3 Day Cenote Combo

The Yucatán Peninsula is internationally recognized for its cave and cenote diving. It is a vast limestone platform that remains from an ancient coral reef, where water flows through underground caves. The peninsula alone has over 5,000 cenotes for cave explorers and divers to experience.

The underground tunnels and caves were formed during times when ocean levels were low. Rainwater mixed with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere created carbonic acid. Since the Yucatán Peninsula is made up of porous limestone, when it rained, the water filtered into the ground, carving out cave systems. Structures like stalactites, stalagmites, and columns adorn the caves formed by dissolved limestone that dripped over millions of years. When you see these beautiful formations during your dive, you’re looking at geological structures that are millions of years old! After the last ice age over 8,000 years ago, water levels rose again, resulting in the underground river. In some cenotes, you can find the bones of Ice Age fauna, such as saber-toothed cats and extinct sloths. Ancient coral skeletons and marine fossils also decorate the cave walls, remnants from when the stone was once a living coral reef over 40 million years ago.

The Maya civilization believed that the rain god Chaak resided in cenotes. They made offerings to these sacred wells, perhaps in gratitude for a good harvest, which can still be found in cenotes today. In some cenotes, these offerings remain intact, well-preserved by the fresh water for thousands of years, and can be seen during your dive!