While visiting Tulum or the beautiful region of Yucatan, you might be tempted to go scuba diving. Luckily, there is a lot of spots that offers incredible reef sights, including coral and marine life. But if you are in for a new experience, Dos Ojos will blow your mind with a unique cavern dive, one of the best in the world!

In the past this thrilling sport, diving in caves, was accessible only to advanced divers with very specialised training. But the rules were changed when the diving community made a distinction between Cave and Cavern Diving. Both types are similar but when diving in caverns, natural light must be visible at all times. Basically you don’t go as deep or far into the underwater tunnels than cave diving. To cavern dive with a guide you only need an Open Water PADI Certification.

↬ Read : Diving in Cozumel Island: The Prodigious Reef

Cavern Dive in Dos Ojos Cenote

Dos Ojos Cenote is one of the world’s best cavern dives. It is also considered as an easy cavern dive, so a good initiation to the practise. The name Dos Ojos means two eyes, reference to two neighbouring cenotes. Both are connected by a very large cavern zone shared between the two. The two cenotes appear like two large eyes into the underground.

They are two very different caverns that start and end in the same place. For that reason, you will dive twice. The first time for about 45 min and the second dive will be slightly shorter, about 40 min.

The Two Dives

The first dive is called The Barbie Line, 515 m long, contains plenty of daily light. You will swim through a huge room with a many astonishing columns, some of which are 8m high, and then through tunnels into the second opening. The name becomes clear a few minutes within the dive as you follow the line. ??‍♀️

The other dive is called “Bat cave,” 312m long, which begins at the same entrance. But instead you will turn straight into the dark cavern and go for a big loop around the bat cave. This second line is quite dark but also very safe. There are many nearby places to surface even though you can’t see any natural light from above. During this dive for few seconds we covered our flash flights and suddenly were plunged into complete darkness. Absolutely unrealistic and incredible experience. 

The Bat Cave is actually a high dome where you can surface just to admire the ceiling and see bats flying over your head and out through a hole, into the forest. 

The underwater tunnels are just incredible, but most importantly the crystalline waters of the cavern dive give you the feeling of flying more than swimming. It gives you a chance to explore the underwater world of limestone caves, stalactites, stalagmites and collapsed sinkholes. The play of stunning light and colours on the walls of the cavern is absolutely unique. 

Practical info

• The water temperature is about 24 degree, and you’ll wear a thick 7mm wet suit to stay warm.
• Maximum depth of the dive is 9 m and you must be able to keep the right buoyancy at all times, as the ceiling at times is very low.
• There is a large parking space where you will prepare yourself for the dive and listen to notes from your diving instructor, as fresh water diving is different from sea water diving (the only one we did till then).
• From the parking you must walk down the stairs to the entrance of the cenote with the full gear on- I must say it was the hardest part for me to carry total of ca 25 kg in day heat. There is the platform to get in and out of the water.

Dive Centre Organisation

• We got picked up at our hotel in Tulum at 8 in the morning and came back for lunch time around 13.
• The total cost of the cavern dive, all gear and transportation was 135 dollars each and it was worth every cent. But the price varies between dive centres. The same people even gave us two different prices after asking them once in the morning and once later.
• We decided to do our dive with Space Dive located on the main street in Tulum Beach, right next to Ukami Sushi and Mamasan Hotel. They are a safe bet and we can absolutely recommend them- our instructor was professional, very nice and patient. We immediately felt safe diving with him. He even gave me his mask for the second dive, as mine was constantly foggy, even if I was clearing it all the time underwater. We also got water and some snacks from him in between of the two dives.

⚠️ Caution ⚠️

• Entrapment is the second cause of fatal accidents. The main cause of death in cave dives is the loss of contact with the line. Never lose sight of the line, and never lose contact with the line where it is required to hold it.
• Entanglements. Pay attention to the shape of fins and equipment, entanglements with the line are common.
• Claustrophobia. Even if you suffer from only a slight claustrophobia, you’ll engage yourself in a 40min venture with nothing but rocks above your head. Think ahead if you feel ready for this challenge. That being said, the passages are pretty large and you won’t have much trouble floating around. But you might prefer easier dives in the open sea, between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel, which are also extraordinary.
• Refuse the dive if you’re being pushed beyond your diving qualifications or your level of comfort. Both physical and psychological conditions are as important as your experience level for this dive.
• Do not venture beyond the ‘cavern’ routes unless you are certified cave-divers, even if your guide tries to push you to do so.
• Your guide must be at least a certified DiveMaster and Cave-Diver, with cave diving equipment configuration.
• 4:1. The maximum number of divers per guide is 4.

Was it worth it?

ABSOLUTELY. If you have an Open Water Padi Certification then this dive is a must-do while visiting Yucatan. The incredible underwater cavern world is just stunning and nothing beats the sensation of flying in those crystal clear waters. 

Oh by the way, don’t expect to see any fish down there, the water is just … dead still… ☠️???

↬ Love diving? Read our Diving Experience in Cozumel