The scuba diving plan at Cenote Dos Ojos
The Dos Ojos cenote in Tulum, Mexico, is a scuba diver’s paradise. With crystal clear waters and breathtakingly beautiful limestone formations, the Dos Ojos cenote is one of the most spectacular dive sites in the world. Here you will find some of the best opportunities for diving, snorkeling, and cave exploring that Mexico has to offer.
About Dos Ojos Cenote
Dos Ojos is a unique type of cenote (sinkhole). It has two distinctive entrance points, giving the cenote its name – two eyes.
The cenote is located between Tulum and Playa del Carmen – 13.5 miles (22 km) north of Tulum, and 31 miles (50 km) south of Playa del Carmen, just off Highway 307.
The underwater cave system of Dos Ojos reaches a depth of up to 387 feet (118 meters). With over 38 miles (61 kilometers) in length, it holds the record for being the deepest known underwater cave passage.
Fun fact: For their movie “Journey into the Amazing Caves,” IMAX Films chose this location as a perfect backdrop to bring their story of exploration and discovery to life.
The cenote has two distinctive entrance points, connected by an approximately 437 yards (400 meters) long corridor, giving the sinkhole its name – Dos Ojos (Two Eyes). The big “eyes” let natural light enter, paired with amazing visibility, it’s obvious to be an attraction for novice and experienced scuba divers alike. The good visibility and large sinkhole openings make for a great snorkeling experience, too.
The park has many tables and rest areas, which function great to prepare your dive and assemble your gear. In fact, they dedicated an area on the left to the First Eye for scuba divers.
The dive plan
Divers enter the sinkhole from a wooden deck and stairs into the water. This iconic entrance is world-famous, and many associate it when thinking about scuba diving in Tulum.
Taking a dive into this magical place offers an exciting opportunity to explore not one but two underground circuits: The Barbie Line and the Bat Cave.
Though these two caverns both start and end in the same place, they are very different.
The Barbie line is illuminated with a bright, vibrant atmosphere. Everywhere you look, there are towering stalactites and columns that encompass the area in an invitingly spacious manner.
The Bat Cave is darker than the Barbie line. It’s a winding path of tunnels and chambers where barely any light penetrates. You’ll be transported to another world as if you were exploring an underground cavern! This line leads around an air-filled bat cave. You will ascend to see the bats and wonderful decorations.
Make your way through some cave-like swim-throughs to an air-filled room – the bat cave. Here, divers will ascend to behold the bats and captivating decorations.
To have a safe and successful journey through the majestic passageways in all their beauty, proper buoyancy control is key. Anyway, scuba divers only need to be certified as Open Water divers.
Diving into a cenote is an enchanting experience. The blue water is crystal clear, and the walls are decorated with mesmerizing speleothems such as stalactites and stalagmites. Rays of sunbeam light penetrate through the crystal depths to create a serene atmosphere within this aquatic paradise. Although it may be lacking in fish or sea life, you will find plenty of wildlife lurking around near its entrance deep in the jungle. Cenote Dos Ojos truly paints an incredible setting for your exploration.
With a depth of up to 30 feet (9 meters), the caves offer crystal-clear waters perfect for exploration. The dive time for each cenote line is about 40 minutes, giving you plenty of time to experience the unforgettable light beams, stalactites, stalagmites, and bat-filled air pockets.
Dive Site Brief – Dos Ojos Cenote
- Open from 8 am to 5 pm every day
- Certification: Open Water
- Max depth: 30 feet (9 meters)
- Entrance fee: 200 pesos
- Water temp: year-round steady 76/77 °F (24 / 25 °C)
Cave specialty dives at Dos Ojos
For certified cave divers, Dos Ojos offers a thrilling exploration opportunity. The vast and winding cave system boasts over 60 kilometers of mapped passages and is connected to at least 25 cenotes. It’s no wonder it’s one of the most expansive systems on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula today.
Swimming & snorkeling at Cenote Dos Ojos
After you enter Dos Ojos, two swimming areas await: Eye 1 and Eye 2. While the First Eye (on the left) is smaller yet deeper than its counterpart, Eye 2 offers shallower waters with a variety of relaxing options for swimmers. If your comfort or ability in deep water is low, it’s best to bring along life jackets when exploring the First Eye, as there are no gradual steps into shallow depth – only plunging depths. Snorkel gear is available to rent for a low fee.
When walking between the two sinkhole entrances, be careful walking on the wet wood around the cenote swim areas. The wet wood can be slippy.
Eye 2 is an idyllic paradise at Cenote Dos Ojos, with a vast amount of swimming choices and areas for rest. This cenote has varying depths of water so anyone regardless of their swimming capabilities can explore this placid oasis. There are also hammocks to relax in after taking a swim.
If you want to explore the Bat Cave without scuba diving, guide tours are available.
Related must-dive cenotes in the area
When planning your scuba dive trip to Playa del Carmen or Tulum, plan to visit as many cenotes as possible. Here are our top 3 beyond Dos Ojos:
- Descent through the halocline line at El Pit
- Encounter diver-friendly crocodiles at Case Cenote
- Explore Chac Mool
