A look deep beneath the surface of these stunning underwater ecosystems while they're still accessible. Mexico's cenotes are a uniquely beautiful and complex system of caves and waterways that are home to an abundance of flora and fauna – some not found anywhere else in the world. These 7,000-plus limestone sinkholes have been forming in the Yucatan Peninsula for millions of years, dating to the Chicxulub asteroid impact that wiped out nearly all dinosaur life.
Cenotes have been cherished throughout history. For more than 2,500 years, the Maya used some as water wells and others as sacred sites. They believed them to be the gateway to Xibalba , the Maya underworld, where humans go when they die.
Many locals still adhere to the myths and rituals their ancestors believed in. Today, they are the Yucatan region's only natural source of freshwater. Tourists, both national and international, enjoy the cenotes in their own ways.
Their configurations make them ideal swimming holes and a welcome escape from the region's intense heat. Some are even equipped with ziplines, tanning decks, diving platforms and snack bars. One group of visitors, freedivers, are especially drawn to the cenotes.
These sinkholes are a freediving paradise since each one has a unique configuration and is isolated from the effects of currents, waves and wind. Since freedivers use minimal gear and aren't bound to the rules of scuba diving (time limits, safety stops, coming up slowly to the surface), they can .
