On the Wednesday, we took a ferry from Cozumel to Playa del Carmen. We met up with Yucatek Divers, for a guided tour of two cenotes. We are not cave certified divers, so there are about 14 cenotes that the dive outfitters take non-cavers. Each have very different characteristics. We dove Ponderosa and Tajma Ha.
Ponderosa
Ponderosa is a large cenote with crystal clear waters despite a lot of aquatic plants and algae. Large parts are open to the jungle above, allowing dramatic views of sunbeams through the jungle.
Playing with the over-under shots.
The entrance to the cavern is shared with snorkelers and swimmers.
The beginning of our descent into the cenote.
It very quickly opened up with dramatic light effects.
We could not get enough of the sunbeams.
Capturing an oncoming diver in view, shows the size of the caverns.
While open to the air above, some areas were filled with a mess of tree roots.
The ceiling has trapped air bubbles.
At some point, millions of years ago, this was ocean floor and a coral reef.
This picture is not out of focus, this is what it looked like to dive through a halocline (a mix of salt and fresh water).
More ambient light can be seen from our cavern path.
As per the dive guide instructions, we swam alongside and above the yellow guide line, in single file. Jules checking on the group.
While we always followed the guide rope, when there was no ambient light ahead, it was not always obvious where we were headed.
Even the safety stop was dramatic.
Plenty of aquatic life live around this cenote.
Returning to the surface, watching for snorkelers and swimmers.
Tajma Ha
The Tajma Ha cenote was quite a different experience to the Ponderosa. It had a much more cave-like feel to it, as there was less light available, and had many changes of depth as we maneuvered from one chamber to another.
Conor’s ready.
The water is a little colder here (76F).
The entrance to Tajma Ha.
We descend into the Tajma Ha cavern.
An isolated beam of light from a small hole above.
A lot of stalactites can be seen in this cenote.
Traversing from one chamber to the next, the ceiling gets a little low.
Some more stalactites.
The cenote has lots of openings and filtered sunlight.
The jungle can be seen above.
Fossils from life of millions of years ago.
The cave part of Tajma Ha lies ahead of this sign. This was our turnaround point.
Tree roots of mangroves.
Love those sunbeams!
Hi Conor.
Hi Erin.
Hi Jules.