| One of the 31 states of Mexico is Yucatan. It is | | | | thousands of species of fish and plant life that exist in |
| bordered on the southwest by the state of | | | | this underwater network of caves. The roots of trees |
| Campeche, bordered on the east and southeast by | | | | found on the land above have pushed their way |
| the state of Quintana Roo, and is located on the | | | | through the rock and limestone below. |
| Yucatan Peninsula. The Yucatan has many features in | | | | Yucatan is a frequent vacation destination. Cenotes in |
| its relatively flat land. There are beaches, vast | | | | Yucatan and in other areas of the world attract |
| expanses of jungle, coral reefs, swamps, and even the | | | | visitors worldwide and even divers who want to |
| Puuc hills. | | | | explore the vast underwater caves. This underwater |
| More than half a century ago, the Mayan civilization | | | | world stretches for hundreds of miles and has not |
| thrived and prospered in Yucatan. They relied heavily | | | | been fully explored. The most experienced of divers |
| on the waters from cenotes, which is a sinkhole that | | | | still have difficulty navigating through these waters. |
| contains groundwater that can also be found in the | | | | Divers often have to squeeze through very tight |
| Yucatan Peninsula and some of the nearby Caribbean | | | | spaces to continue their exploration, which can be |
| islands. In the Mayan language, the word cenote | | | | dangerous if any equipment is damaged. |
| means dzonot, a sacred well. One of the most popular | | | | It requires a tremendous amount of skill and knowledge |
| cenotes is the well at Chichen Itza, which was used | | | | to map out the caves. At this time, more than 350 |
| for human sacrifice. These holes in the ground are | | | | miles of the Yucatan cenotes have been mapped, but |
| formed when the rock is dissolved, creating a | | | | it is an extremely dangerous feat. The next cenote |
| subsurface void. When the water table is below the | | | | could be hundreds of miles away, and it is easy for |
| void in the ceiling, the rock will collapse at an even | | | | divers to get disoriented in direction and lose air. |
| faster rate. | | | | Divers use spools of string that they attach to rock |
| Cenotes vary in size and shape, but the kind most | | | | formations to avoid getting lost. Due to the fresh water |
| often seen resemble circular ponds and can measure | | | | flowing in from the jungle meeting with the ocean's salt |
| many feet in diameter. While the water surface in | | | | water, it creates an illusion in the water, leading divers |
| some cenotes is at ground level, the majority would | | | | to think they have found an area without water. |
| require some bending to reach the water. There are | | | | |