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