Cenotes, Mexico

Country: Mexico Type: cave / cavern / freshwater Best known for: Crystal-clear freshwater, dramatic light rays, stalactite/stalagmite formations, haloclines Wetpixel expeditions: Yes — 2010 (Cenotes and Whale Sharks trip), 2021-2023 (annual Cenote Photography Workshops with Under the Jungle)

Overview

The cenotes of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula are natural sinkholes that serve as entrances to an extensive network of underground cave systems. In Mayan mythology, they are the entrances to Xibalba, the underworld where gods and ancient spirits reside (^[1]). Over a dozen cenotes are commonly visited for guided cavern diving, most found along the highway between Playa del Carmen and south of Tulum (^[2]).

Each cenote has its own character. Their relatively shallow depths, small openings, and Mexico’s bright sunshine combine to produce extraordinary light effects — shafts and beams that change throughout the day (^[3]). Underwater, divers swim among stalactites, stalagmites, and intricate limestone formations ranging from tiny soda straws to enormous columns. The water clarity is virtually unlimited, making them exceptional for wide-angle photography (^[4]).

Notable cenotes include Chikin Ha (a popular introductory site), Ponderosa (light rays and tropical fish), Tajma Ha (featuring the “Dome of Lights” with laser-like light rays and connected cenotes at Esmerelda and Sugar Bowl), Cenote El Pit (majestic sunbeams), Cenote Angelita (hydrogen sulfide “river”), Cenote Carwash (tannic red water after rains, underwater water lily garden), Cenote Calavera, Cenote Mayan Blue, and Cenote Kukulkan (^[5], ^[6]).

The cenote environment presents unique photographic and diving challenges. Precision buoyancy control is critical both to preserve the fragile formations and to prevent stirring up silt, which directly impacts image quality. Many cenotes feature haloclines where freshwater and saltwater meet, staining cavern walls different colors and creating visual distortion effects (^[7], ^[8]). Natural or balanced light shots work well, and the use of diver models to provide scale and reference in the frame is an important compositional technique (^[9]).

Wetpixel Coverage

Cenote diving first appeared in the Wetpixel archive through the 2010 “Wetpixel Cenotes and Whale Sharks” expedition, led by Eric Cheng from Playa del Carmen. The trip combined cenote exploration in the Riviera Maya with whale shark encounters at Isla Mujeres. Cheng brought a housed 3D camcorder to test stereoscopic underwater video (^[10]).

The cenotes became a major Wetpixel workshop destination starting in 2021, when Adam Hanlon partnered with Natalie Gibb of Under the Jungle (UTJ), Mexico’s premier cave and cenote diving operation, and photographer Tom St. George to offer annual cenote photography workshops based in Puerto Aventuras. These became recurring events through 2023 (^[11], ^[12]).

The workshops followed a structured format: Natalie Gibb provided cave diving safety briefings and guided the groups, Tom St. George served as cenote photography guru advising on shooting positions and technique, and Adam Hanlon co-led photographic instruction and evening image reviews. Operations ran at a 1:1 guide ratio, with guides doubling as models in the frame. Each workshop visited multiple cenotes over a week, with daily formal learning sessions and participant image critiques (^[13], ^[14]).

Wetpixel Live also produced dedicated episodes on cenote photography: an interview with Natalie Gibb about video and still imagery technique in cenotes (2021), and a session on lens and port choices for cenote photography discussing wide-angle options for very low light environments (2022) (^[15], ^[16]).

Tom St. George’s 2018 Full Frame gallery was the definitive photographic showcase of cenote environments on Wetpixel, featuring images from Angelita, Carwash, El Pit, Ponderosa, Mayan Blue, Tajma Ha, Calavera, and Kukulkan (^[17]).

Key Photographers

• Tom St. George — Cenote photography specialist, co-led all Wetpixel cenote workshops, Full Frame gallery (articles)
• Natalie Gibb — Under the Jungle founder, cave diving expert, filmmaker and videographer, co-led workshops (articles)
• Adam Hanlon — Wetpixel editor, co-led cenote workshops, produced Wetpixel Live episodes on cenote technique (articles)
• Eric Cheng — Led 2010 Cenotes and Whale Sharks expedition with 3D camcorder (articles)
• Marc Steurer — Workshop participant whose image was used to promote the 2022 workshops (articles)

Timeline

• 2010-07: Eric Cheng leads Wetpixel Cenotes and Whale Sharks trip from Playa del Carmen with 3D camcorder (^[18])
• 2018-01: Tom St. George Full Frame gallery showcases cenote photography across multiple sites (^[19])
• 2021-03: Wetpixel Live: Natalie Gibb discusses cenote image making (^[20])
• 2021: First Wetpixel/Under the Jungle Cenote Photography Workshop (Wetpixel contribution via Zoom) (^[21])
• 2021-11: 2022 Wetpixel Cenote Photography Workshops announced — two sessions in April and May (^[22])
• 2022-01: Wetpixel Live: Lens and port choices for cenote photography (^[23])
• 2022-04: First in-person 2022 workshop — Chikin Ha, Ponderosa, Tajma Ha with live daily reports (^[24])
• 2022-05: Second 2022 workshop underway in Yucatan (^[25])
• 2022-06: 2023 workshops announced for May, two sessions (^[26])

References

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