Enter the garden of Eden and sink into its depths. Watch Sailfin Mollies corral females with their flamboyant displays, see million year old fossils embedded in every rock and dramatic displays of lights.
Cenote Eden - Scuba Tour Info
Certification required: Open Water
Camera entrance fee: Free
How deep is Eden? The maximum depth is 15m/50ft
How far is Eden from Playa del Carmen? 30km to the South
How far is Eden from Tulum? 40km to the North
Can you snorkel in Eden?Yes
Tour duration: 6-8 hours
Best combined with: Cenote Tajma Ha
Price: $3600 combined with one dive in Tajma Ha, everything included
Cenote Eden
At first sight you can see how this huge pool circled by jungle got its name.
Just under the surface lie algae covered rocks, a perfect habitat for many fish species, the most stunning being the Sailfin Molly males. They flare up their vibrant dorsal fin and swim back and forth around the females in a herding like manner.
Enter the cavern zone passing through an enormous white tunnel towards Cenote Coral, towards the “Mexican Northern lights”, a wall of dancing beams splitting into rainbows as they hit the rock.
Even on a cloudy day cenote Eden is very impressive, notice the insane number of fossilized shells in this cenote. Huge conch sticking out of the rock, flush swirling cross sections and thousands of other small shells scattered all over.
Observe the distinct temperature change as you pass through the halocline, the difference between the fresh and saltwater can be as great as 3°c/37°f. You can feel as if you passed into another realm seeing the simmering ceiling of fresh water above you.
This cenote is also great for non divers, its clear shallow waters and many platforms to lie on. You can even cliff jump or enjoy a free pedicure from the garra rufa fish.
Diving this cenote
This cenote is a one tank dive and is best combined with a dive in Cenote Tajma Ha.
As with most cenote tours we will meet around 8am at the dive shop to sort out scuba gear and paperwork, before heading off for our dives. Lunch is also included.
We suggest you bring a towel and a dry set of clothes. Keep in mind as in all cenotes sunscreen, cosmetics and insect repellent are banned due to the conservation of the site.
The History
Cenote Eden aka Ponderosa the name for the cave system which it is a part of, joining many of the neighbouring cenotes you will pass on the highway, including Cenote Cristalino, Cenote Kantun Chi, Cenote Chickin Ha and Cenote Azul.
It was in June 1990 that Bill and Joyce Matthews of Paalmu told Tony & Nancy DeRosa about a cenote on a friend’s property. A large pool of water, in which was quickly discovered a 300 feet traverse to a second cenote. They returned in the second week of July with Steve Gerrard and the team of three spent four amazing days laying line, naming cenotes, hallways and big rooms. The name Ponderosa comes from the explorer’s surname.
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Our guide Liz was THE BEST! She is just amazing. Great personality, SUPER knowledgeable, and extremely … More experienced diver! Andres was great too - such an amazing soul! Great conversations and amazing dives - extremely well spent days on our trip. Great communication, easy going, and transitioned our dive plan for the last day with ease due to undesirable weather for Cozumel dives. We did 2 ocean dives in Playa Del Carmen and 5 cenote dives over 3 days (The Pit, Chac Mool x2, Angelita, Car Wash). I don’t even know which was my favorite because they were all amazing and unique in their own right. Liz even held onto our dive gear for us overnight (including rinsing/drying). Not having to lug it back and forth to the resort and worry about how to rinse and dry it ourselves was huge! We will DEFINITELY be diving with Jaguar again next time we’re in town!!!
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Two open water dives and two cenote dives both were excellent experiences. Liz is an outstanding master … More diver/guide! I will definitely dive with them again.
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I had a wonderful time! Very professional shop.
