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Nohoch Nah Chich

                             "The Giant Birdhouse"

 A Fabulous Cenote for Snorkeling and Cave Diving

     If you are looking for an ultimate adventure with a look at the past and a view of an incredible underground geological cosmic world, consider this treat to get your juices flowing for sheer, inexpensive excitement.   Imagine yourself being able to swim 500 feet/150 meters back in an underwater cave that allows you to float along a trail of air domes decorated with an array of stalactites and awesome ornaments created by the genius of nature's tremendous creativity.  It's now available for anyone who has the desire to jump in the water, swim around with a life jacket, mask and snorkel.  It's fun, simple and totally different.

     This impressive cenote is located on the Mayan ranch of the "Don" Pedro Rodriquez Utizel, his wife and is family of three sons along with their wives and children.  You will visit and see how people live a beautiful lifestyle deep into the Yucatan jungle, completely self-supported by the luxury of the water from the cenote, the farm animals that provide the food along with the comforts of all materials provided from the surrounding jungle area.

     Explored by cave divers during the past seventeen years, Nohoch Nah Chich is recognized as the world's third longest underwater cave system with over 189,000 feet/92,425 meters of surveyed passageways.  With depths averaging seventeen feet/5.4 meters, this monster cave system is the gateway to a Disney World of spectacular beauty.  Film producers from around the world, which has earned Nohoch a reputation known throughout the scuba diving industry, have made several documentary films.  This cave is so stunning, that all cave divers who visit the Riviera Maya make the effort to make a dive at this gorgeous labyrinth.

     "Don" Pedro and his sons have built and provided a safe and easy access.  Using timber from the jungle, they have constructed stairways, boardwalks and platforms to make your adventure enjoyable and convenient for your snorkeling or cave diving.  They have also built two marvelous palapa bathrooms with tile floor and solar powered ventilation that is spotlessly clean along with a dressing room for both men and women.  The ranch is a joy to see and learn how this amazing family works together, making every part of your visit a safe, relaxing and enjoyable experience.

   For snorkelers, your adventure begins with a thorough orientation of what to expect and what you will see.   No fins are allowed in order to protect and preserve this very special and fragile ecosystem.  You will notice from the beginning how there is no damage of any sort in the cave and everything is still the same since it was first discovered in November, 1987.  Using a lifejacket vest, mask, snorkel and light, your professional guide will lead you through a trail of gigantic air domes that are literally covered with an array of speleothems of every dimension.  You will witness and learn how these magnificent decorations form and how it is so important to understand this pristine environment and safeguard this precious underground world.  You will be stunned by the beauty and very happy with yourself that you made the decision and effort in visiting this special cenote.

     For cave divers, the adventure begins with being able to drive out to the ranch. You can have your gear lowered down by rope to the wooden deck and placed on convenient tables located a few steps from the water or you gear up by your vehicle and walk around and down to the water.  You cannot make it any easier than how this hard-working Mayan family makes your cave diving trip to Nohoch Nah Chich.  Swimming into the cave system on the main line, you will be greeted at 800 feet in by the magnificent Heaven's Gate - an impressive 20 foot tall wall of flowstone that motivates you to "bow" in its presence.  Continuing beyond you will be slapped from all directions the assortment of huge and unique formations that made this section be called Disneyland.  From there, it is your choice of so many different passageways to explore such as J.J's Loop, Ron's Line, Joanie's line, Parker's line, Charlie's line and Alberto's line.  Anywhere you go it will seem like a constant video of spectacular sights.  It is so highly decorated that your brain cannot absorb and comprehend everything there is to see.  Your cave dives at Nohoch will be the highlight treat during your cave diving adventure trip to the Riviera Maya.

     I love to take cave divers out to Nohoch Nah Chich and show them this awesome cave system.  We can dive the main line upstream and usually swim almost 4,000 feet on a set of double 80 aluminum tanks.  The downstream dive to Cenote Natural Bridge is just as impressive.  My favorite passage to dive is Ron's line.  Why?  The most amazing display of helagtites you will ever see.  When the cave was dry, the wind blowing through it allowed nature to push the calcium carbonate into spectacular upward directions dazzling the imagination.  You cannot be disappointed anywhere you swim in this magnificent cave system.  

Note:  The dive site fee is now 100 pesos per diver (in the past it was 200 pesos).

Steve Gerrard lives in the Puerto Aventuras marina resort.  He has been safely teaching cave diving for twenty five years.  His favorite activity is underwater cave photography using the NIKON 100 digital camera with a Light & Motion Titan Housing using Ikelite strobes.  He is the author of the famous guidebook titled - THE CENOTES OF THE RIVIERIA MAYA and soon to be published  CENOTE DIVING - SAFE & FUN.   You can contact Steve at:

stevegerrard@cavediver.com  or  www.steve-gerrard.com