Diving in Playa Del Carmen and Riviera Maya

[Peter Guy]

DD wrote

As for cenotes diving: Alot of the Cenotes that are visited are caverns, not caves, which have sufficient sections where access to the surface is always possible.

NO, NO, A THOUSAND TIMES NO!!!!!

People constantly mis-state the difference between a diving "Cavern" and a diving "Cave." IN DIVING the "Cavern Zone" is that area of the "overhead area" that is within the "daylight zone" (generally within approximately 130 total feet, horizontal/vertical, of that "big air tank in the sky" -- the surface) but you CANNOT GO DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE. The "Cave" zone is that part of the "Cave" that is beyond the "daylight zone."

The Cenotes do have "open water" areas, that is, areas with direct vertical access to the surface, but those areas are NOT in "the Cavern" zone.

Please, repeat after me, a Cavern has an Overhead and is part of the Cave!

 

[lthomas132]

DD wrote

NO, NO, A THOUSAND TIMES NO!!!!!

People constantly mis-state the difference between a diving "Cavern" and a diving "Cave." IN DIVING the "Cavern Zone" is that area of the "overhead area" that is within the "daylight zone" (generally within approximately 130 total feet, horizontal/vertical, of that "big air tank in the sky" -- the surface) but you CANNOT GO DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE. The "Cave" zone is that part of the "Cave" that is beyond the "daylight zone."

The Cenotes do have "open water" areas, that is, areas with direct vertical access to the surface, but those areas are NOT in "the Cavern" zone.

Please, repeat after me, a Cavern has an Overhead and is part of the Cave!

Very true, and also any respected Certified Cave Instructors will not let an OW diver dive outside the recreational limits, 130 ft., meaning open, breathable air.