Riviera Maya Cenotes
Mexico · Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán cenotes are freshwater sinkholes connecting a vast cave system — filtered, gin clear water, dramatic light beams, halocline (fresh meeting salt) layers, and otherworldly geology. Cavern diving is open water style; full cave penetration is technical.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Cenote freshwater cave system — not a coral reef. The metric here is water clarity and cave geology, both unchanged.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Warmer than usual right now, but not hot enough to bleach.
Fishing
Some fishing is allowed here, in marked zones.
Sources · MERMAID and partner coral surveys · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
What you will see
23 species across the dive sites here
Tropical Mockingbird
Seen 6 days ago
at Chac Mool
Least concern
Brown Anole
Seen 7 days ago
at The Pit
Least concern
Great Kiskadee
Seen 8 days ago
at Chac Mool
Least concern
Mesoamerican slider
Seen 8 days ago
at Cenote Carwash
Mesoamerican slider turtle
Seen 8 days ago
at Gran Cenote
Morelet's crocodile
Seen 8 days ago
at Cenote Carwash
Least concern
Brown Basilisk
Seen 10 days ago
at Gran Cenote
Least concern
Golden-Fronted Woodpecker
Seen 13 days ago
at Cenote Angelita
Least concern
Great-Tailed Grackle
Seen 13 days ago
at Dos Ojos
Least concern
Plain Chachalaca
Seen 13 days ago
at Dos Ojos
Least concern
Magnificent Frigatebird
Seen 15 days ago
at Gran Cenote
Least concern
Mexican mojarra
Seen 21 days ago
at Cenote Carwash
Mexican molly
Seen 1 month ago
at Chac Mool
Least concern
Mosquitofish
Seen 2 months ago
at Cenote Angelita
Freshwater shrimp
Seen 2 months ago
at The Pit
Mexican blind cavefish
Seen 2 months ago
at Dos Ojos
Least concern
Bone fossils (Pleistocene fauna)
Seen year round
at The Pit
Catfish
Seen year round
at Dos Ojos
Freshwater crab
Seen year round
at Dos Ojos
Freshwater snail
Seen year round
at Gran Cenote
Mayan tetra
Seen year round
at Cenote Angelita
Least concern
Mexican tetra
Seen year round
at Chac Mool
Least concern
Blind cavefish
Rare sighting
at Chac Mool
Dive sites
Dos Ojos
mexican blind cavefish · freshwater crab · catfish · great-tailed grackle
The Pit
bone fossils (pleistocene fauna) · great-tailed grackle · tropical mockingbird · great kiskadee
Gran Cenote
mesoamerican slider turtle · freshwater snail · great-tailed grackle · tropical mockingbird
Cenote Angelita
mosquitofish · mayan tetra · great-tailed grackle · tropical mockingbird
Chac Mool
mexican molly · mexican tetra · blind cavefish · great-tailed grackle
Cenote Carwash
mesoamerican slider · mexican mojarra · mexican tetra · morelet's crocodile
What divers say
Sunbeams through the entrance of Dos Ojos like cathedral glass underwater. I'll keep coming back forever.
Good to know
Mask seal
Bring a backup. Fresh water + no current means tiny leaks are noticed.
Stay on the line
Even in cavern zones, treat the guideline as sacred. Pull yourself along it.