Cave Diving The Big Four
The world's best cave diving is in the Riviera Maya of Mexico's Yucatan Caribbean coast from Puerto Morelos traveling south beyond the village of Tulum. Within this 100 kilometer distance includes over 150+ explored, surveyed cave systems. With consistent, year-round crystal clear water, relative shallow depths, warm 77 degree Fahrenheit temperatures and usually an outstanding array of decorations and speleothems, what better conditions can you ask for? You cannot find a more exceptional concentration of underwater cave systems within such a close proximity providing the cave diver with the best environment to safely dive and enjoy.
The four longest underwater cave systems in the world are:
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1.
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SISTEMA SAC AKTUN
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503,933 ft/153,599 m
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2.
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SISTEMA OX BEL HA
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481,500 ft/146,761 m
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3.
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SISTEMA DOS OJOS
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186,363 feet+/56,803*
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4.
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LEON SINKS
CAVE SYSTEM, FL.
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125,000 ft+/38,226*
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Finishing up the top 9 are:
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5.
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SISTEMA NARANJAL
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70,619 ft/21,525 m
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6.
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SISTEMA TOH HA
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57,807 ft/17,620 m
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7.
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SISTEMA PONDEROSA
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49, 274 ft/15,019 m
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8.
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SISTEMA PITCH
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45,000 ft/13,636 m
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9.
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SISTEMA YAXCHEN
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42,947 ft/13,090 m
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*Approximate lengths as various sources of data conflict with the exact amount.
Eight of the nine longest cave systems in the world are within the extraordinary RIVIERA MAYA area.
There is so much guideline laid and surveyed, most conservative estimates put it over 2 million ft/655,738 m or equivalent to 379 miles of explored and surveyed underwater passages. That is an astonishing number of caves to explore and see.
Many people continually ask me the question, what is my favorite underwater cave to dive. To be fair, I do not have a favorite. Each cave system has its own personality and qualities. There is a story to each one. In fact, I have not had the opportunity to dive every cave system and every explored cave passage. It is literally impossible to do. You could dive every day for the next 10 years (3,650 days) and not be able to explore all of the known underwater cave passages.
I can offer this: Here are some of my favorite dives for particular interests or purposes. They are:
OVERALL PHOTOGRAPHY
Sistema Calavera
Grand Cenote
Cenote Calimba
Sistema Tuhs Kupaxa
Cenote Jailhouse
Cenote I-Hop
Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich
Cenote Chan Hol
Cenote Caracol
Sistema
Mundo Escondido
DPV CAVE SYSTEMS
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To the "Blue Abyss"
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Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich
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To "The Pit"
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Cenote Dos Ojos
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To the "LSD area"
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Cenote Dos Ojos
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Cenote Zapata upstream to "The Ball Park"
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Sistema Ox Bel Ha
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Cenote Naharon to Mayan Blue & back
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Sistema Naranjal
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Cenote Jailhouse
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Sistema Naranjal
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The Tour
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Sistema PonDeRosa
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The Tour -
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Sistema Chac Mool
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The Tour
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Sistema Taj Mahal
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The Tour - Cenote Muchachos
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Sistema Camilo
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BIG ROOMS
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The Wakulla Room in "The Pit"
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Sistema Dos Ojos
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"The Blue Abyss"
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Sistema Nohoch Nah Chich
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"The Chinese Garden
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Sistema Taj Mahal
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"The Hall of Giants"
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Sistema Temple of Doom
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"The Battleship Room"
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Sistema Naranjal
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"The City of Agre"
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Sistema Taj Mahal
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"The Monster House"
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Sistema Chac Mool
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"The Coliseum Room"
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Sistema Temple of Doom
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BEAUTIFUL ROOMS & PASSAGEWAYS
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Room Of Tears
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Sistema Carwash
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Chinese Garden
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Sistema Taj Mahal
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The Chapel
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Sistema PonDeRosa
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Disneyland including "Heaven's Gate"
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Sistema Nohoch Nah Chich
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The Cuzan Nah loop
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Sistema Sac Aktun
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Cenote I-Hop |
Sistema Sac Aktun |
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Upstream mainline
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Sistema Mundo Escondido
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Wonderland
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Sistema Aktun Koh
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The Bosh Chen loop
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Sistema Sac Aktun
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The China Shop
The Main Line
The Main Line
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Sistema Xilbalba
Sistema Chan Hol
Sistema Caracol
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Downstream |
Cenote Jailhouse |
LONGEST UNDERWATER STALACTITES
The Drip Water Stone - 40 ft. The Monster House, Sistema Chac Mool
The Fang - 21 ft, Hall of Giants, Sistema Temple of Doom
DEEPEST DIVES
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The Pit - 363 ft/119.1 m.
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Sistema Dos Ojos
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The Blue Abyss Room - 235 ft/77 m.
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Sistema Sac Aktun
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209 ft/69 m.
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Sistema Aak Kimin
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209 ft/69 m.
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Sistema Tam Ha
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199 ft/65 m.
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Cenote Angilita
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175 ft/57 m.
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Sistema Doble Dicha
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LARGE POWER PASSAGES
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The Jumna River.
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Sistema Taj Mahal
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The Monster Canyon.
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Sistema Toucha Ha
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Cindy's Line and beyond.
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Sistema Camilo
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The main line upstream the first 9,000 ft.
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Sistema Nohoch Nah Chich
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The Glory Run & the Freshwater line.
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Sistema Tortuga
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Cenote Zapata upstream - Ballpark line.
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Sistema Ox Bel Ha
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Cenote Mayan Blue - "B" to "E" to "F" lines.
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Sistema Naranjal
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The upstream mainline.
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Sistema Aktun Koh
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The upstream mainline.
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Sistema Chac Mool
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The upstream mainline.
The upstream mainline.
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Sistema Crustecea
Sistema Chac Mool
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Cenote Naval upstream.
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Sistma Sac Aktun
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Cenote Jailhouse downstream.
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Sistema Naranjal
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These favorites only represent a sample of what exists in the immeasurable underwater cave systems of the Riviera Maya. There is much more to explore and discover. If you have any questions, please email me at:
stevegerrard@cavediver.com
If I do not know the answer then I can tell you who may know, as there is such a great deal to learn and understand. Be safe and have fun!!
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