Mexico's Yucatán Peninsular is famous amongst divers not just for its beautiful Caribbean coast but also for its network of thousands of kilometers of flooded underground tunnels appearing at the surface as crystal clear sinkholes or Cenotes.
I wasted no time in getting booked onto a day's diving with Abyss Divers.
I arrived at the dive centre at 7am excited to get diving. Lewis my Mexican dive guide drove us down to one of the highest regarded Cenotes, Dos Ojos (Two Eyes)
The one and a half hour drive gave us chance to talk about each other's travels and diving experiences and for Lewis to run through the dive plan.
Dos Ojos is actually two separate caverns offering very different dives. Entering the water for the first dive was pretty hectic due to all the Snorkelers bobbing around near the entry point, they soon moved out of the way when a heavy aluminum cylinder heads their way. Described as cold water I was pleasantly surprised to plunge into 22 degree water! I later told Lewis that my last dive was only 6 degrees!
The Yucatán is a huge Limestone shelf believed to have risen out of the sea as a result of a huge meteor impact near Mexico City. The limestone causes these Cenotes to be crystal clear with a turquoise tinge. Perfect for diving. Heading into the dark cavern I remember to turn around to see the strong daylight shimmering through the azure pool. Amazing photos!
Sold as a cavern dive rather than a cave dive (so they don't have to give more safety equipment I imagine) we were always supposed to be in sight of daylight. Lewis seemed to have forgotten this. Passing a sign that read 'Cavern Limit, do not pass without specialist cave diving training and equipment' we continued passed huge stalactites into a deep dark chamber. Here we turned off our dive torches, word cannot describe how dark it was. I am now 20m underwater, underground in a cave that has never seen daylight. It is eerie!
The second dive was less exciting but we did surface into a dry chamber full of bats.
On the drive back, Lewis explained that he only took me passed 'Cavern Limits' because I had more experience than most. I explained to Lewis that back home to do anything like that I would have been far more prepared.
All in all a fantastic days diving, rounded off with a mojito or two in the beach back in busy Playa del Carmen.