| The Rivera Maya: Boasting the world's second | | | | life in the warm waters of the Caribbean, but the |
| largest barrier reef in the world, The Great Maya | | | | underground caves and river system brings a |
| Reef, second only to Australia's Great Barrier | | | | whole other element to diving and exploration. |
| Reef, makes the Rivera Maya a world wide | | | | With over 200 miles of underground caves and |
| destination for divers, and underwater | | | | rivers the Riviera Maya has become a top |
| adventurers. The Great Maya Reef stretches | | | | destination, not only for open water ocean dives, |
| from Cabo Catoche, about 53 kilometers (33 | | | | but for cavern and cave diving as well. There are |
| miles) north of Cancun, to the Bay Islands of | | | | no rivers, or fresh water sources, that run above |
| Honduras, 455 kilometers (285 miles) south of | | | | ground in the Riviera Maya so the cenotes, or sink |
| Playa del Carmen, and offers a myriad of dive | | | | holes, were the only way the Mayans got their |
| sights, ranging in depth and difficulty. | | | | fresh water. Because of this they were |
| This marvelous coral reef, also known as the | | | | considered sacred to the ancient Maya, and still |
| Mesoamerican reef, which skirts the coasts of | | | | play a significant role in modern life and |
| Belize, Guatemala on down to Honduras is home | | | | celebrations. |
| to multiple types of amazing corals, magnificent | | | | Divers and explorers can now enter this |
| sea turtles and over 500 species of fish and other | | | | underwater world through the cenotes, which can |
| sea life. The part of the reef that stretches along | | | | be located right on the shores of the Caribbean, |
| the Mexican coastline is 300 kilometers (186 miles) | | | | or deeper into the jungle flora. The Rivera Maya |
| long, and, in many parts, the reef is extremely | | | | has more then 75 known cave systems which |
| deep with some marked dive sites reaching more | | | | have been mapped and surveyed and they cover |
| then 30 meters or just under 100 feet. There are | | | | approximately 611 kilometers/ 380 miles. Even |
| even deeper sights that can be explored, but | | | | with that impressive number it is estimated that |
| these sites require more training and experience. | | | | there is as much as 50% or more that has yet |
| There are more than 70 named dive sites | | | | to be explored and documented. Discovered just |
| between Punta Maroma and Tulum right along the | | | | a little over twenty years ago, the underground |
| Rivera Maya. The majority of the marked dive | | | | river system has very little current, temperate |
| sites located on the Rivera Maya are only a short | | | | waters (25 degrees Celsius/ 78 degrees |
| boat ride away from such resort areas as Playa | | | | Fahrenheit), and the water is so clear that visibility |
| del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras, Akumal and | | | | is virtually unlimited. Add this to the fact that all |
| Tulum. Some of the more popular dive spots are | | | | you need is an open water certification to |
| Cerebros, Los Arcos, Pared Verde (Green Wall), | | | | experience the exhilaration of cave diving, and it |
| Moc Che Deep, Moc Che, Chum Zumbal, Jardines, | | | | has become a major attraction to the Rivera |
| Sabatos, Tortugas, Barracuda, and Mama Vina. | | | | Maya for divers from all parts of the globe. |
| Not only are there amazing coral, plant, and fish | | | | |