Cavern Diving Yucatan Mexico advice needed

[drgreenthumb]

Hello,
I'll be heading the Yucatan/Quintana Roo region of Mexico (Cancun-Tulum riviera maya) within the next few weeks and would like to do some Cavern Diving in that area.

I would like your recommendation for which Cavern dives are "a must" dive as well as a recommended dive shop?

thanks in advance.

[TSandM]

I would highly recommend Dennis Weeks of Aquanauts (he's Pez de Diablo on this board). He's an extremely nice man, a cave diving instructor, and a conscientious guide. If Dennis is unavailable, I'd go with German Yanez of Yucatech. He's based on Cozumel, but will come to the mainland to do guiding. He is also a cave instructor and explorer, and a heck of a nice guy (I did my cavern and intro classes with him).

It is very difficult to pick a "best cavern dive" because they have different things to offer. Taj Maha has the "points of light" (places where light comes through the ceiling and gets sharply refracted at the halocline) and a lot of cool halocline effects. Ponderosa has some interesting crystals and some pottery shards. The rocks there are big limestone chunks, and there are some beautiful views out into the cenotes. Grand Cenote is wildly decorated -- I still like the cavern tour there, even though I can cave dive instead. But Dos Ojos was my favorite of the cavern tours I did -- it was the most "cavelike" cavern dive, and the very brilliant white limestone beneath the halocline was striking.

We're going to be there November 17th through Dec 2nd, so if you're around during that time period, give a holler and maybe we can meet for drinks or dinner, if you'd like.

[ItsBruce]

When I dove the cenotes last year, I went with Octavio Perez (c_bluedive@hotmail.com). I had a wonderful time. Octavio is an excellent instructor and guide and he was kind enough to pick me up at the hotel and return me there. We dove at Dos Ojos, which I really enjoyed.

[Spratman]

I second Dennis at Aquanauts. Top-notch cave guy. If you are going to Tulum, I would suggest contact Min or Marco at http://www.h2oprodiving.com/

[ae3753]

Another recommendation for Dennis at Aquanauts!

"Must" or "Best" is very subjective as all the systems are different. I agree with TSandM on the beauty of the different caverns. While my personal favorite is Grand Cenote, when my wife saw the points of light in Taj Mahal, she said, "Reefs are dead to me."

[tslane888]

I was diving yesterday at Chac-Mool with Mario DM from Phantom Divers in Playa (took the 7am ferry from Coz). Had an awesome experience! Thanks Mario.

[scubaswenson]

So many to choose from. You will notice on the drivers licenses for the state of Quintana Roo there is a picture of divers in a cenote. That picture was taken in Dos Ojos, can't remember if it is the west or east eye. For me must dives are Dos Ojos and other related caverns in that system. Dive with Hidden Worlds, Owned by a Texan guy who discovered and first dove many of these caverns. Awsome operator, awsome dives. Seriously amazing expereince. I have also heard Taj Mahal is a great one, car wash, and one more that I can't think of the name.