Cenote Dos Ojos – Insider tips about visiting, swimming & scuba diving in the enchanting sinkhole

Whenever you ask someone in Mexico which cenote to visit, cenote Dos Ojos is probably going to be in the top 5. There are many reasons why it is one of the top dive sites on the Yucatan Peninsula. 

The cenote is part of a whole community called “Parque Dos Ojos” with Dos Ojos being the main cenote because it was the first to be discovered by the owners. They decided to name it Dos Ojos because it has two entrances or “two eyes” that are both connected underwater and create one of the most amazing cenote dives in the area. These eyes, also known as cenotes, are where natural sinkholes have formed over millions of years as the underlying limestone bedrock slowly erodes and eventually collapses exposing the fresh groundwater beneath. The exact geological conditions that allow for the formation of cenotes only exist in this part of the world, making them unique to the Yucatan Peninsula.

Photos by Álvaro Herrero

 

Where is cenote Dos Ojos and how to get there?

Cenote Dos Ojos is located 10 minutes north of Tulum. Most of the dive centers in The Riviera Maya offer a tour to go snorkeling or scuba diving. Alternatively, you can rent a car or take the public shuttles. Keep in mind that public shuttles will leave you at the entrance of the park. Of all the cenotes located within the park, this one is closest to the highway. But remember the jungle is a very extensive place and it is still a 30 minute walk to get to the cenote entrance itself. Alternatively you can hire a local guide at the entrance. You don’t need to have anything booked in advance, but you will want to get there early because it can get very crowded. As mentioned before it is one the most famous cenotes in Mexico. But, if you are going just for a swim the park closes at 5pm, so you will have plenty of time! You can, of course, also visit Dos Ojos without booking a tour or a guide.

 

Admission – Tickets, opening hours & what is included in the price

Inside the park you will find other cenotes:  Nicte Ha, The Pit  (a favorite among freedivers), Jaguar and Taak Bi-Ha.  There are also restaurants, eco hotels and many other activities, which make it perfect for all kinds of visitors from families to friends to solo travellers.

The entrance fee to the park depends on how many cenotes you plan to visit in the day and what you plan to do.  For example, the general entry fee to cenote Dos Ojos is $400 pesos (swimmers and snorkelers), but it is highly recommended to get the $700 pesos deal and have a guided tour through the whole cavern and the equipment rental (mask, fins, snorkel and life jacket).  For scuba divers the entrance fee to Dos Ojos is $400 pesos, and if you want to dive two of the cenotes in one day the price is $600 pesos. Most of the scuba diving operators will, however, include this fee in their tour. If you do plan to make the trip on your own, make sure you bring cash with you as no cards are accepted.

 

No sunscreen

It is important to know that this is a very protected area, which means sunblock and mosquito repellent are not allowed unless they are 100% natural. But don’t worry, even though you are in the middle of the jungle, the showers and bathrooms are in very good condition. So if you happen to put on a lot of sunblock and repellent before leaving your hotel you can take a very good eco shower before jumping into the water. 

 

Swimming and snorkelling in cenote Dos Ojos

Cenote Dos Ojos is perfect for swimmers, snorkelers and, of course, all levels of scuba divers. Both of the “eyes” are open water, and you can also walk by the dry caverns. If you have a snorkeling guide, you can swim in the cavern areas as well. Don’t forget your towel, sandals and water shoes for a better walk around the cenote. You can bring your own food, and enjoy the day in their nice picnic areas. Didn’t bring anything to drink or eat? Don’t worry! There are also many coconut water stands and a restaurant at the entrance of the cenote.

Our insider tip for capturing your happy moments is the DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 Max. It has has a dome lens so you can shoot amazing split shots and videos in the crystal clear water of the cenote. And best of all – everything is already on your phone and you can preview it instantly! No need to import files from your action camera.

 

Scuba diving

Scuba diving in this cenote is super easy and is perfect if it is your first cavern dive because it has very wide passages and chambers, no current, and is very shallow (it is only 8m/26ft). You will be amazed by the beautiful light entrances and you will experience the best visibility of your life (more than 100m/330ft!). The water is so clear and fresh that you will feel like you are flying. 

Dos Ojos is a very big cenote, so you will need at least two tanks to dive the entire cavern. There are two lines to follow. One is called “The Barbie line” which gets its name because there is literally a Barbie attached to the line. This is considered the easiest of the dives because it has more light entrances. And then there is the “Bat Cave” which is just a little darker. But have no worries! You will have a light all the time, and the water is so clear that you will be able to see EVERYTHING! The distance of the two lines together is around 500m.

Insider tip: make sure you wash you ears with fresh water after your dive, especially if you surface in the bat cave, as there is a lot of bacteria in the cenote due to the bat excrements.

 

 

Who can dive in cenote Dos Ojos?

It is important to remember that you will need to be a certified diver to go into the cavern (Open Water Diver is enough). However, to fully enjoy all this cenote has to offer, your buoyancy skills need to be good because there are many magnificent stalactites and stalagmites, impressive columns which are millions of years old that you don’t want to get stuck on! You will be fascinated to dive between the formations, it is a unique dive! 

 

Water temperature

Even though it is super hot in the jungle, a 3mm wetsuit is a good idea, or a 5mm if you tend to get cold easily. The water temperature is 24°C/75°F all year long.

 

Rules for recreational cavern diving

It is very safe to dive the cavern, but there are some rules to follow. Here are some of them:

– Your guide needs to be a Divemaster or scuba diving Instructor AND a Full Cave Diver. They will be diving with two tanks, either side or back mount.

– You need to dive in a single line profile with only 4 divers per guide. 

– Sunlight needs to be visible at all times and you need a diving light.

– We use the “Rule of thirds” (divide your air in 3 parts). The first third is used for getting into the cavern, the second to go out, and the third part is for reserve and emergency.

– The guide will follow the line, which is the pattern you will follow all the time. Your responsibility is to have visual contact with the line all of the time. The line is called “the line of life” 

– No close spaces, which means that 2 divers can fit above each other or next to each other. 

 

 

Cave diving in the Sac Actun System

Now,  if you are a super experienced diver and have your Intro to Cave or Full Cave Diver certification you will be able to explore the caves. Cenote Dos Ojos is part of the largest underwater cave system in the world which is called Sac Actun System. It consists of more than 347 km of caves. The whole underwater system is a very important part of human history because explorers have found many fossils and artefacts that have helped scientists better understand the cenotes formations and history. You will have a lot to explore! We recommend that you get in touch with a local certified cave diving guide of the cenote to explore the caves! 

 

Top tips for cave divers

If you do not have a phone housing yet, the DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 Max is a real game changer for tech and cave divers. Now you can pass the time of your deco stops with entertainment from your smartphone! Just clip it to the line or hold it next to your dive computer so you can easily monitor your depth at the same time.

This smartphone housing is waterproof up to 60m/200ft and has a full touchscreen, enabling you to access all your apps underwater. As it does not use a bluetooth connection, your phone will not overheat and the battery life lasts as usual. It is also the perfect replacement of an action camera, as you can now capture all your adventures and explorations directly on your phone. Read our full review here!

 

Don’t forget!

At the end of the day, don’t forget to visit the shop “Fisheye”.  Henry, the owner, is one of the most talented artists in the area and has designed very cool t-shirts, mugs, stickers, hats and the best souvenirs you can take with you from your dive: underwater photos and videos!