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by C. S. Magor
November 20, 2009
1720 Views
C.S. Magor is the editor-in-chief and a reporter at large for We Interrupt and Uberreview. He currently resides in the Japanese countryside approximately two hours from Tokyo - where he has spent the better part of a decade testing his hypothesis that Japan is neither as quirky nor as interesting as others would have you believe.
I dove the Angelita Cenote three years ago, it is not for the inexperienced diver. To get in you leap off the rim of the cenote (about a 2 metre drop). The decent is like going to visit Yoda in his swamp. The submerged trees are ancient and there is evidence of some leaves lying on the bottom. The bottom is about 130 feet and passing from fresh water, through the 2-3 metre hydrogen sulfide layer and into salt water is a wierd sensation. Unfortunately, the pressure affected my camera and it would not operate below the hydrogen sulfide cloud, but it began operating when I got back above it. At the surface again, you get out of the Cenote by pulling yourself up a rope while finding footholds on exposed roots. I had hoped to dive it again just last week (Nov 25,2009) but was not able to arrange for an experienced guide who was willing to go. The Angelita was closed for more than a year because of vandals and thieves who preyed on divers.There were some reports of violence. However, it is now open again and the local police are patrolling periodically. The comment I received was that the police visits are few because of the remoteness of the cenote however, there have not been any recent instances of difficulty. Remember, Mexico is not a safe place for travelers and govern yourself accordingly. Just the fact that we have scuba equipment makes us look like wealthy people to the locals.
Thanks for that excellent information.