| Early this year, a pair of professional divers | | | | of geologists, biologists, chemists and other |
| uncovered a new landmark beneath Cancun and | | | | environmental researchers. |
| the Yucatan Peninsula. After years of searching | | | | Beyond the thrill of the dive, the cave system |
| and thousands of dives, Steve Bogaerts and his | | | | highlights important ecological issues regarding the |
| dive partner, Robbie Schmittner, were able to find | | | | area's drainage patterns. Bogaerts says, "The |
| a connection between two massive underwater | | | | point is that they're so interconnected. There are |
| cave systems. Bogaerts and Schmittner | | | | so many cave systems that if there's a point of |
| performed more than 500 dives of several hours | | | | pollution in any one particular area it can spread |
| over a course of four years to connect the | | | | very extensively throughout the entire system." |
| world's second-longest (Sistema Sac Actun) and | | | | According to the divers, "awareness is growing, |
| third-longest underwater caves (Sistema Nohoch | | | | but it must keep pace with the extremely rapid |
| Nah Chich). Since then, the Sistema Sac Actun | | | | pace of development." |
| (White Cave System) has assumed the title of | | | | For the tourist, the discovery of such |
| the world's largest underwater cave. At over 95 | | | | underground systems has opened the door to |
| miles in length, Sac Actun also stands as the | | | | some of the most incredible dive opportunities in |
| ninth-largest cave in the world, including all dry | | | | the world. Thanks to the connection made early |
| cave systems. | | | | this year, divers can visit several popular cenotes |
| As underground waterways of this size are | | | | while advanced divers can explore the dark |
| certainly rare, the development of the cave | | | | depths of this unique system. Entering the |
| system over thousands of years provides an | | | | system through one of the area's numerous |
| equally interesting story. Several unique factors | | | | cenotes, divers will find over 500,000 feet of |
| play a role in the creation of the area's sinkholes | | | | caves to explore. According to an online message |
| and eventually the underground rivers. The | | | | posted by Bogaerts after the discovery, divers |
| stretch of the Yucatan Peninsula known as the | | | | now have the opportunity to explore several |
| Riviera Maya rests on a base of porous limestone, | | | | popular cenotes as part of a single cave. He |
| a stone that allows rainwater to easily enter the | | | | claims that "it is now possible to traverse from |
| underground cave systems. Meanwhile, the | | | | the Pabilany cenote - west of the Calimba cenote |
| rainforests of the Yucatan Peninsula attract | | | | on the Coba Road - around the Grand Cenote |
| considerable precipitation, all of which drains | | | | (Sac Actun), Cenote Esqueleto (Temple of |
| toward the Caribbean Sea. | | | | Doom), Cenote Naval, Cenote Abejas, Cenote |
| After the water seeps through the limestone and | | | | Nohoch Kin, bypass Manati, press on to |
| moves slowly east, the relatively flat ground near | | | | Balancanche, Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich, pass by |
| the coastline fosters the creation of sinkholes - | | | | the Dinner Hole Cenote and end up in the Dirty |
| known to divers and scientists as cenotes. | | | | Dog or Pet Cemetery Cenotes." If you are |
| Underground, the water becomes slightly acidic | | | | familiar with diving around Cancun or have begun |
| and dissolves rock as it moves, carving out these | | | | researching your trip to the area, this new path is |
| remarkable caves. In fact, these unique ecological | | | | sure to excite. |
| elements were also responsible for the world's | | | | Bogaerts and Schmitter will continue exploring the |
| previous longest underground cave system - the | | | | Riviera Maya's underwater caves, searching for |
| 91-mile Sistema Ox Bel Ha, also located in the | | | | more connections. Some have speculated that |
| Riviera Maya. | | | | Sistema Sac Actun could be connected to at least |
| The cenotes, caves and rivers have played an | | | | two additional cave systems, caves that would |
| important role in the cultural history of the region, | | | | add an additional 125 miles in length. There is even |
| as well. The Mayan culture depended on the fresh | | | | a possibility that the Riviera Maya might surpass |
| water found in these systems for centuries, while | | | | the world's largest cave system - a title currently |
| the underground rivers currently support the | | | | held by the 360-mile Mammoth Cave system in |
| tourist industries of Cancun and Cozumel. At the | | | | Kentucky. |
| same time, the rivers are important to scientists | | | | Time will tell what else lies beneath Cancun and |
| analyzing the human impact on the environment. | | | | the Riviera Maya. In the meantime, visitors can |
| In fact, Bogaerts states that the adventurous | | | | explore some of the most important - and |
| divers seeking out the connections of | | | | undeniably unique - caves in the world. |
| underground rivers serve as the "eyes and hands" | | | | |