See our Merida trip in photos & videos here
From February 7-12, 2026 a dozen women from around the world met in Merida, Yucatan to dive some of the most unique dive sites in the world.
What are Cenotes?
A long long time ago, the Yucatan Peninsula was the limestone seabed of a shallow, tropical ocean. Then, about 66 million years ago, a massive asteroid struck Earth just north of Mérida. This impact fractured the limestone and created cracks in the bedrock.
Whether you are hiking, snorkeling, or just walking around town, if you come across a piece of limestone you will likely find fossils of ancient corals and marine life embedded in the rock.
Over time, rainwater seeped into these cracks and slowly dissolved the limestone, eventually creating an underground network of tunnels and caves.
As water dripped through the rock, it left behind small mineral deposits. Over thousands of years, these deposits formed stalactites on the ceiling and stalagmites on the floor. These formations grow extremely slowly, at a rate of about 1 centimeter every 100 years! Many of the formations seen today have been developing for tens of thousands of years.
Eventually, these caverns filled with fresh groundwater. In some areas, the ceiling collapsed, exposing the cave below. This created the sinkholes known as cenotes. Other sections remain fully enclosed underground.
All cenotes in the Yucatán are connected through this underground river system. Even when they appear separate on the surface, they are part of one continuous network. This system stretches across the peninsula, from Mérida to Tulum and even beneath Cozumel.
Cenotes are unique to this part of the world. Nowhere else has such a large, accessible freshwater cave system.
Cenotes were also essential to the ancient Maya. The region has no surface rivers, so cenotes were their primary source of fresh water. They were considered sacred and were believed to be entrances to the underworld. Many cenotes were used for ceremonies and hold deep cultural and spiritual meaning.
Cenote Diving in Mérida
The cenotes near Mérida are remote and hidden in the jungle. They are less developed and less visited than those closer to the coast.
Each cenote is different. Some are reached by walking through forest trails. Others require descending steep stairs or climbing down ladders into the cavern. Every entrance feels like stepping into another world.
These are cavern dives. Divers always remain within sight of natural light and a clear exit path. The water is calm and extremely clear. Light enters through openings above, creating visible beams that cut through the darkness.
Diving cenotes is quiet, calm, and unlike ocean diving. There are no waves, no currents, and no marine life to distract from the environment itself. The focus is on the geology, the light, and the experience of moving through an ancient underground world!
Diving Logistics
Because of the remote nature of the dives, it can take an entire day to do two dives! The logistics of getting to the sites, setting up the gear, and getting everything into the water takes a lot of time and energy!
The dive team brings local helpers to help get all our dive gear in and out of the water. There are so many stairs at some of the cenotes!
The dives themselves are advanced, with an average depth between 60-120ft through giant caverns.
After the first dive, we find a local restaurant to have delicious & authentic lunch in the jungle.
What Makes Mérida with MHT Special
Mérida is the cultural heart of the Yucatán Peninsula. With its colorful colonial streets, vibrant markets, and strong Mayan influence, it offers a very different side of Mexico than most beach destinations.
On our trip, we stay together in a private home in downtown Mérida and that becomes the center of our experience. Each morning we have a full breakfast prepared for us from scratch by a local chef.
Sharing meals together sets the tone for the day, creating space to connect, reflect, and prepare for the dives ahead. We also love supporting local entrepreneurs (especially women!).
MHT ensures that divers are properly prepared for this trip so that every diver gets the most out of it. Dive buddies are matched with care, comfort, and skill level. Briefings are thorough and detailed. Every aspect of this trip is designed to be distinct, culturally respectful, and as sustainable as possible.
This trip was extra special because we had all women in our group! It was an incredible mix of strong, confident divers who handled the dives and supported each other with calm focus and trust.
“What I keep thinking about most is the group. Seeing women show up as strong divers, support each other, and handle real dives without drama was so empowering.”
And the dive shop loved us too!
Added bonus – Galentine’s Day
Since the trip was just before Valentine’s we hosted a special Gal-entine’s event one night. Trip Leader Maira organized a special Mexican dinner made at our house, and the girls made bracelets & exchanged letters with each other.
It’s these moments that make our group trips so special.
Cultural Experiences
Aside from the cenotes themselves, food became the cultural focus of our trip.
Breakfast: homemade by our in-house chef.
Lunch: local Mayan food made by the communities near the cenote we were visiting.
Dinner: exploring Merida! Each night, we went out to different local restaurants in Merida.
Merida with Mar Hosted Trips
Our Mérida trip with MAR Hosted Trips is truly one of a kind. This experience combines advanced cavern diving in remote jungle cenotes with meaningful cultural connection and the support of an all-women group.
Travelers explore ancient freshwater caverns formed over millions of years, while staying together in a private home and sharing meals, routines, and experiences that build lasting friendships. Every detail is thoughtfully organized, from dive logistics to local partnerships, allowing divers to focus on the experience itself.
The result is more than just a dive trip. It is an opportunity to challenge yourself, connect with other women, and experience one of the most unique underwater environments in the world in a supportive and intentional way.
We’ll be headed to Merida next in December 2027, check our upcoming trips for details!
Tips to Prepare for Merida
Not sure your skills are ready for this adventure? Here are some great tips and trips to help you advance your skills:
Get your AOW early
The Advanced Open Water course sets you up to learn faster and reduce bad habits from forming as you are learning to dive.
Check out our dive school for certification retreat dates 👉
Get Deep Certified
The deep specialty is one of the most valuable dive courses. Yes, you will gain “deeper” knowledge of happens to your gear, body, and brain at depth but you’ll also get more practice on deep dives with an instructor.
Every diver’s body reacts differently to depth, it’s only with practice that you can learn your symptoms and how to respond to keep yourself safe.
Dive Different Conditions
Any dive is a great dive to practice, but if you only dive the same area or conditions you will set a ceiling on your skills.
Diving in:
- Different climates
- Shore entries
- Different bodies of water
- Different temperatures
- Night dives
- Other caverns or swimthroughs
Every time you change the conditions and the gear you need, you gain more experience!
Merida is all shore entries, so trips like Bonaire can give you great practice.
Trips to Increase Your Skills
Bonaire – the diving in Bonaire is beautiful, easy, Caribbean conditions but the skills you need are different!
Bonaire is famous for it’s shore diving, you will learn to be independent and not rely on a divemaster for monitoring your depth, navigation, air use, and gear set up!
Egypt – more shore diving and deep dives!
If you’re still unsure if Merida is right for you, send us a message! We are happy to answer your questions.
