Top 5 Cenotes For Diving In Riviera Maya

Diving has been a passion of mine for a long time, but I never had the opportunity to try cenote diving until I moved to the Riviera Maya a couple of years ago. And let me tell you, I loved it! So if cenote diving in Mexico is also at the top of your bucket list, this article is for you! I'll tell you which cenotes are best for diving so you don't waste your precious vacation time. There are over 6000 cenotes in Mexico, so a shorter list might come in handy.

So, let's dive in!

What are Cenotes?

If you have ever dreamed of diving in cenotes, you probably have at least a vague idea of what they are. But let me give you some specific information that you might find useful.

Cenotes are ancient sinkholes formed in the limestone soil of the Yucatan Peninsula. There are different types of cenotes depending on their shape and form. There are open cenotes, which can look like small lakes, with lots of light and therefore lots of vegetation and life. Semi-open cenotes have smaller openings with more limited access to light. Closed cenotes are underground caves with stalagmites and stalactites and of course no natural light.

The cenotes are connected underground, which means that in some cases you can start your dive in one cenote and end it in another! How cool!

Why You Must Try Diving in Cenotes

Believe it or not, cenote diving is the most magical diving experience and is unlike anything else in the world. The contrasts of light and shadow created by openings in the cavern ceiling create an absolutely stunning underwater environment.

Year-round diving is guaranteed, as you don't have to worry about weather conditions when diving in the ocean. Visibility is usually excellent, although it can be worse during the rainy season in open cenotes, and if you choose to dive on a sunny day, the light effects underwater are simply better. The water temperature is also stable, between 25 and 27 degrees (75-80 Fahrenheit).

Where to Stay if Diving in Riviera Maya

You will most likely fly directly into Cancun International Airport. You can stay there and drive to various cenotes throughout the peninsula. You can also choose to stay in one of the spectacular coastal towns or move between them as you vacation. Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Puerto Aventuras, and Akumal are all incredible and offer numerous dive shops and other attractions that make Mexico so enjoyable. If you decide to get away from the coast, Valladolid is a picturesque city with many cenotes in and around the city. Bacalar is also a perfect stopover to consider if your goal is cenote diving during your vacation.

The Best Five Cenotes in Riviera Maya for Diving

Without further ado, here are the top cenotes for diving in Riviera Maya. You can decide to visit all of them or choose the one that best suits your needs and level of experience.

1. Cenote La Ponderosa (Jardín del Edén)

Let’s start with la Ponderosa, also known as Jardín del Edén (Eden Garden), located close to Puerto Aventuras. It is a true gem for divers and snorkelers. It is especially very attractive for divers as it reaches a depth of 12-15 meters (40-50 feet) and you can dive there only with an Open Water certification. La Ponderosa has clear and calm waters and with its accessible depth is ideal for beginner divers but is also attractive for more experienced ones.

The cenote offers stunning light effects that look like curtains of light, especially on a sunny day. After passing through a dark chamber, you'll encounter a halocline—a layer where freshwater meets warmer seawater, which may blur your vision briefly, but don’t worry, it’s completely normal. While diving you can see fossils embedded in the rocks and walls around you but you might also spot blind fish, turtles, and freshwater morays. It’s a great cenote for underwater photography with its clear waters and light patterns.

2. Cenote Dos Ojos

Another great cenote for beginners is Cenote Dos Ojos which translates into “two eyes.” It is located near Tulum, just a fifteen-minute drive north of the town. These are actually two cenotes connected underground that look like two blue eyes when seen from above. This cenote is part of the largest underwater cave system in the world, an impressive 347 km (215.62 miles), and was recently discovered to connect to the Sac Actun system. The exploration still continues and the underground corridors seem to be endless.

The cenote’s maximum depth is about 7-10 meters (23-33 feet) and it offers diving routes that are perfect for beginner divers but also enjoyable by more experienced ones. Dos Ojos has two main diving routes: the Barbie Line and the Bat Cave. The Barbie Line is an easy, beginner-friendly dive, taking you from one "eye" to the other in a cavern filled with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, some of which date back to the ice age. This dive is always close to the surface, and there’s plenty of natural light, making it a perfect introduction to cavern diving. The second dive, known as the Bat Cave, is slightly more challenging because of winding passages and lower light. This route leads to a hidden bat cave where you can surface and observe bats flying overhead.

3. Angelita

Angelita, which means “little angel” is a cenote for experienced divers. It is situated about 17 km (10 miles) south of Tulum and you should get up early if you want to admire its beauty. With too many people in, you may forget about nice pictures as you will only see bubbles from other divers around you.

Angelita is a circular-shaped cenote with no corridors but one single hole that goes as deep as 60 meters (196 feet) making it perfect for deep and technical dives.

The dive begins in clear freshwater but at around 30 meters (98 feet), you’ll encounter a thick hydrogen-sulfide cloud, about 3 meters (10 feet) deep. This cloud is created by microorganisms feeding on organic matter and gives this cenote a mystical feel. Tree trunks and branches pierce through the cloud, adding to the spooky atmosphere. Below this layer, the saltwater begins, and everything takes on a dark, reddish-yellow hue, making it feel like you’re diving in a forest at night. It's an unforgettable experience, but watch out as with visibility reduced to almost nothing for 1-2 meters navigating through the cloud can be disorienting,

Most divers descend to around 40 meters (131 feet) but some go deeper. Just pay attention to your non-decompression limits, as it is easy to lose track of time with the captivating scenery.

4. Cenote Chac Mool

Chac Mool means “Great Red Jaguar” in Mayan and is about 20 minutes by car from Playa del Carmen, near Puerto Aventuras. It is considered one of the best cenotes for scuba diving with two entrances and two unique routes, Kukulkan and Little Brother, and experiences for divers of all levels. You only need to be a certified Open Water diver.

Kukulkan is an ideal starting point for cavern diving, especially on sunny days when incredible light rays illuminate the water. Here, you can experience haloclines and thermoclines, where saltwater and freshwater meet, creating fascinating visual effects and temperature changes. In Little Brother, you can surface in an air dome to admire impressive stalagmites and stalactites. The stalactites in Chac Mool are considered the largest underwater stalactites in the world!

This cenote is recommended for beginners who haven’t dived in over a year to consider a refresher dive but longer penetration routes are also great for more experienced cave divers.

5. Cenote El Pit (Pat Jacinto)

And last but not least the cenote El Pit. This cenote is often considered the ultimate cenote dive in Yucatan. It is located in the Dos Ojos Cenotes Park near Tulum. Snorkeling is not permitted and this cenote is suited only for advanced divers with strong buoyancy control.

Cenote El Pit has an impressive depth of 119 meters (390 feet), the deepest discovered until now, but you can only descend to 30 meters (98 feet) where you will find a hydrogen sulfide halocline and a debris mount. The gas cloud is fun to pass through as it offers eerie images of submerged tree branches emerging at different points. Two deeper tunnels are located below and some prehistoric human and giant sloth remains were found there.

The cenote offers crystal-clear waters and beautiful light effects, especially between 10:30 am and noon and at around 4 meters deep you will find ancient pottery, interesting rock formations, and fossils.

Ready to Go Cenote Diving?

Of course, there are many more cenotes to go diving, and exploring all of them will take lots of time, but I hope that I got you hooked and you want to dive first into the top five ones. Scuba diving in cenotes is an amazing experience making vacation in Riviera Maya even more attractive. Make sure you include it in your next trip to the Yucatan Peninsula and experience the light effects, fossils, and incredible rock formations by yourself!