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Dive Review of Aqua World; Cancun in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Yucatan Caves (Cenotes)

Aqua World; Cancun, Aug, 2008,

by J. Devine, MD, USA ( 2 reports). Report 4384.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations N/A Food N/A
Service and Attitude N/A Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 3 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments Booked cenote (cave) trip with Aqua World in Cancun, the largest dive operator in Cancun (by far). Met at Aqua World (across from JW Marriott) and drove in a van 90 minutes south to cenote CHAC-MOOL where we did 2 dives at depths not exceeding 35 ft. Im not much for freshwater diving. I find the dearth of life exceedingly boring but I had never been cave diving before so wanted to give it a try. Ultimately, this was a throughly enjoyable experience, with a suprisingly large "WOW factor considering there is nothing to see. Strange as it sounds, it seemed both very adventurous yet completely benign, more like a kids fantasy world than a SCUBA divers venue. No currents, no "worries" about big bad creatures coming out to grab you, no kicked up silt destroying the visibility; just cruising like an astronaut through a netherworld of rock formations, underwater cathedrals and passageways (all of them with more than adaqaute space to pass through). Visibility was excellent even though there is not much to actually look at. One cave even had a large (church sized) air chamber that you could surface into with a ceiling full of fossils and stalagtites (like some kind of natural Sistine Chapel) that you could just float among. Just a neat experience and definitely worth doing at least once if you never have. The Aqua World guides were friendly and attentive and the whole operation was professionally run with no hitches. They provided all equipment (including dive lights and wet suits (the water is kind of cool). I probably wouldnt go back to CHAC-MOOL again (after all, nothing there will ever change) but I would try at least one more cenote (of a different kind) before I would have my fill. I would recommend this for anybody, including new divers, as long as they dont suffer from claustrophobia. One Aqua World guide took videos throughout the dives which were excellent quality and available for purchase on DVD for $70.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving New Jersey, California, Cozumel, Micronesia
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas no currents
Water Temp 75-76°F / 24-24°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Stay with small group (6) and dive guide
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals N/A Tropical Fish N/A
Small Critters N/A Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Cenote (cave) dives in southern Yucatan. Fresh water, no plant or animal life, just rocks.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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