Cenote Yax-Chen

★★★★☆ (190)

Yax chen means green pond in Mayan. Open cenote of the Ox Bel Ha system. On average 5-7 meters deep, the bottom composed of tiny shells, sediment and algae is very sensitive. Large boulders allow for areas where you can stand. With rain the tannic acid creates a colorful thermocline on the surface.

It is a lake like cenote surrounded by mangroves. Here you can find tarpon, blue crabs, small croc as well as other varieties of fresh water fish.

Dive Activity

Dive Centers Catering This Dive Site

Be Diving, Bedivingmxmx

Be Diving, Bedivingmxmx

Calle 1 Sur Entre 25 y 30, 77710 Playa del Carmen, QR - Mexico
Underworld Tulum

Underworld Tulum

Mz 526 Lt 01 Calle Rio Angostura, 77760 Tulum, QR - Mexico
Scuba Tulum

Scuba Tulum

Calle 16 Sur MZ 744, 77760 Tulum, QR - Mexico
Get Wet Dive Shop

Get Wet Dive Shop

Andromeda Ote Mz 6, Lt. 9A, 77760 Tulum, QR - Mexico

KOOX ADVENTURE CENTER, BAR LAS MULATAS S.A DE C.V.

Av. Coba Sur Entre Calle 7 y Calle 9 MZA 107 Lote2_1, 77760 Tulum, QR - Mexico

DiveinPlaya by Scuba Tulum

Av. 40 Mz 68 Lt 1, entre calle 4 Nte y 4 Bis, 77710 Playa del Carmen, QR - Mexico

Dive Sites Nearby

MAR ADENTRO DIVING, 77976 Mahahual
La Poza, Xcalak (★4.7)

La Poza, Xcalak (★4.7)

An very nice underwater trench that makes for a beautiful wall dive. Current can sometimes convert it into drift diving. The depth ranges from 5 m/15 ft to 26m/90ft. It is full of alcoves where fish hide and tower-like structures of coral at the end of the dive.
MAR ADENTRO DIVING, 77976 Mahahual
La China Nómada (★4.7)

La China Nómada (★4.7)

This site is born from the millenial growth of the coral reef, giving birth to taller walls and a wide and a narrow canyon where a shark sometimes comes to rest. Following the walls while hunting lionfish will lead you to two islands surrounded by big specimens of barrel sponges.
Mares, Predrag Vuckovic
Mahahual Reef (★4.6)

Mahahual Reef (★4.6)

Mahahual Reef sits on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the second-largest reef system in the world and boasts crystal clear water, healthy coral, colorful sponges, and tons of reef life.
Buceando Mahahual, 77976 Mahahual
Acuario (★4.6)

Acuario (★4.6)

Shallow easy reef dive site. Maximum depth 13m. Mixture of sandy areas and reef. Ideal for Basic Diver and Open Water courses, also excellent training dive site with a large sandy area by the boat moooring line.
MAR ADENTRO DIVING, 77976 Mahahual
Simio Bipolar (★4.6)

Simio Bipolar (★4.6)

It is a group of coral islands on a flat sandy bottom. It is very appropriate for both very beginners and for Open Water divers as depth ranges from 9 meters/30 feet to 15 meters/50 feet. Visibility is usually more than 20 meters/65 feet and the abundance of fish on the coral islands is an admirable beauty.
WALDEMAR W. (#83176)
Cenote Angelita (★4.7)

Cenote Angelita (★4.7)

​Scuba diving in Cenote Angelita, located approximately 17 km south of Tulum, offers a surreal and unforgettable experience for advanced divers.
Mares
Cenote Chan Hol (★4.8)

Cenote Chan Hol (★4.8)

Chan Hol, part of the Toh ha cave system, is a cenote and submerged cave system in Quintana Roo, Mexico, of interest to paleoanthropologists. The remains of three prehistoric human fossils were discovered within the cave system.
Get Wet, 77760 Tulum
Laguna Kaan Luum (★4.7)

Laguna Kaan Luum (★4.7)

The central cenote in Kaan Luum reaches depths of up to 80 meters (262 feet), creating a stark contrast with the shallow, turquoise waters surrounding it.
Get Wet, 77760 Tulum
Dreams Reef (★4.5)

Dreams Reef (★4.5)

Tulum is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the second-largest coral reef system in the world. Dive sites like Cuevitas and Dreams are a short boat ride from Tulum’s coast.​
Get Wet, 77760 Tulum
Cuevitas (★4.5)

Cuevitas (★4.5)

Cuevitas, meaning “Little Caves“ in Spanish, is a popular reef dive site located off the coast of Tulum. Situated approximately a 10-minute boat ride from Casa Cenote, it offers divers an opportunity to explore a series of small arches and vibrant coral formations. ​
Get Wet, 77760 Tulum
Tankah II (★4.6)

Tankah II (★4.6)

Tankah Bay, located just north of Tulum, Mexico offers excellent scuba diving opportunities for both beginners and experienced divers. The bay is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef system, the second-largest coral reef in the world, providing diverse marine life and vibrant coral formations.
Kevin K. (#2898220)
Casa Cenote (★4.5)

Casa Cenote (★4.5)

Located near Tulum, Casa Cenote is one of the few cenotes that are open to beginning divers. It is also great for snorkelers due to its openness to the area around it, easy access, and clear waters. This cenote has clear emerald water and many fun caverns to explore.
Scuba XOC Dive Center, 77675 Cozumel
Maracaibo Reef (★4.4)

Maracaibo Reef (★4.4)

Maracaibo Reef is the Southernmost dive site on Cozumel’s Eastern shore. It is a deep drop-off with a large arch, one of Cozumel’s famous underwater landmarks.
Scuba XOC Dive Center, 77675 Cozumel
Chunchacah (★4.6)

Chunchacah (★4.6)

In the shallower area adjacent to Maracaibo, this long stretch is populated with large coral heads and abundant fan corals. The depth is a constant 70 ft/21m through the entire site, with currents often unpredicatble. This is one of the southernmost dive sites in Cozumel and often the second dive after Maracaibo.
LECH W. (#381052)
Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha) (★4.7)

Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha) (★4.7)

Cenote Carwash is also referred to as Cenote Aktun Ha, located outside Tulum. Taxi drivers (not divers :) ) used to wash their cars here due to the easy access. No more car washing takes place here but it is an easy, interesting dive.
Dive with Purpose Cozumel, 77675 Cozumel
Punta Sur - Devil’s Throat (★4.6)

Punta Sur - Devil’s Throat (★4.6)

Sites in Punta Sur are for advanced level divers due formidable prevailing currents and the typical depths of these sites. Devil’s Throat is a famous passage located on the southernmost end, with an entry point at around 90 feet deep and winds down to 140 feet through a lengthy, narrow downward cavern.
Mares
Colombia Reef (★4.5)

Colombia Reef (★4.5)

Colombia Reef is well known for its shallow, colorful reef and deeper drop-off. The current is moderate and this site is usually done as a drift dive. There are lots of fun swim-throughs and overhangs to explore.
Mares, Janez Kranjc
Cenote Dream Gate (★4.8)

Cenote Dream Gate (★4.8)

Cenote Dream Gate is world renowned as part of the original Sac Actun system, the largest underground river systems in the world. It also gives you the chance to explore 2 cavern circuits of about 40 minutes each, while observing huge calcareous columns, stalactites and stalagmites.
Mares
Colombia Deep (★4.6)

Colombia Deep (★4.6)

Columbia Deep is renowned for its dramatic underwater topography, featuring towering coral pinnacles, expansive sand chutes, and intricate swim-throughs. The reef begins around 50 feet and plunges into the abyss, offering a sense of vastness and exploration
Action-Sport Erlangen, 91052 Erlangen
Cenote Tak Be Lum (★4.7)

Cenote Tak Be Lum (★4.7)

Cenote with dripstones, Well accessible via stairs. Good entry - beware of silt out. Maximum 4 - 6m deep and partly very shallow. Must have good buoyancy.
Dive with Purpose Cozumel, 77675 Cozumel
Palancar Bricks (★4.6)

Palancar Bricks (★4.6)

The southernmost section of the famous Palancar Reef, Palancar Bricks is suitable for divers of all experience levels due to multiple swim throughs are various depths, multi-level diving, and macro photography.
Scuba XOC Dive Center, 77675 Cozumel
Colombia Shallows (★4.5)

Colombia Shallows (★4.5)

With a max depth of 25 feet, this is the perfect site for beginner training, new divers, update classes, or divers looking for an abundance of marine life and long bottom times. Endless photography opportunities for experts & novice UW photographers is also a plus!
DIVEMEX, 77710 Playa del Carmen
Cenote El Pit (★4.8)

Cenote El Pit (★4.8)

DEEP DIVE BUT NOT OVERHEAD , HYDROGEN SULFIDE CLOUD AND AMAZING ROCK FORMATIONS , BEAUTIFUL LIGHT ENTRY’S , THE STEPS DOWN TO THE ENTRY COULD BE A BIT SLIPPERY, RECOMMENDED TO USE BOOTS. THE WATER PRESENTS A STRONG HALOCLINE. ICE ICE MAMMALS REMAINS HAVE BEEN FOUND THERE
Alma S. (#3802874)
Cenote Nicte Ha (★4.8)

Cenote Nicte Ha (★4.8)

In the Ejido Jacinto Pat, on the same road as Cenote Dos Ojos, Cenote the Pit, Nicte ha, and a few others. 10 minutes north of Tulum. Average depth is 4-5 meters, must have very good buoyancy to enjoy this dive.