What Certification Do You Need for Cenote Diving in Tulum?
Not sure if your current certification is enough? Here's exactly what each level unlocks — from your very first cenote experience with no cert at all, to full cave exploration.
No certification
You can still experience cenotes! A Discover Scuba Diving session (no prior experience needed) or snorkeling in open cenotes like Casa Cenote, Ponderosa or Car Wash is available to everyone.
- ✓ Snorkeling in open cenotes
- ✓ Discover Scuba Diving intro experience
- ✓ Casa Cenote (lagoon)
- ✓ Ponderosa / Garden of Eden
- ✓ Car Wash (Aktun Ha)
- ✗ Cavern or cave diving
- ✗ Deep cenotes like The Pit or Angelita
Open Water Diver (OWD)
The standard entry-level certification. It's all you need to access the majority of cenote experiences in Tulum, including the most famous sites in the world.
- ✓ Dos Ojos (Barbie Line & Bat Cave)
- ✓ Nicte-Ha
- ✓ Tajma Ha
- ✓ Chikin Ha (beginner routes)
- ✓ Casa Cenote (diving)
- ✓ Ponderosa (diving)
- ✓ Most cavern-zone tours
- ✗ Deep cenotes (The Pit, Angelita)
- ✗ Technical cave systems beyond natural light
Advanced Open Water (AOW)
Unlocks the most iconic and dramatic cenotes. The deep diver specialty (included in AOW) is required to reach the halocline at Angelita or the light beams of The Pit.
- ✓ The Pit (up to 40 m)
- ✓ Cenote Angelita (hydrogen sulfide river illusion)
- ✓ Dream Gate
- ✓ Hell's Bells (Cenote Zapote)
- ✓ All Open Water sites
- ✗ Full cave diving beyond natural-light zone
Cave Diver
A specialty technical certification for divers who want to venture fully into underwater cave systems, beyond the natural light zone. Requires cave diving training after AOW.
- ✓ Full cave passages in Sac Actún & Nohoch Nah Chich systems
- ✓ Exploration dives in mapped cave networks
- ✓ All previous levels
Common Questions
Not Sure Which Cenote Is Right for You?
Tell us your certification level and we'll recommend the perfect cenote — whether it's your first dive or you're going after The Pit.
What our divers say
"An incredible experience. This is my second time diving with them. Last year I dived Dos Ojos and Nicte Ha — this summer I did two reef dives in Tulum and they were the best dives of my life. Super friendly and professional, everything is included and the equipment is in great condition."
"We spent the last two days diving with Diego and had an amazing time. We dived Dos Ojos cenote — it was magical. Then Playa del Carmen for bull sharks: 8–9 sharks circling us calmly… an unforgettable experience. Diego took excellent care of us. Highly recommend!"
"A fantastic place to learn to scuba dive. Pegy is an exceptional instructor. The cenote was even more beautiful than I imagined — so many fish, blue crabs, mangroves and even a crocodile tail in the water! Then a reef dive right in front. Very relaxing. Thank you Diego and Pegy!"
"Diving in the cenotes was an incredible experience — without a doubt the highlight of my trip to Mexico! Diego was a fantastic instructor, very relaxed, explained everything clearly and was great to chat with. Highly recommend!"
"An incredible experience. This is my second time diving with them. Last year I dived Dos Ojos and Nicte Ha — this summer I did two reef dives in Tulum and they were the best dives of my life. Super friendly and professional, everything is included and the equipment is in great condition."
"We spent the last two days diving with Diego and had an amazing time. We dived Dos Ojos cenote — it was magical. Then Playa del Carmen for bull sharks: 8–9 sharks circling us calmly… an unforgettable experience. Diego took excellent care of us. Highly recommend!"
"A fantastic place to learn to scuba dive. Pegy is an exceptional instructor. The cenote was even more beautiful than I imagined — so many fish, blue crabs, mangroves and even a crocodile tail in the water! Then a reef dive right in front. Very relaxing. Thank you Diego and Pegy!"
"Diving in the cenotes was an incredible experience — without a doubt the highlight of my trip to Mexico! Diego was a fantastic instructor, very relaxed, explained everything clearly and was great to chat with. Highly recommend!"
"An incredible experience. This is my second time diving with them. Last year I dived Dos Ojos and Nicte Ha — this summer I did two reef dives in Tulum and they were the best dives of my life. Super friendly and professional, everything is included and the equipment is in great condition."
"We spent the last two days diving with Diego and had an amazing time. We dived Dos Ojos cenote — it was magical. Then Playa del Carmen for bull sharks: 8–9 sharks circling us calmly… an unforgettable experience. Diego took excellent care of us. Highly recommend!"
"A fantastic place to learn to scuba dive. Pegy is an exceptional instructor. The cenote was even more beautiful than I imagined — so many fish, blue crabs, mangroves and even a crocodile tail in the water! Then a reef dive right in front. Very relaxing. Thank you Diego and Pegy!"
"Diving in the cenotes was an incredible experience — without a doubt the highlight of my trip to Mexico! Diego was a fantastic instructor, very relaxed, explained everything clearly and was great to chat with. Highly recommend!"
"An incredible experience. This is my second time diving with them. Last year I dived Dos Ojos and Nicte Ha — this summer I did two reef dives in Tulum and they were the best dives of my life. Super friendly and professional, everything is included and the equipment is in great condition."
"We spent the last two days diving with Diego and had an amazing time. We dived Dos Ojos cenote — it was magical. Then Playa del Carmen for bull sharks: 8–9 sharks circling us calmly… an unforgettable experience. Diego took excellent care of us. Highly recommend!"
"A fantastic place to learn to scuba dive. Pegy is an exceptional instructor. The cenote was even more beautiful than I imagined — so many fish, blue crabs, mangroves and even a crocodile tail in the water! Then a reef dive right in front. Very relaxing. Thank you Diego and Pegy!"
"Diving in the cenotes was an incredible experience — without a doubt the highlight of my trip to Mexico! Diego was a fantastic instructor, very relaxed, explained everything clearly and was great to chat with. Highly recommend!"