Riviera Maya (Quintana Roo) · about 26 km from Playa del Carmen
Zapote (Hells Bells)
- Max depth54 m (177 ft)
- CertificationOpen water / no overhead
- Water temperature≈ 24–25 °C (75–77 °F)estimated, no reports yet
- SpecialOpen water with a cavern guide (CREER 4)
Diving and fills
Dive here with
Fills nearby
- GoDiveMEXNitrox, trimix and oxygen
- Dive Rite Mexico (ZOTZ)Air, nitrox (EAN32, EAN50), oxygen and trimix (trimix on quote)
- Zero Gravity'Mixed gas fills' — ask which mixes exactly (trimix, O₂, sorb)
What it looks like
Dive Site "Cenote Zapote", Puerto Morelos, Mexico Scuba Diving the Cenote Zapote in Quintana Roo, Mexico CAVERN SCUBA DIVING IN MEXICO AT ZAPOTE CENOTE WITH ROGER MULLER CENOTE ZAPOTE Extreme scuba diving among the bells of the Mayan underworld buceo extremo en México
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Videos and posts
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Dive Site "Cenote Zapote", Puerto Morelos, Mexico Scuba Diving the Cenote Zapote in Quintana Roo, Mexico CAVERN SCUBA DIVING IN MEXICO AT ZAPOTE CENOTE WITH ROGER MULLER CENOTE ZAPOTE Extreme scuba diving among the bells of the Mayan underworld buceo extremo en México
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Other people's footage, not advice: how someone else dives here says nothing about what suits your team. Dive within your training.
The dive
Zapote is not a cave but a deep sinkhole with unique bell-shaped 'Hells Bells' formations (biothems). The water is fresh and very clear above the H₂S layer.
Profile and sections
Zapote is not a cave but a deep sinkhole with unique bell-shaped 'Hells Bells' formations (biothems). The water is fresh and very clear above the H₂S layer.
According to the QRSS (Jan 2025) it goes down to -51.8 m, with 301 m surveyed. Zapote is Maya for ‘chicle tree’.
Practical: CREER level L4 (expert). Fee about 350 MXN (450 for two dives) + 350 MXN camera. Same road as Kin Ha.
- Depth and profile
- Hourglass: pinch about -20 m, bell about -27 m, H₂S layer about -30/-33 m, largest bells -36 to -46 m, bottom about -54 m
- Intro level
- Standard dive to about -30 m along the upper 'bells' and the H₂S layer; the rest is technical.
- Configuration
- All configurations; open shaft without flow
- DPV: Not DPV-suitable
- Hourglass-shaped open sinkhole (Hells Bells) with no cave passage to travel; a scooter adds nothing
Who can dive where
- At least Open water / no overhead
- Cavern zone / easier part: at least Intro to cave
- Cavern zone / easier part: at least Open water / no overhead
- Configurations: Backmount / twinset / Sidemount / CCR / Small cylinders / no-mount (speleo sumps)
- Goes down to 54 m (trimix or deco may be needed)
This is how the planner decides who in your team may dive this cave. Rules your own trip adds (organizer, a mail, the AI) show with your trip.
How to get there
Ruta de los Cenotes, about 20 km west of Puerto Morelos, then 6–8 km of gravel road (ground clearance needed). Parking, toilets, showers, jump platforms. Guides are usual; AOW minimum.
Around Zapote (Hells Bells)
Fills3 fill stations · nearest 25 km
GoDiveMEX
Calle 6 Norte esq. Calle Diagonal 55 Sur, Mz 12 Lt 2, Ejido, Playa del Carmen
Nitrox, trimix and oxygen
Daily 7:30–19:00 (InDEPTH business directory)
Recreational and technical dive centre in Playa del Carmen with gas blending, scooter rental, gear storage and classrooms; you can join local research and exploration projects there.
Dive Rite Mexico (ZOTZ)
Carretera Federal 307, Mz. 293 Lt. 1, Col. Ejidal, 77710 Playa del Carmen
Air, nitrox (EAN32, EAN50), oxygen and trimix (trimix on quote)
Mon–Fri 8:00–17:00, Sat 8:00–14:00, Sun closed
Official Dive Rite store in Mexico. Cave courses from cavern to full cave, also sidemount, stage, scooter, trimix and CCR cave. Guided cave dives on open circuit (at least Intro to Cave) and CCR (CCR Cave), at most 3 divers per guide; the centre can't guarantee specific caves in advance.
Zero Gravity
Carretera 307 km 269,5, Puerto Aventuras
'Mixed gas fills' — ask which mixes exactly (trimix, O₂, sorb)
Daily 7:30–19:00
Nearest centre. Rental and servicing, also lodging. Arranges access to Otoch Ha (Nariz) and La Concha.
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Other sites6 within 40 km
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