The cenotes of Mexico are a system of caves and channels of exceptional and complex beauty that are home to a large amount of flora and fauna, some unique in the world..
The more than 7,000 limestone sinkholes have been forming in the Yucatan Peninsula for millions of years, since the Chicxulub asteroid impact that wiped out almost all dinosaur life.
Cenotes have been highly appreciated throughout history.
For more than 2,500 years, the Mayans used some as water wells and others as sacred places.
Many locals still adhere to the myths and rituals their ancestors believed in.
Today, they are the only natural source of fresh water in the Yucatán region.
Their configuration makes them ideal places for swimming and a pleasant escape from the intense heat of the region.
Tourists, both national and international, enjoy the cenotes in their own way.
And among visitors, freedivers or freedivers are especially attracted.
The sinkholes are a paradise for practitioners of this extreme sport, since each has a unique configuration and is isolated from the effects of currents, waves and wind.
Because they use minimal equipment and are not subject to the rules of diving (time limits, safety stops, slow ascent to the surface), they can weave through the water, avoid obstacles, and be approached by aquatic creatures.
The experiences in those unique places are an inspiration not only for the divers themselves, but also for the viewers who view the photos and videos they produce.
However, cenotes are threatened by poor land management, overdevelopment, and poor management of sewage and waste.
Since they are interconnected, It could only be a matter of time before they are all destroyed or contaminated.
Fortunately, there are a growing number of eco-conscious businesses, tourists, and activists doing their part to protect Mexico’s sacred cenotes.
A remarkable story
The Yucatan Peninsula is made up almost entirely of porous limestone (imagine a hard, hole-filled chunk of Swiss cheese made of calcareous rock).
More than 65 million years ago, It was completely submerged under the sea as part of a coral reef system.
The Chicxulub asteroid impact displaced the underlying tectonic plates and lifted the reef out of the water.
For millions of years, rain and seawater made their way through bedrock to create aquifers just a few meters below the ground.
When the ground collapses and creates a sinkhole, as often happens in the Yucatan Peninsula, it sometimes exposes these aquifers in the form of natural pools or cenotes (from the Mayan word ts’ono’otwhich means “hole filled with water”).
The region’s unprecedented and unique history earned it its provisional inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2012.
An ancestral Mayan legacy
Entering a cenote is entering the underworld: Xibalbá.
According to Mayan belief, you must first ask permission and perform rituals to enter safely.
Offerings must be made, and many years ago these took the form of gold, jade, copper, and even living human beings.
These offerings were made to appease gods such as Chaac, the god of rain who the Mayans believe lives inside the cenotes.
Today, offerings consist mainly of copal (tree resin), cocoa, seeds, corn, flower petals, sugar, and other small objects.
Tourists can book cultural tours to see rituals and performances at various cenotes, without fear of being sacrificed, of course.
Exploring cenotes with lungs
Most travelers who visit the cenotes spend the day exploring the caves and swimming.
By putting on a mask, you can see a variety of small fish, turtles, crocodiles, and interesting rock formations just below the surface.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The deeper you go, the more you see.
Freedivers hold their breath and descend to a certain depth without using an air source.
It requires great concentration, as well as awareness of oneself and one’s surroundings, and allows one to completely immerse themselves in a cenote in the least disruptive way possible.
Thus, you can see stalagmites and stalactites dating back millions of years, piles of fallen trees and debris, fossils of extinct animalss, underwater creatures that exist nowhere else on Earth and a host of other fascinating features.
Travelers can book freediving sessions at the region’s many schools and providers.
A unique landscape
Sunlight filters through the holes in the ceilings of the cenotes, which concentrates it into differentiated rays, a natural phenomenon found in very few places.
Seeing these rays of light inspires a sense of awe and supernatural wonder.
They also provide unique photography opportunities, a trend that is on the rise as more and more people explore the vast underwater landscape of Mexico’s cenotes.
A safe haven for wildlife
Many species depend on cenotes as a place to relax and regain strength.
Isolated from the open sea, these sinkholes provide a sanctuary from harsh weather conditions, waves, large predators and boat traffic.
Manatees reach the cenotes through caves that are connected to the Caribbean Sea.
Here, endangered species can rest, feed on algae and even care for their young in a safe and peaceful environment..
Up close and personal
Interactions between freedivers and marine life in cenotes They are unique experiences.
Crocodiles are a vital part of the region’s biodiversity.
They can be found in many cenotes, even those frequented by tourists.
It is important to respect the animals’ space, so maintaining a safe distance and not provoking them is of utmost importance.
However, Sometimes they approach them, curious to know what the peculiar humans are doing..
Eerily magical landscapes
In some cenotes, you will find a layer of hydrogen sulfide that separates fresh water from accumulated rain and salt water from the ocean, basically forming an underwater cloud.
Swimming around and within these clouds gives the clear impression of sailing through space and passing through nebulae..
The layers are made up of gases released by decaying matter, such as trees and leaves, that fall into the sinkholes.
Some clouds form near the surface at a depth of a few meters, while others can be found up to 30 meters deep.
These thick, hazy layers smell slightly like rotten eggs and have been known to cause a slight sting to the lips if left on for too long.
The cloud shown in the image above is at a depth of about 28 meters and below it is another 28 meters of salt water.
A place for everyone to enjoy
People of all ages and backgrounds travel to explore Mexico’s magnificent cenotes.
The water temperature ranges between 19 and 24°C, making them a welcome respite from the tropical heat.
Many cenote owners have invested in infrastructuresuch as platforms, bathrooms and restaurants, in addition to offering guided tours and shows.
With thousands of different cenotes to choose from, you’ll never run out of new places to explore.
Living in harmony with ourselves and our environment is something that many of us strive to achieve.
Cenotes provide an incomparable environment in which to delve deeper, both physically and mentally, in a natural and peaceful environment.
To preserve these special places, it is essential to protect them from pollution and overdevelopment.
Some freedivers, in particular, are displaying their magnificence through visual means, creating a strong and vocal community, and even becoming ambassadors and advocates for their protection.
Tourists can also help reduce the damage caused to cenotes by choosing sustainable ecotourism operators and refraining from using harmful sunscreens and hair products.
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