way of controlling access. And for the majority of the cenotes, you need to know the land owner, or know someone who knows the land owner and can vouch for you. And other cenotes are completely off limits, or limited to scientific exploration.
Overall, cenote diving is still a bit of an adventure that involves getting to know the people and the land as soon as you leave the resort tour groups behind.

P.S. Nice username!

Edit: Steve Gerrard's book was an attempt at something like that, and it mostly illustrates the futility of such an effort.[/QUOTE

And yours as well...popular writer in some parts...
I see the futility of my quest,...but think someone (not me) may try to tackle it,...perhaps as a digital,editable,evolving instrument,rather than a printed book.

 

[elgoog]

Not at all a database like you describe but this is probably the largest single list of cave systems in Mexico that I've found - Index to cave maps of Mexico

 

[k4kafka]

Not at all a database like you describe but this is probably the largest single list of cave systems in Mexico that I've found - Index to cave maps of Mexico

That’s a very comprehensive survey. However, I immediately noticed in the Quintana Roo section, there was no listing for Aerolito de Paraiso,on Cozumel.