Best Cenotes to Dive in Yucatán.

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We, divers, tend to find and look to new experiences and places to dive. Among all the options we have, it´s not a mather of doubt that the most mystical and yet magnificent experience for all divers is to dive in a cenote. Here the´re are our Best Cenotes for dive in Yucatan.

The cenotes are an underground chamber or cave which contains permanent water. In other words, it is a natural sinkhole where the ceiling of the cave has collapsed. The word Cenote, which is pronounced as “seh-no-tay”, is a Spanish conversion of the Yucatec Maya word “D’zonot” or “Ts’onot”.

Cenotes come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes. The most common types of cenotes are Cave, Semi-Open and Open Cenotes. Cave cenotes being the youngest and the open cenote being the oldest as it’s cave ceiling has fallen into itself.

You can find cenotes all over the world but the Yucatan Peninsula and especially the Riviera Maya are completely unique due to the sheer number of cenotes, you will not find this quantity anywhere else in the world.

Now that you know what the Cenotes are, we´´ re going to tell you which, in our opinion, are the 5 best Cenotes to dive in Yucatán.

1: Cenote Noh Mozon

Cenote Noh Mozon in Yucatan

This one is one of the most beautiful cenotes in all the Peninsula of Yucatan. Its current use is tourist, for swimming, diving and observing. It is one of the main cenotes used for diving activities. This cenote looks like a natural pool.

2: Cenote Kankirixche

The kankirixché cenote (in Mayan means yellow fruit of the tree) is located in the small town of Mukuyche. This cenote is an underground cavern one of the largest with 90 meters in diameter, to touch its fresh waters you have to descend 15 meters by a metal staircase, as you enter the thrill of adventure begins to take over your body, immediately you can See its stalactite formations that surround it completely, as well as the roots of the trees going down until they submerge in the water, embellishing it even more.

3: Cenote Nah-Yah

Nay Yah is another beautiful cenote, closer to the village. It’s a semi-open cenote with incredibly blue water and a breathtaking light beam. This cenote changes a lot depending on the time you visit it. You will be astonished by the beauty of this place.

If you feel adventurous, you can jump into the water from the top of the cenote (highest point) or from where the stair begins. It’s your choice to decide how crazy you wanna go.

4: Cenote X´Batún

This Cenote is an open type of free fall, i¨ts very popular as it has special scenic view throught the entrance. It has a stone staircase of approximately 20 meters. The color of the water is blue and it measures 5 meters long by 25 meters wide.

5: Cenote Dzonbacal

It is a semi-open cenote with free fall, where to reach the body of water you descend by a masonry staircase. The water is crystal clear and in the deepest parts it acquires a blue color. The water mirror measures 25 meters long by 15 wide, with a minimum depth of .30 meters and a maximum of 30 meters.

It is a place with good conditions for swimming, bird watching, and diving as long as there is the necessary preparation, since it has a large underwater cavern. The use of life jackets is recommended, avoid the use of sunscreen and do not leave garbage on the site.