Cenotes of the Riviera Maya by Steve Gerrard

SISTEMA TORTUGA
'The Turtle'
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Rating  
Region Tulum Coba Road
Location  
GPS Position  
Land Owner The Family of Don Camillo Solice Acosta
Dive Site  Fee YES, Pay at Camilo home in Tulum and get key
Maximum Depth 130 feet/29.4 meters
Average Depth 50 feet/15 meters
Distance Explored / Surveyed 16,075 feet/4900 meters
First Explorers Ivan Cappelli, Mary Cappelli, Randy Douglas, Sam Ferra, Steve Gerrard, Allen Jonushaitis, Cliff Keck and Don Redinger
Other Explorers Jim Kitka, R. Weijski-Wol
Upstream YES
Downstream YES
Cavern Dive NO
Snorkeling NO
Cenotes within Cave System
  1. Cenote Tortuga
  2. Cenote Kim Ha – connected during summer of 2004
Cenote Location From the intersection of Highway 307 and the Coba Road drive inland (northwest) 7.3 kilometers, Gated entrance with cement sign by The Coba road, Follow dirt road back 1.5 kilometers back to the very end, Equipment tables available, No public facilities
Accessibility Easy, Small pool of water, Clear during winter months, Just jump in, Ladder is installed to exit
Cave Description Permanent line begins at surface tied to log. 1200 feet/362 meters of freshwater zone with various, beautiful decorations, Two "T" intersections

First permanent intersection goes left And down into the saltwater zone

Second permanent intersection Splits into dead ends 250 feet/76 meters
Best Dives
  • The Freshwater Zone known as the First Strike Run
  • The Saltwater Zone named the Gateway
  • An incredible example of water drainage that shows the exactly how the limestone is eroded through geological time
Map Available YES,. Stick map at Aquatech/Villas DeRosa
Future Exploration YES, Pushing the 'Black Hills De La Tortuga' line
History  
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