Cenote Nariz (Otoch Ha) is part of the huge underwater cave system Sac Actun—Dos Ojos—Nohoch Nah Chich.
Turning toward Nariz Cenote into the jungle on the 54th kilometer from Playa del Carmen of the Cancun-Tulum federal road, you will find yourself on a country road. Following, the dusty, bumpy road leads deep into the jungle. It connects the entrances to a multitude of beautiful cenotes. Caracol, Chun Ya, Otoch Ha, Outland, La Concha, Fenomeno, etc.
Cenote Otoch Ha is part of the connected system Sac Actun-Nohoch-Dos Ojos. Moreover, it is the world’s second-largest underwater cave system, with 376,7 km (234 miles) of underwater lines. The maximum depth is 119.18 mts (391 ft). The Nohoch historical section is an anchialine cave system connecting to naturally intruding marine water and tidal influence in the cenotes. However, this cave system’s coastal discharge point(s) has not yet been explored into the ocean. Despite this, dye tracing to flow towards Caleta Xel-Ha, a nearby coastal bedrock lagoon, demonstrated large volumes of groundwater.
The next world’s longest cave system, Ox Bel Ha, is very close — just a few kilometers south. So, perhaps shortly, a place will be discovered where these two cave systems connect. The combined cave system will be the largest underwater cave system in the world and the largest cave system in general, including dry caves.
Nariz Cenote
The maximum depth of Nariz (Otoch Ha) Cenote is 42 ft (12.8 m). There are ten cenotes within this area. They are Cenote Azteca, Cenote Boveda, Cenote Cabeza Azteca, Cenote Cueva Seca, Cenote Estaca, Cenote Gorila, Cenote Ich Balam (Jaguar Eye), Isla Perdida, Cenote Nariz and Cenote Virgin.
The permanent guideline begins at the surface on the back side of the Nariz (Otoch Ha) cenote opening. One more short line goes down from the left platform to the same cave line. Immediately after plunging into the water, you will face the T-intersection at 25 ft (7.6 m).
To the right is the continuation of the main line. Follow that 2,000 ft (609.6 m), and there will be choices: the B tunnel, the C tunnel, or the E tunnel (jump left at the T). Pick any passage, and you will be happy. My favorite is the E tunnel, as you go the furthest on DPV machines or using multiple bottles.
Going left around 1,700 ft (518 m) after the T-intersection at the Nariz Cenote, you will reach Cenote Aktun Hu through the series of nicely decorated cave rooms with various side passages available to the left and right.
This cave area was connected to the Hoyo Negro (Black Hole) in May 2007 and to Cenote Outland in November 2007.
Our Nariz Cenote cave diving video
Nariz (Otoch Ha) Cenote cave lines map
Nariz (Otoch Ha) Cenote location map
Sergio Granucci and Pep Linares were the first explorers. Other explorers were Franco Attolini, Alex Alverez, Susan Bird, Alberto Nava Blank, Christophe Le Malliot, Devin Mackenzie, Luca Maghelli, Daniel Riordan, Gianmario Roca, and Sam Meacham. The primary explorers were Franco Attolini, Alex Alverez, and Beto Navo.
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