Cenote Angelita
Tulum, Yucatán, Mexico
- Typical depth
- 30 m
- Type
- Cenote
- Level
- Advanced
Notes
Hydrogen-sulphide cloud at ~30 m — surreal 'underwater river'.
Marine life
- Other
- decomposing organic debris forming the hydrogen-sulphide layer, submerged tree limbs through the halocline
- Reef fish
- mosquitofish (above cloud)
Site features
- Cenote
- Sinkhole
- Hydrogen Sulphide Cloud
- Halocline
- Deep
- Freshwater
- No Overhead
When to dive
- Best
- year-round
Cenote Angelita ('Little Angel') is a deep cylindrical sinkhole a short drive south of Tulum, famous for the surreal hydrogen-sulphide cloud at ~27–30 m where freshwater meets saltwater and decomposing leaf litter forms a dense haze. The site reaches ~60 m total but recreational profiles cap at 30–40 m — divers descend through the cloud for a few minutes before turning. Below the cloud the water is darker and anoxic; submerged tree branches protrude through the layer like an underwater forest. Year-round access — the cenote is sheltered. The dive is essentially a deep open-water descent in a sinkhole; no overhead environment, but depth and the reduced viz inside the cloud demand respect.
Conditions & access
- Visibility
- 5–30 m
- Water temp
- 24–25 °C
- Current
- None
- Access
- Permit required
- Min cert
- Advanced Open Water + Deep specialty (profile reaches ~30–40 m through the hydrogen-sulphide cloud)
Location
20.1500° N, 87.5000° W
Dive clubs that visit this site
4 operators list this site on their website
- Heaven Under Earth DiversTulum / Playa del Carmen, Mexico · Dive centre[source]
- Ko'ox DivingTulum / Playa del Carmen / Puerto Aventuras, Mexico · Dive centre[source]
- Rigo The Cenote GuidePlaya del Carmen / Tulum / Puerto Morelos, Mexico · Dive centre[source]
- The Cenote GuyTulum / Playa del Carmen, Mexico · Dive centre[source]
Sources
Curated from 1 source
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