Cenotes, Caverns and Underground Rivers

Cenote (pronouced: seh-no-tay), a term unique to Mexico and Central America, originates from the Mayan 'dzonot' and translates as 'abyss'; but this simple term conjures a depth of meaning. As a phenomenom of nature, they are freshwater sinkholes created by the erosion of the soft, porous limestone; but, as the wellspring of life in the Mundo Maya, they are the sustenance of life, an entrance to the wonders of the afterworld, the focus of commune with the gods.

In the Yucatan Peninsula, above ground freshwater rivers are almost nonexistant; instead, the region is honeycombed with subterranean rivers that seem almost of another world. Many cenotes give access to these underground waterways and one of the most exciting experiences uniquely available in this part of the world is to dive and explore these wondrous, mysterious cenotes and their hidden rivers.