mexico whale sharks/cenotes from cancun

[spencerjb22 4]

Hi,

 

We're off to mexico in july and looking to do a couple of days with whale sharks and also a couple of days photography in the cenotes.

 

Could any advise on photography friendly day boats for the whale sharks and also cenotes with good photo opportunities.

 

 

We are staying in cancun. Any help greatly appreciated.

[eyu 27]

spencerjb22

 

I have been going to Cancun, Cozumel yearly and always use: http://www.mydeeplife.com/

Eduardo is excellent, he does whale sharks, cenotes, drift dives, etc.

I highly recommend him

 

Elmer

Edited April 20, 2015 by eyu

[Alison Perkins 29]

If you sign up to do some cavern tours of the cenotes, then you probably won't be given a choice of dive site, but here are some nice spots:

 

• Cenote Chac Mool - lovely wide cavern opening with interesting boulders
• Cenote Garden of Eden - lots of cenote fish (sailfin molly)
• Cenote Taj Mahal - stunning rays of light beaming down into the dark cavern zone (any "rays of light" sites are time of year-dependent as it will change with the timing and angle of sun overhead)
• Cenote Pit - rays of light
• Cenote Pet Cemetary - bones
• Cenote Angelita - layer of hydrogen sulfide penetrated by fallen trees
• Cenote Car Wash - half the year has a dense green algal bloom across the top, lily pads, lovely big cavern entrance

 

The number of dive sites and photographic opportunities are much greater than that listed above. Cenote Dos Ojos is probably one of the most popular cavern tours but I haven't mentioned it mainly because I think it's a bit too chaotic and they charge for camera access. But it's a zoo for a reason - it's a great dive!

 

If you dive with an operator from the Cancun area, then I would think you are quite likely to go to places like Chac Mool, Eden, Taj Mahal and Chiken-Ha because they are closest. If you were to select an operator in Tulum then I think you would have a greater chance of visiting Grand Cenote, Temple of Doom and Angelita due to proximity.

 

I should qualify that I'm a cave diver, so my time in the Riviera Maya is spent doing self-guided cave diving, not doing cavern tours.

 

This page on my website has cenote-style photos from Angelita and Grand Cenote to give you an idea of photo opportunities:

http://www.inspiredtodive.com/gallery-3.html

Edited April 24, 2015 by Alison Perkins

[MK2 3]

cenotes and whale sharks

Edited April 27, 2015 by MK2

[MK2 3]

There may be some changes this year to the amount of boats allowed and the swimmers distance to the whale sharks. Waiting for confirmation for the changes.

[qwimjim 0]

Hi,

 

We're off to mexico in july and looking to do a couple of days with whale sharks and also a couple of days photography in the cenotes.

 

Could any advise on photography friendly day boats for the whale sharks and also cenotes with good photo opportunities.

 

 

We are staying in cancun. Any help greatly appreciated.

 

All I can say is I did Chac Mool and Kukulkan with Abyss Diving, they are considered "beginner" cenotes and are right beside each other. They were -amazing-. Beautiful turquoise openings with light shafts. I only had time for one day of cenotes but plan to go back for 3-4 days of cenotes. Whale shark snorkeling season is June 1st to Sept 15. Bull sharks are in the winter. Sailfish snorkeling also winter I believe.

[adamhanlon 0]

Most of the whale shark day boats are not really photo friendly. They are not actually out with the sharks for very long (arrive around 10.30 and leave around 1) and tend to be focused on giving their clients a "Disney" type experience rather than the longer time needed in the water with the animals that photographers need.

 

You really want to be based on Isla Mujeres for this.

 

Kaen Doody at Dive Aventuras has a lot of experience in providing excellent photographic experiences in the cenotes.

 

Adam

[qwimjim 0]

What would you recommend for whale sharks? The day boats seem to be the only option to see guaranteed whale sharks?

[adamhanlon 0]

We have one space on the Wetpixel trip......It is the best way to get good images of them

 

http://wetpixel.com/i.php//wetpixelwhalesharks2015/

[qwimjim 0]

We have one space on the Wetpixel trip......It is the best way to get good images of them

 

http://wetpixel.com/i.php//wetpixelwhalesharks2015/

 

Thanks, what time do the boats go out that they are able to avoid the crowds, and anyone know why someone else doesn't offer this (rush hour avoidance) with the day trips?

[MK2 3]

This year there is changes to the amount of boats allowed in the whale shark areas to limit exposure. I am also hearing that there may be a human to shark distance that must be adhered to? So maybe no more closeups?????? Permits have not been issued as of yet for the may 15th start but we are hoping to start tours on may 20.

[Kevster 6]

I am also planning a similar trip this year in July.

 

4-5 days in Isla Mujeres (3 days swim with WS)

4-5 days in Cancun or Playa Del Carmen (3 days diving Cenotes)

Few days topside travel

 

This is a big trip for me , travelling from Oz.

 

I have a few questions.

1. Is it worth travelling to Cuba/Havana for 2 -3 days (UK passport). Would i be able to arrange travel package to Havana from a travel agent in cancun for this trip.

2. What is best place to stay for 3 days diving Cenotes (Cancun or PDC?)

3.For topside attractions is it better being based in Cancun or PDC , e.g for day trip to Chichen Itza

​4. Any hotel recommendations for PDC/Cancun or IM?

Edited May 12, 2015 by Kevster

[qwimjim 0]

I am also planning a similar trip this year in July.

 

4-5 days in Isla Mujeres (3 days swim with WS)

4-5 days in Cancun or Playa Del Carmen (3 days diving Cenotes)

Few days topside travel

 

This is a big trip for me , travelling from Oz.

 

I have a few questions.

1. Is it worth travelling to Cuba/Havana for 2 -3 days (UK passport). Would i be able to arrange travel package to Havana from a travel agent in cancun for this trip.

2. What is best place to stay for 3 days diving Cenotes (Cancun or PDC?)

3.For topside attractions is it better being based in Cancun or PDC , e.g for day trip to Chichen Itza

​4. Any hotel recommendations for PDC/Cancun or IM?

 

1. Cuba has some beautiful postcard beaches, almost everyone stays at all inclusive resorts. Lots of Canadian's as it's the cheapest "Caribbean" destination. Havana is a cool town to wander around in. Food is awful though, they have limited imports. It's a pretty big detour and the diving is allegedly not great save for Jardins de la Reine but that will require a week of your time.

 

2. Almost all of the cenotes you will dive are south of Playa Del Carmen, as far south as Tulum. So I wouldn't stay in Cancun, plus Cancun sucks imo. Big hotels and resorts and nothing else. Might be your style though. PDC has an awesome 2km pedestrian mall down the main drag by the beach if you want to go out at night and try different restaurants. And there's resorts there too so you can get the best of both worlds. I recommend Dave at Abyss for cenotes, Canadian guy in PDC. Knows what he's doing. You could also stay around Tulum which is beautiful and quiet in an all inclusive, just check with dive ops about logistics (picks ups, etc). Unless you're renting a car. Between Playa and Tulum there's Akumal and some other little resort beach areas.

 

3. For Chichen Itza it doesn't matter if you're doing an organized day trip, you should be able to find tours out of either. Both are about 2hrs away. Check out Tulum as well since you're so close, also mayan ruins but smaller but on the water, very scenic. If you have people in your group that aren't diving the cenotes with you, they would probably enjoy Rio Secreto. Also some cenotes are really cool just to swim in

 

4. If you're going all this way and it's your first time I really think you should add a day trip to Cozumel. It's easy to do as a day trip from PDC on a calm day so you don't have to change hotel, etc.. you might as well see what it's like for a day. Ask for one of the Palancar or Columbia dives, they have nice pinnacles, I enjoyed them the most. Cozumel has lots of great restaurants as well. Though having been where you've been lower your expectations as far as sea life and soft coral is concerned But the water can be crystal clear.

Edited May 12, 2015 by qwimjim

[spencerjb22 4]

thanks all, most helpful....will take a good look :-)