Cenote Diving Mexico : The Ultimate Diver's Guide to Diving the Chac Mool Cenote
Want to Scuba Dive in a crystal-clear cenote in Mexico? Read about our magical underwater adventure at Chac Mool Cenote. Our Diver's Guide to Scuba Diving the Chac Mool Cenote will give you all the information and inspiration you need!
MEXICO
As Diving Instructors we have worked and dived in some pretty cool places around the world. Diving in a Cenote in Mexico has always been close to the top of our bucket list of dives and we couldn't wait to go diving in the Chac Mool Cenote whilst on holiday in the Riveria Maya.
The Chac Mool Cenote is a hidden gem that beckons divers and adventurers alike. Chac Mool Cenote, with its crystalline waters and mysterious underwater caves, offers a scuba diving experience like no other.
Join us as we descend into its depths, not just exploring an aquatic realm but delving into the rich history and geological wonders of this mesmerizing natural phenomenon.
With its large rooms and maximum depth of 12m, Chac Mool Cenote is perfect for any novice Cavern Diver. It also offers long penetration dives for qualified Cave Divers and is home to the largest underwater stalactite in the world.
It is also a perfect Cenote for beginners or to discover diving in Cenotes.
Chac Mool Cenote Location
Chac Mool Cenote is approximately 24km from Playa Del Carmen, a 30 minute drive. The entrance is about 100m South of Puerto Aventuras. From the entrance it is a five minute drive through the jungle to get to the parking area next to the cenote. Keep your eyes open and you might spot Tucans, Coatis, Snakes, Tarantulas, Deers, Mot Mot Bird or Sereques.
On site are showers, toilets, dressing rooms and a small restaurant just a few steps from the parking lot serving delicious food, we can recommend the chicken burritos!
The Dives In Chac Mool Cenote
Chac Mool Cenote has three different entrances or cenotes, Chac Mool, Kukulcán and Little brother all within 50 meters of each other.
Chac Mool Cenote is privately owned by a local family who have constructed gearing up areas just a few meters away from the water’s edge.
Chac Mool Cenote isn't just a fantastic scuba diving spot; it's a portal to another world. The name "cenote" originates from the Mayan word "dzonot," meaning sacred well, and diving into Chac Mool Cenote truly felt like entering a sacred realm. Surrounded by lush vegetation and limestone formations, the cenote presented an ethereal beauty that captivated us.
One of the most thrilling aspects of diving Chac Mool Cenote was exploring its intricate network of underwater caves. These caverns, carved out over millennia by the flow of water, provided a glimpse into the geological history of the region. Swimming through these passages felt like embarking on a voyage through time, with each twist and turn revealing new wonders.
Unfortunately snorkelling is not permitted at Chac Mool unless you are accompanied by a dive centre. If you only want to snorkel, choose a different Cenote such as Dos Ochos or Suytun Cenote.
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Chac Mool Cenote - Dive One Kukulcán Cenote
Our first dive was in Kukulcán Cenote and we couldn't wait to get underwater. We were in a small group of four divers and one guide. There was a videographer already underwater waiting to record our dive. One important point to note is that the owners of Chac Mool have banned all underwater cameras for safety reasons. The services of the photographer / videographer are optional and you can view his work after the dives and consider whether you would like to purchase them or not.
Kukulcán Cenote is a perfect cenote to try cenote diving for the first time. Before descending into the overhead environment there is a large area with direct access to the surface so you can perfect your buoyancy and ensure you are streamlined and comfortable.
On sunny days you will find beautiful and incredible light effects as well as haloclines and thermoclines (where saltwater and fresh water meet creating visual effects and sensations of change of water temperature).
Kukulcán Cenote is the largest cenote in the Chac Mool complex. The water temperature usually ranges from 24-25°C providing a refreshing yet comfortable dive.
Don't forget to look up to admire the bubbles of trapped air like hundreds of small mirrors.
Chac Mool Cenote - Dive Two Little Brother Cenote
Our second dive was in Little Brother Cenote, often referred to as Lil’ Bro’ (Hermano pequeño).
This cenote has a smaller entrance leading into a cavern running across and under Chac Mool. The cave on this dive was smaller and darker than the first dive.
The best part of this dive was surfacing in the 'dome' an air-filled chamber where we saw tree roots breaking through the ceiling and intricate speleothems. Surfacing in the 'dome' is like entering another world and it is an experience you don't want to miss.
We also saw amazing stalactites and stalagmites as well as native cave blind fish and shrimps.
Both of our dives were around 40 minutes and were amazing.
Don't forget to order your video and photographs before you leave. Our video and photographs were delivered to the reception at our hotel the same afternoon.
Best Time to Dive Chac Mool Cenote
Chac Mool Cenote is diveable year round however, if you are planning a holiday or some sea dives you may want to consider the weather in general.
The winter months, November to February, are the best months to visit the Yucatan Peninsular. Temperatures are lower and the weather is dry. Rains and hurricanes are over making it the perfect time to be out diving and exploring.
However, remember that December and January are the busiest months for tourism. If you’re planning to dive Chac Mool Cenote during this time, be sure to make your bookings in advance.
If you can be flexible with the dates, we highly recommend visiting in the shoulder months of November and February when crowds are fewer and accommodation and tours are more affordable.
Dive Tours To Chac Mool Cenote
For convenience, we chose to book a guided dive tour here. Our tour included transfers, 2 dives, full equipment hire, lunch, snacks and water. The guides were extremely professional and super fun.
Reserve your dive space now and pay later with 24 hours notice for a full refund here.
Note: There is an EcoTax entrance fee of 200-300MXN payable on arrival at Chac Mool Cenote (this applies to dive trips to most Cenotes)
Cenote Diving Around The Yucatan Peninsular
There are many other Cenotes to explore: Dos Ojos Cenote, Casa Cenote, El Chicho Cenote to name a few. You can even take a tour and dive two different Cenotes in one day! Explore all the options here.
Not a certified diver? You can book your first dive in the open air Casa Cenote here.
Reserve your dive space now and pay later with 24 hours notice for a full refund here.
Historical Significance Of Cenotes
Cenotes are more than beautiful underwater landscapes; they hold historical and cultural significance. As a result of the collapse of limestone into underground river systems, cenotes are essentially portals into an ancient world. The Yucatan Peninsula has risen and fallen beneath the ocean multiple times. The last time it emerged, underground rivers carved extensive cave systems. Today, these caves are flooded, often containing remnants of ancient Mayan pottery and bones, offering a unique glimpse into the past.
Where To Stay In The Riviera Maya
The Riviera Maya has an array of great hotels and luxury resorts where you can stay. Of course it depends on your budget, logically the bigger resorts along the beach are much more expensive than, for example, hostels or apartments in Playa Del Carmen.
If you are looking for a spiritual glamping experience in a gorgeous natural setting have a look at Portal Xibalba. This family run place is highly rated and offers relaxation and recuperation in the jungle 20 minutes from Playa Del Carmen. The buildings are all natural and are a work of art themselves. They also offer all kinds of activities to connect with the community, for your wellbeing and to experience an authentic Mexican experience connecting with the land and ancient knowledge like temazcal, plant ceremonies and singing circles.
There are many luxury boutique hotels along the coast of the Riviera Maya, usually hotels near the beach are expensive. You can find more affordable apartments in Playa Del Carmen town and if you go in low season you can get great deals! Sometimes it even is 50% cheaper than during the peak season.
Glamping at Portal Xibala
Famous luxury hotels and resorts along the Riviera Maya include the Occidental at Xcaret Destination which offers all inclusive stays with access to the Xcaret Theme Park next door. We loved it here because the gardens are huge and there's lots of wildlife and small Mayan ruins to to be discovered and explored. Our kids loved seeing Igunanas, Coatis and Agoutis on the walk to the beach! They also loved the kids club and entertainment.
Another resort we love is the Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal which also offers all inclusive stays. The Bahia Scouts Kids Club here was amazing! This resort is already huge and it also forms part of a giant complex with three other Bahia Hotels (Bahia Principe Grand Coba, the Bahia Principe Luxury Sian Kaan (adults only) and the Bahia Principe Grand Tulum) and guests can use the facilities across all four resosts. Coba has a small water park for kids as well as family rooms.
You'll never get bored here!
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