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> My third and fourth dives after getting my open water certification were in cenotes around Playa Del Carmen and that experience was just mind blowing. Overhe

by dahdum 2y ago

> My third and fourth dives after getting my open water certification were in cenotes around Playa Del Carmen and that experience was just mind blowing. Overhead diving, especially in caves, is extremely dangerous without extensive training. Too many operators down there will take new divers on very questionable “cavern” tours with sections of no natural light / visible exits, single primary lights, and single tanks. Do your due diligence and remember nothing in the cave is worth dying for.

chrisfosterelli 2y ago
In the Yucatan most divers consider there to be a difference between 'cavern diving' and 'cave diving'. Cave diving requires extensive training and is very dangerous. In cavern diving you stay within the naturally illuminated part of the cave and, while there might be something overhead of you at periods, you're not functionally farther from a safe exit than you would be at 130ft depth with no overhead. Of course any overhead obstruction is an added risk but that situation happens in regular recreational diving too. It wouldn't surprise me to hear that some tour operators bend the guidelines but the diving I did there felt appropriately careful.
- dahdum 2y ago
  Cavern diving certification is still a multi day course, open water certification does not prepare you for it. The 130 ft PADI guideline (AOW cert) applies to open water wreck diving and is quickly broken at most sites I’ve seen. Dos Ojos is particularly sketchy. On overcast days it can be impossible to see an exit at several points even when not silted out. Your guides will usually be side mount with two tanks, backup lights, and a safety spool. That redundancy isn’t for you, it’s because they are trained not to take the same risks you are. Caves are pretty awesome though.
Bufgaric 2y ago
In this particular case it was a very spacious set of cenotes with a guiding string along the safe route. So it felt pretty safe. It was also the day after we had done some open water diving so the dive master got a feel for our skills (I would assume) and none of us were particularly foolish. I doubt I'd ever want to go diving in actual caves with anything even remotely tight for space.

by dahdum 2y ago

chrisfosterelli 2y ago

In the Yucatan most divers consider there to be a difference between 'cavern diving' and 'cave diving'. Cave diving requires extensive training and is very dangerous. In cavern diving you stay within the naturally illuminated part of the cave and, while there might be something overhead of you at periods, you're not functionally farther from a safe exit than you would be at 130ft depth with no overhead. Of course any overhead obstruction is an added risk but that situation happens in regular recreational diving too. It wouldn't surprise me to hear that some tour operators bend the guidelines but the diving I did there felt appropriately careful.

dahdum 2y ago
Cavern diving certification is still a multi day course, open water certification does not prepare you for it. The 130 ft PADI guideline (AOW cert) applies to open water wreck diving and is quickly broken at most sites I’ve seen. Dos Ojos is particularly sketchy. On overcast days it can be impossible to see an exit at several points even when not silted out. Your guides will usually be side mount with two tanks, backup lights, and a safety spool. That redundancy isn’t for you, it’s because they are trained not to take the same risks you are. Caves are pretty awesome though.

Bufgaric 2y ago

In this particular case it was a very spacious set of cenotes with a guiding string along the safe route. So it felt pretty safe. It was also the day after we had done some open water diving so the dive master got a feel for our skills (I would assume) and none of us were particularly foolish. I doubt I'd ever want to go diving in actual caves with anything even remotely tight for space.