Cenote The Pit, cavern diving heaven.
- marc green
- Sep 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 22
A natural marvel; this cavern draws adventurous scuba divers from all over the world.
Cenote The Pit is a natural wonder that attracts daring scuba divers from all over the world.
Located in the jungle of the Riviera Maya, near the town of Tulum, it is in Dos Ojos Park.
This cenote is a hidden treasure offering an unforgettable diving experience due to its crystal-clear waters, unique geological formations, and significant depths.
In this post, we'll delve into what sets Cenote The Pit apart and offer some tips to maximize your diving experience with Green Divers Tulum.
Cenotes, like The Pit, posses a rich and intriguing history that traces back to the ancient Maya civilization. For the Maya, these cenotes were not just sources of fresh water but also revered as sacred sites believed to be portals to the underworld.
It is believed that the Mayan people conducted religious ceremonies and presented offerings to the gods in these cenotes.
Cenote The Pit is renowned as one of the top diving destinations globally and has become a must-visit location for scuba enthusiasts. The Mexican government manages Cenote The Pit as a protected natural area to safeguard its preservation for future generations.
What Makes Cenote The Pit Unique?
Cenote The Pit is among the top-requested diving locations in the Riviera Maya. Its distinctive geological structure, pristine waters, and stunning underwater views offer a truly unique diving adventure.
True to its name, The Pit is an expansive open pit reaching a depth of 40 meters. Despite this, from the surface, even under ideal visibility conditions, you can only see approximately 30 meters down before hitting a remarkable sulphur cloud layer. (Cenote The Pit also features an additional tunnel explored to a depth of 119 meters, but this is only accessible to highly trained technical divers).
In addition to the cavern's impressive and immense size, the most enduring memories for divers at The Pit are often the breath-taking light beams that pierce through the water.
Exploring The Pit Cenote
On the surface, The Pit appears to be just a small hole in the ground. After getting ready, you descend a staircase to a small platform where you can enter the water. This site also features a pulley system to assist in lowering your gear into the water if handling it proves challenging.
As soon as you make that big leap into the fresh water, you sense that something extraordinary is about to occur.
A small group of divers will safely descend together into the depths of The Pit. Even for those who have previously explored The Pit Cenote, the immense scale and size of the chamber are awe-inspiring. Observing the walls, you can see the lines and erosion in the geology, revealing how this vast cavern has evolved from the Ice Age to the present.
In Cenote The Pit, you'll swim among and through various rockfall formations. It's only when you turn to face the cenote's entrance that you'll witness the breath-taking spectacle that makes this spot a favourite for everyone: the laser-like beams of light, offering a magical and ethereal view.
Halocline Layer at Cenotes The Pit
You'll encounter an incredible halocline layer, where fresh water and saltwater blend together, creating a blurry effect that might make you feel as if your eyes are playing tricks on you.
Hydrogen sulphur cloud
In the bottom of The Pit, a layer of hydrogen sulphide gas, covers the floor. It is caused by organic matter which decomposes at depth and pressure.
It makes the bottom of the cenote look like a movie set, with a rolling fog-machine blowing over the floor.
Ensure your equipment is securely fastened to you during this deep dive, as numerous masks and other diving gear have been lost in the dense fog. Unfortunately, retrieving them is nearly impossible.
In summary, Cenote The Pit cavern diving is an amazing experience not to be missed and The Pit is the perfect place to either learn to or actually use Nitrox to enhance your bottom time at this deep cenote near to Tulum.
Comments