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Cenote Diving Guide

        The popularity of the cenotes has transformed THE RIVIERA MAYA into a major destination for divers from all around the world. As more and more divers hear about and discover the tranquil beauty of these pristine "windows" to the underwater world, the number of divers will increase the pressure and impact on these precious and fragile ecosystems. Safety and awareness of the environment are paramount in educating both the cenote guide and the visiting divers.

Cozumel is regarded as one of the top five dive destinations in the world for open water reef and wall diving. Cancun is considered the #1 tourist destination in the western hemisphere. Within that exists the world's largest diving operation that supports and produces recreational divers throughout the Cancun hotel zone. Combine these two locations with the forty plus dive operations that operate within the Riviera Maya and you have a tremendous impact on the limited supply of cenotes that can accommodate an enjoyable, safe cavern tour. The following cenotes can offer potentially 13 cavern dives.

CENOTE CARWASH CENOTE CHAC MOOL

CENOTE CRISTAL CENOTE DOS OJOS

GRAND CENOTE CENOTE PONDEROSA

CENOTE TAJ MAHAL CENOTE TEMPLE OF DOOM

CENOTE CHICKIN HA CENOTE X'TABAY

THE CAVERN TOUR

It was Parker A. Turner who recognized the importance of a structured systemfor open water divers to have the opportunity to visit, dive and enjoy these beautiful cenotes during their brief visit to the Riviera Maya, Cozumel, or Cancun. As the first International Safety Officer for the National Association for Cave Diving Parker organized and established recommended standards for conducting SAFE cavern tours for open water divers. Parker's clear vision for thefuture was obvious. He knew that the cenotes were magical and would evolve into a very special and popular environment for scuba divers to visit. Parker submitted a list of procedures of how a cavern dive for open water divers could be safely performed. Admirably, the diving operations recognized this and graciously accepted the recommended procedures.

Today, it can be said that 95% of all diving operations and/or Open Water Instructors/Cavern Instructors abide by these recommendations. It should be noted that these recommendations are taken from the NACD Cave Diving Instructor Manual.

CAVERN TOUR

Cavern tours are offered by qualified certified full cave divers. (Note: As of June 1st, 1998 the National Association for Cave Diving recommends that the qualified cenote guide must be a certified Cavern Instructor along with being a Full Cave diver and Open Water Instructor.

Divemasters or Assistant Scuba Instructors do not qualify as professional cenote guides for taking open water divers on cavern tours. The qualified professional guide should have a minimum of 50 logged cave dives before leading cavern tours for non-cavern certified divers.)

The purpose of these standards is to assist the growing needs of professional open water scuba instructors, who guide recreational divers into caverns found in north Florida, the Bahamas and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

LIMITATIONS:

1. Natural daylight and an unobstructed ascent to the surface

2. Maximum linear distance from surface: 200 feet

3. Maximum depth: 100 feet

4. No restrictions

5. No decompression

6. Minimum visibility: 40 feet

7. Guide ratio: Strictly 4:1

8. Minimum psi to begin cavern dive: 2000 psi

9. Minimum tank pressure to exit cavern zone: 1200 psi or 20 cu. ft.

GUIDE QUALIFICATIONS:

(These are recommendations by the National Association for Cave Diving)

Following three are required:

1. Certified full cave diver and

2. Certified as "active" teaching status Open Water Scuba Instructor

3. Certified Cavern Diving Instructor

The Guide must use full cave gear configuration. Double tanks are required for air management, handling of potential emergencies and as an example to potential students.

No single tanks with dual outlet valve or side mount configurations are allowed to be used by the Guide.

PROCEDURES:

1. Detailed briefing before each dive

2. Explanation and review of rules for cavern diving

3. It is not necessary to go through extensive equipment modifications for the cavern tour because it is considered a controlled experience. Minor changes may be necessary, such as the addition of alternate air source, removal of snorkel, and proper weighting.

4. Use of the guideline is essential to ensure a safe dive and demonstrate proficient skills. It is recommended that the guide demonstrate proper overhead protocol at all times.

5. No diver participation is mandated

6. Definitions:

  a. speleogenesis and hydrology

  b. cavern/cave environment (unique and fragile)

  c. accident analysis

  d. problems

7. Techniques

  Brief review of:

    a. buoyancy control

    b. finning techniques

    c. light use and signals

8. Review of basic communications

  a. "OK"

  b. "Stop or Hold"

  c. "Dive is over, exit"

  d. "Out of air"

  e. Instructor's choice for additional hand signals

9. Dive Plan

10. Complete post dive review:

A Guide should stress that divers on a tour are under supervision and in a controlled environment. Urge the divers to participate in a cavern course if they wish to pursue cavern diving.

1. Equipment:

Equipment is the same as for a cavern course. Standard open water scuba equipment with two battery powered lights

Cavern Tour Briefing Recommendations

It is recommended that critical aspects of the following outline be incorporated into the dive briefing for cavern touring.

I. This is a Cavern Tour NOT a "course".

II. DEFINITIONS:

Cavern - Limits

1. Area with ceiling and some visible light from the sun

2. Large with no restrictions

3. Minimum visibility of 40 feet (12 meters)

4. Depth: Recommend 70 feet (23 meters) or less

5. Penetration: Maximum 200 linear feet (65 meters) from an opening

6. No decompression

Cave.

1. Beyond the sunlight zone

2. Extensive training is required: (A course takes a minimum of one week)

3. Different equipment is necessary: (Double tanks, redundant equipment)

III. ENVIRONMENT

Unique and fragile.

Dive gently.

Conservation.

1. Take nothing

2. No grabbing or pulling on speleothems

3. Try not to touch sediments

IV. GEOLOGY

The Yucatan peninsula is limestone rock.

1. Ancient sea bed

2. Sedimentary layered rock

3. Porous

4. Erosion from water forms the passageways

5. Speleothems form during dry periods (ice ages)

V. TECHNIQUES

Buoyancy and propulsion

1. Minimize weight (buoyancy check before the dive)

2. Neutral buoyancy

3. Gentle kicks from the knee and ankle, not the hip

Body positioning

1. Slight head down, feet up

2. Midwater positioning (stay off the bottom, away from the ceiling.)

VI. COMMUNICATIONS:

Light signals

1. OK: circle

2. Attention: wave light slowly side to side

3. Emergency/Assistance: rapid waving of the light

Hand signals

1. OK

2. Stop/hold

3. Turn the dive

4. Air status 2000 psi/1200 psi (140 bar/80 bar)

5. Out of air

6. Call the dive - Exit. (Any reason, anytime)

VII. ACCIDENT ANALYSIS

1. Training - if people have an interest in cavern diving it is recommended they take a cavern course.

2. Guideline - continuous to the open water. Redundant reference to the exit.

3. Air - 2000 psi (140 bar) to turn the dive. 1200 psi (80 bar) to exit the overhead environment.

4. Depth - maximum 70 feet (23 meters)

5. Light - minimum three lights: (Natural daylight and two battery powered lights)

VIII. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS:

1. Equipment check, bubble check

2. No snorkel, no knives

3. Do not swim under the guideline

4. Halocline (some divesites)

a. saltwater is below the halocline, fresh water is above.

WHY THESE RECOMMENDATIONS

Safety is always the first issue for anyone who recreationally ventures into a "high risk" environment. If there is no understanding or control of the risk then accidents will become frequent and the danger of closing or denying access to the cenotes becomes very real.

Responsibility and image also play a very important role in maintaining safety and protecting these environmental wonders. If accidents occur or the cenotes become trashed or permanently damage then people will stop diving, snorkeling or visiting.

Any diver who takes other divers into an "overhead environment" MUST be TRAINED and QUALIFIED with a minimum amount of experience. Several deaths have been reported with unqualified guides.

Following the recommendations for qualified guides makes sense. Not only for safety but for integrity and moral responsibility. Any compromise is unacceptable. Those who wish to dive the cenotes on their own should seek training and become a certified cavern or cave diver. Another approach is not to take a light with you on the dive. THE NO LIGHT RULE in Florida, USA has made a major difference in minimizing accidents or close calls.

The land owner has a major responsibility to safety and protecting their fragile cenotes.

Only the land owner can enforce the rules and regulations for safe cenote diving. Only the land owner can provide the access and use to the cenote which allows safe entry into the water and minimal impact on the cenote environment. The land owner must be responsible for SAFETY and PROTECTING the cenote, particularly when they make money from people using the cenote. Several of the land owners have done this. But, much more can and must be performed. The responsibilty belongs to the land owner.

Steve Gerrard lives in the Puerto Aventuras marina resort.  He has been safely teaching cave diving for twenty five years.  His favorite activity is underwater cave photography using the NIKON 100 digital camera with a Light & Motion Titan Housing using Ikelite strobes.  He is the author of the famous guidebook titled - THE CENOTES OF THE RIVIERIA MAYA and soon to be published  CENOTE DIVING - SAFE & FUN.   You can contact Steve at:

stevegerrard@cavediver.com  or  www.steve-gerrard.com