Scuba divers get to explore places most travelers never get to see. Land dwellers can see the beauty of the Cenotes in the Yucatán Peninsula through their eyes. The vast underwater cave system offers a unique view of past life through two million years of change. They are a window that shows the changes levied by time and glaciation cycles. The beauty is unparalleled.
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During the ice age, the caves were mostly above ground. This allowed the formation of stalactites and stalagmites. When sea levels rose later, the caves flooded and were preserved as they stood. Divers equate the experience of swimming through the underwater cave system to diving in a time capsule.
Covering an expansive portion of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, the underwater cave system is accessed via cenotes (natural reservoirs or sinkholes). Water from rainfall fills the underground cave system when it leaks through limestone.
The cenotes were a sacred space when the Mayans roamed the region about 4,000 years ago. Because freshwater is vital to any civilization, many Mayan cities are located near the access points to the underground cave system.
Diving through the underground waterway is a fantastic adventure. Several diving companies offer guided dive excursions. Many of the tours are for experienced divers only. However, some areas of the underwater cave system are accessible and safe for snorkeling. Vloggers Kara and Nate have snorkeled and scuba-dived in the caves. In a YouTube video, they recorded their diving experience through the underground cave system.
If you are a scuba diver looking for a new place to explore, the Cenotes in the Yucatán Peninsula might be perfect.
Please share if you like scuba diving and time travel.
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