Tulum is located two hours south of Cancun International Airport. The caves of the region are without question some of the most beautiful in the world. The Maya have named them "Cenote".

There are hundreds of thousands of kilometers  of underwater rivers in the region. The impressive limestone cathedrals have billions of stalactites and stalagmites which formed tens of thousand years ago when the caves where still dry. At the end of the Ice Age, 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, the world climate warmed and the sea level rose 300 feet (100 m) - where it is at the present time. The caves were submerged and underwater rivers began to flow.

The caves of the region of Tulum are shallow. For the most part, they are between 20 feet to 50 feet deep (6m to 15m) and rarely surpass 70 feet (20m) in depth. These shallow depths enable long dives, some with little or no decompression. The visibility is virtually unlimited.

Because of the proximity to the sea, the caves in the Tulum region have varied salt and fresh water composition depending on the distance from the sea. The mix of salt and fresh water is called Halocline and produces landscapes that can best be described as velvet-blue liquid sky. When disturbed by a passing diver, the visibility is only temporarily diminished. Some caves that are shallow and at a fair distance from the sea do not have Halocline, only fresh water. The water temperature is 78?F (24?C) in the fresh water table, and 80?F (25?C) in the salt water, which make the dives very comfortable. The current in the underwater rivers is almost non-existent; therefore gas consumption is not significantly affected.

Tulum is located seven kilometers inland with a population of 18,000 people. Its beaches are picturesque and the caves are only a few minutes from town. The region also offers a growing hotel and resort infrastructure, a wide range of activities, boutiques and restaurants, and sites such as the dry caves of Aktun-Chen, and the ruins of Tulum and Coba. It is also possible to stay in some of the 600 deluxe mansions on the beach, with, if desired, a housekeeper, cook, private swimming pools, etc. Billionaire Pablo Escobar had a secondary residence in the region. This option of renting a mansion can be a more personal alternative for those traveling with the whole family or a group of friends.

Cave diving in the Tulum region is not reserved exclusively for experts or those that attach importance to the more technical aspects of diving. The cave systems offer a myriad of tunnels and passages including "recreational caves" that are enjoyed by divers with basic open water training. The caves of the region of Tulum are unfortunately not protected by UNESCO. Divers must remain sensitive to the incredible beauty of the caves systems.

Recreational divers with a proficiency of trim and buoyancy may consider taking a cave diving class. It is recommended to take a more advanced technical program beforehand to take full advantage of the cave experience.

TEKDIV Exploration also offers a cave guide for those who wish to explore new territory and cave systems during their stay.

Please contact us for additional information.