"Cenotes", the sinkholes/karst windows that appeared as parts of cave ceilings collapsed, leaving holes in the ground that give invariably easy access to the underground rivers, were considered to be "windows to the underworld" by the Mayan inhabitants of the region, whose cultural period reached its pinnacle from 300 A.D. to 900 A.D.. Evidence of ceremonies honoring the deities of the underworld can be found in some cave and cavern passages.

Have a look at our GUIDED CAVERN DIVING or CAVE DIVING.

THE CAVERNS AND CAVES OF THE RIVIERA MAYA
Formed millions of years ago, the Yucatan Peninsula (the region of the Riviera Maya) is a limestone platform about 1.5 miles/2.5 km thick. Ocean levels rose and fell during various glacial periods and the Peninsula changed from being above to below water, and vice-versa.

During colder periods, when the oceans were more iced-up, thereby dropping the water level, rain fell on the Riviera Maya and seeped into the rock, absorbing carbon dioxide from organic matter, creating a mild solution of carbonic acid, which slowly dissolved the weaker rock beneath and eventually formed underground passages leading towards the ocean.
This process led to the formation of speleothems (stalagmites, flowstones, flowers) as the liquid stone solidified to create landscapes that escape words.
At the end of the last ice age, approximately 18,000 years ago, the ocean levels rose by approximately 330 ft/100m, flooding these passages and creating the underwater environment we call "Cave Heaven".

If you want to go into more detail, please visit wikipedia
If you want to know about cave life, visit the Quintana Roo Speleological Survey (QRSS) web site

Please remember:
LEAVE ONLY BUBBLES, KILL ONLY TIME, TAKE ONLY MEMORIES

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