Hell's Bells

Hell’s Bells

Cenote Zapote

Since our last visit to the cenotes of the Yucatan a new area has been opened up to cave and cavern divers in Puerto Morales. Several new cenotes have been opened to the public. Most are reserved for certified cave divers but two in particular are open for cavern exploration. The more fascinating one is Zapote, nicknamed Hell’s Bells because of the unusual formations it posesses. What would normally be formed as stalagtites have formed in a bell shape - hence the name. they remind me of the rocket exhausts on the space shuttle. At any rate they are quite unusual and worth the visit. There is a hydrogen sulfide halo at about 90 feetsimilar to the one in Angelita and the bottom is said to be around 180 feet where caves branch out to the sides.

One way to enter Zapote is to jump 20 feet from their dive platform but I don’t recommend that with scuba gear.. Mario with Phantom Divers in Playa del Carmen was our guide for the week and was very knowledgable about the cave systems. He’s been diving the area for 39 years and loves his work.

I have never seen any formations like these in any other cenote and Mario said he hadn’t either. They are quite the mystery as to how they formed.

At the 90 foot level is a set of old logs sitting on the top of a cone of detritus which carries on down to the 180 foot level at the bottom. This is also where the hydrogen sulfide halocline is found which gives the impression of a false bottom. Only certified cave divers are allowed below this level due to the hazards of true cave diving and the depth involved.

Return to Riviera Maya