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2. SacredWaters: Snorkelling Expidition In Mayan Cenote
SacredWaters: Snorkelling Expidition In Mayan Cenote
The Yucatan Peninsula in Southern Mexico is a dry place. Flat as a pancake, housing no
rivers and with only few swampy lakes, the jungle somehow managed to sustain one of
the biggest and most advanced civilisations of its time. How exactly did the Mayans live
for so long in this area without succumbing to drought resulting from lack of healthy
potable water? The answer, quite simply, is the cenotes.
From the Mayan word ts’onot, meaning well, the cenotes are the exposed surfaces of
underground water systems, often revealed in a form similar to sinkholes – basically big
circular pools of water. Apparently the Yucatan is home to the biggest single underwater
cave system in the world, thanks to the fact that the entire peninsula is essentially
sitting on a large layer of soluble limestone. These cave systems often make their way to
the surface and thus the cenotes are revealed.
Interestingly, there are theories that
the cenotes were originally formed
65 million years ago from the impact
of the Chicxulub asteroid; that being
the impact that caused the mass
extinction of the dinosaurs and
marked the transition from the
Cretaceous Period to the Tertiary
Period, otherwise known as the K-T
Boundary. The asteroid smashed into
the north-western portion of the
Yucatan and remains to this day one
of the largest impact craters on earth. There is a higher-than-normal concentration of
cenotes around what would have been the lip of the crater, and this formation has been
dubbed the ‘Ring of Cenotes’.
Regardless of their conception, the simple fact is that the Mayan culture would have
been unable to flourish without the influence of the cenotes, and this is evident in the
important roles they played in the ancient culture. They were often revered by the
Mayans and were certainly central to a number of influential religious ceremonies.
Today the cenotes are a major tourist attraction, not just for their history but also for
the numerous activities that they offer.
Our first cenote experience was in the town of Valladolid, found near the centre of the
Yucatan Peninsula. Cenote Zaci is found a short walk from the city centre and so
provided an easy way of sampling the sacred waters. A quick stoop through an open
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3. SacredWaters: Snorkelling Expidition In Mayan Cenote
cave suddenly opened out into a huge pit at least fifty feet below us, green water filled
with swimming tourists. The pool was half covered under a cave roof complete with
stalactites and bats and the jungle leaned in over the water. An artificially constructed
walkway was cut into the stone around the cenote and provided ample viewing
platforms. The scale of the cenote was larger than we both expected and I found it
surprisingly majestic, although the water itself didn’t look overly clean.
Our next glimpse of a cenote occurred a
few days later when we visited the ruins
of Chichen Itza. Known as the Sacred
Cenote, it is the very reason that the
ancient city sprang up in this particular
place, and also the subject of some very
dark rumours. Legend has it that the
Mayans used to throw virgins into the
cenote as a sacrifice to the gods, chucking
them in at dawn and returning at dusk. If
the virgin was still alive after treading water all day then she would be hauled out to
make prophetic observations regarding crops and weather. The truth of these stories is
hotly debated but it cannot be ignored that an inordinate amount of skeletons have
been pulled up from the depths of the Sacred Cenote.
Our final cenote experience was by far the most memorable as it gave us an opportunity
to snorkel and dive through an underwater cave system just north of Tulum. I first
decided to do this prior to leaving Australia after watching the wondrous segment on
BBC’s Planet Earth documentary, where they dived in Dos Ojos. It showed a remarkable
underwater landscape and I longed to experience it for myself.
At Tulum we decided to travel to the nearby Hidden Worlds adventure park for our
snorkel adventure, primarily because it has access to the Dos Ojos system. From the
main foyer area we walked about five hundred metres or so into the jungle to arrive at a
small sign and shelves, next to what was essentially a deep hole in the ground. We
stripped down, put on our life jackets and were guided down into the hole, where it
descended about thirty feet into a cold and dank cave.
The first thing we noticed was the sharp drop in temperature. Above ground it was
stiflingly hot and humid, whereas thirty feet underground the air was dank and chilly.
We walked hesitantly along a plank of wood to the waters edge, where we dipped a toe
in to receive an unwelcome but not unsurprising shock – the water was absolutely
freezing. Nevertheless we waded in with our shorts and swimmers, following our guide
who was in a full wetsuit, to begin our snorkelling tour.
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4. SacredWaters: Snorkelling Expidition In Mayan Cenote
What followed was an hour of the most amazing experiences that I have yet
encountered. The scenery was breathtaking – floodlights illuminated crystal clear water,
revealing spectacular rocky formations as well as ominous underwater caverns that
darkened away into the depths. It would have been quite eerie if not for the keen sense
of wonder that I felt as I floated around.
Unfortunately Renee did not fare quite as well, and
indeed the deeper areas – and the unknown that
they hid – caused her some concern. I can
understand why, especially when we arrived at a
long and narrow section where the lights had
stopped working. We made our way through by
touch, a faint illumination ahead the only reference
point, the darkness around us nearly palpable in its entirety and the only sounds
Renee’s shallow and rapid breath. We emerged unscathed though into another spacious
cavern to marvel at the rocks around us and the multitude of Glow Worms that hung
from the ceiling, before reluctantly returning to the surface.
Three cenotes, three different experiences. They are truly wondrous in their diversity,
and I thoroughly recommend experiencing as many as you can. The snorkelling was
without a doubt the highlight and I can only imagine how amazing it would be to dive
these caverns. If I was to ever get my diving license, there is no doubt that I would
return to Dos Ojos to be amazed all over again.
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5. SacredWaters: Snorkelling Expidition In Mayan Cenote
Contact US:
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Website: www.hiddenworlds.com
Telephone:
U.S. : (011)(52) 984-877-8535
Mexico: (044) 984 115-4514 or (044) 984 120-1977
**Our office hours are Monday through Sunday 09:00 am to 05:00 pm.
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