Cenotes: Rules & Safety

Mexico has adapted its regulations to accommodate all divers, certified or not.

Indeed, we must distinguish between “cave” diving, underground, to speak French, reserved for certified divers and “cave” diving open to all divers who do not have a qualification in cave diving.

Cavern diving rules

• Snorkel, knife and gloves are prohibited. The equipment must be positioned so that nothing is left hanging that could damage the cenote. Do not touch anything in the caves, both formations and sediments.

• The guide must be at least Divemaster. He must also be qualified as a “Full Cave” diver and be equipped with two blocks during the entire dive.

• A guide can accompany a maximum of four divers. During a dive, each diver is assigned a position, an order he must respect while following the breadcrumb trail, without ever deviating from it.

• Respect the rule of thirds: one third of gas for the outward journey, one third of gas for the return, the last third being kept for safety. Concretely, if we have a block inflated to 210 bars, 70 bars for the outward journey, 70 bars for the return and 70 bars remaining at the end of the dive.

• Never enter more than sixty meters from an exit area and always see natural light. Concretely, if you are at a depth of twenty meters, your penetration cannot exceed forty meters (20 + 40 = 60)
• All divers must be equipped with a torch.

• Keep a horizontal position and use the frog kicking so as not to lift the sediments.

• Do not pass any sign indicating a restriction.
• Two divers must be able to cross at any time.

• Finally, never exceed the STOP signs announcing the end of the “cave” dive open to all and the start of the “cave” dive, reserved for trained and trained divers.

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