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