Category: Diving

Cenote Aktun Ha, also known as Carwash due to its use for washing taxi cabs along the highway to Coba, is no longer used for this purpose.

It is now a popular spot for swimming, snorkeling, diving, picnicking, sunbathing, and responsible partying. It’s located by the roadside and features a large pond, more than 150 ft (50 m) across, with an average depth of 13 ft (4 meters). A concrete path and wooden deck make it easy to enter the water. The 8 ft (2.4 m) platform allows kids and adults to enjoy jumping in.

At Cenote Carwash, owners prioritize convenience and comfort. The facilities make suiting up for divers easy, and the parking lot is just a few meters away, ensuring a hassle-free visit.

Beneath the surface of the cenote lies a world of wonder waiting to be explored. Depending on the time of your visit, you may come across a layer of algae that adds an element of mystery to your adventure. From late October to late March, the cenote transforms into a sparkling, crystal-clear swimming pool with a lush green bottom. A green algae bloom creates an intriguing and slightly eerie atmosphere from late March to late October. However, don’t let that deter you. Once you dive below the cloud, you’ll discover a mesmerizing world filled with plants, eerie submerged trees, and deep caves. Schools of various types of fish, freshwater turtles, and even one crocodile inhabit the open water part of the cenote.

Cenote Carwash cavern line map

On the west or right side, the cave going upstream drops out of sight to a depth of 49 feet (15 meters). This is where the Golden Cavern Line can be found. Divers can spot chestnut-colored columns below the shallow depths of fallen trees and roots. The light filtering through the algae layer above creates a beautiful display of varying hues.

Cave area

The main cave line, 150 feet upstream, provides easy access to attractions such as Cenote Zacil Ha (Luke’s Hope) and beyond. Various feature areas, including the Room of Tears, Adriana’s Room, the Cell Block, the White Room, the Chamber of Ancients, the Drain, Satin’s Silt Hole, and the Basement, offer diverse experiences for all cave divers.

At the downstream area, three main passages guide cave divers through yellow-green chambers with sediment on the bottom.

Most of the cave system contains fresh water, with the saltwater zone starting at 70 ft (21 m). The cave has various rooms and several upstream and downstream passageways.

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Cenote Carwash cave map

Carwash Cenote location map

Parker Turner and Mike Madden were the first explorers. Others included Jim Coke, Johanna De Groot, Paul Deloach, Steve Penn, Chuck Stevens, and Tom Young.

Cenote Jailhouse. The maximum depth is 90 ft (29 m). Steve Bogearts, with Bil Philips’s help, connected this cave to the massive Ox Bel Ha cave system (‘Three Paths of Water’) on March 28th, 2011.

Historically, the Jailhouse Cenote, the Mayan Blue (Escondido) Cenote, and the Naharon Cenote were part of the Naranjal Cave system. On the weekend of March 28, 2011, Steve Bogearts of Playa del Carmen connected Sistema Naranjal to Sistema Ox Bel Ha. Support cave diver Bil Philips of Tulum assisted with logistics.

Nestled south of Tulum and near the captivating Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, the Ox Bel Ha cave system unveiled its mysteries in 1996 when a team of cave divers embarked on its discovery and exploration.

Ox Bel Ha Cave System from January 2023 (thanks to CINDAQ team efforts) becomes again the World’s Longest Underwater Cave. It boasts an impressive length of 496.8 kilometers (308.6 mi), securing its status as the world’s longest underwater cave system. As of the end of 2023, the cave system encompassed 160+ cenotes. The most notable ones are cenote Jailhouse, cenote Naharon, cenote Escondido (Mayan Blue). According to the latest CINDAQ annual report, the system includes 56674 survey stations, 615 sections, more than 2500 jumps, 1500+ T intersections, and 7683 cave line markers.

Ox Bel Ha Cave System map

The Yucatan Peninsula’s distinctive geological history, a testament to the Earth’s transformative power over millions of years, has given rise to a sprawling labyrinth of underground passages and cenotes. This unique geological formation, a gift to cave divers and geology enthusiasts, has established the Ox Bel Ha cave system as a paradise to explore and admire.

Cenote Jailhouse

The landowner has cleared most of the jungle surrounding the cenote and constructed a stone wall on the south side. Two equipment tables are available, along with a QRSS map on display under a glass frame underneath a palapa roof to protect it from the rain. Finally, stone steps are along the pathway to the water.

The basin’s water is clear from late October to early April, and green-brown algae cover the rest of the year. Once a group of cave divers enters the water of Jailhouse Cenote, it turns to muck.

The permanent line begins to be tied to a stone on the left side of the cave opening. Follow the string thru a small opening, and the line turns right down a steep slope of organic slit debris. Accordingly, you will make a mess if you are not gentle with your buoyancy. At a depth of 40 ft (12.2 m), there will be a permanent T-intersection with two white arrows pointing back to the surface.

This cave area would be considered one the most outstanding in the Riviera Maya if not for all the tannic-stained walls and decorations above the halocline at 60 ft (18.3 m). This tannic acid intrudes into the aquifer from a huge swamp area 8 km west of Nahaton Cenote into the jungle. Within geological time (thousands of years), the tannic acid stains the calcium carbonate into a dark brown. Because everything is so dark, the cave divers’ light is absorbed. The few saltwater areas are not affected as the calcium carbonate is bleached by the saltwater.

Upstream and downstream areas

To the right is the upstream section of the area. Moving along the main line, you will reach the Muknal Siphone area. Continue your cave dive; after about 1 kilometer, you will reach a T-intersection. A short line to the left will take you to Sun Cenote. Moving to the right, after a while, you will reach the Dead Zone passage and find yourself in Cenote Mayan Blue.

To the left is the downstream area. Swim left about 250 ft (76 m) and find two offshoot lines on the right side. The offshoot line that heads to the right is a shortcut to the incredibly deep saltwater line. The offshoot line to the left is another shortcut line and will take you to the beginning of the saltwater area. Jump across and swim right about 100 ft (30.5 m), then jump left, 50 ft (15.2 m), and you enter the beautiful Swiss siphon passage.

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Jailhouse Cenote cave lines map

Jailhouse Cenote location map

Steve Bogearts, with Bil Philips’s help, connected this cave to the Ox Bel Ha cave system on March 28th, 2011. There is a beautiful cartography map of this cenote and the surrounding area drawn by Jim Coke.

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.

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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.