There are thousands of cenotes scattered across the Yucatan peninsula which remain hidden and unexplored. Part of the allure of exploring these surreal caverns is the exclusivity of diving in a place where humanity has not left its impact. "Tak Bi Ha", the Mayan words which translate to "Hidden Water", is an ethereal diving experience that leaves you feeling humbled...if not inspired by the shear marvel, that a place like this could exist.
The twists and turns which lead you through endless chambers reveal geological treasures which immerse you in a state of sensory overload. The relatively shallow depth of this system creates a spectacle of light which can leave you feeling disoriented and mesmerized - the cascades of blue and green hued beams illuminate the surface waters, creating the feeling of being upside down in a parallel dimension. While impeccable buoyancy control is essential in navigating this labyrinth of limestone stalagmites, there are several moments during this dive where you must hover perfectly in place in order to remain submerged - it is an other worldly feeling to be gliding in water as clear as air, with a surface just above you, and solid earth beneath you. It's as close to flying as i've ever felt while diving.
Victor Rosado was one of the very first explorers to traverse Cenote Tak Bi Ha and was the first to lay the original guide lines. There is less than a dozen people on earth who know this magnificent cave system as profoundly as he does. Victor refers to Tak Bi Ha as "his baby", because it was his initiative to work with the land owners and teams of geologists, cave divers, and scientists to transform this precious resource from a "hole in the ground" to a venue that has now become a spectacle of nature that astounds tourists visiting the Dos Ojos park. It was such a privilege to dive Tak Bi Ha with Victor - there is no one on earth who knows the secrets of this immeasurably stunning underwater palace more than him.
As we navigate through the dive, be sure to take note of the fossil shell we encounter. This conch snail was protruding from a limestone wall - deep inside the system. The reality, and significance, of that discovery affirms a very humbling fact - this was the ocean floor millions of years ago! The Yucatan has been above, and below, and above, and below the ocean several times the past 50 million years...and amazingly enough...there are a few reminders scattered about in these caves.
To learn more about how these wonders of nature were formed, be sure to check out this phenomenal resource from Northwester University:
sites.northwestern.edu/monroy...