The first explorers who arrived
in Yucatan were amazed to find an extraordinary culture focused around water, in
a place with no rivers or lakes and with a lengthy dry season.
For this reason, most of the
beliefs and customs of the area's prehispanic inhabitants are concerned with
rain as the basis of survival.
Therefore, it was the water god
who was most frequently found represented on the temples and ancient buildings.
The Maya took advantage of the cenotes and caves, naturally formed wonders
created by the filtration of water through the limestone surface.
The cenotes, or underground
rivers, are sources of plentiful crystalline water witch have fulfilled mess
needs throughout the centuries and can be found only in Florida, the Yucatan
Peninsula an the island of Cuba.
Today at least 440 cenotes have
been located among the approximately four thousand that are believed to exist in
the State of Yucatan.
These unique places are now
included in the ever increasing number of tourist attractions of the area, both
for the archaeological value they offer, as in the cases of Chichen Itza and
Dzibilchaltun, and for the exquisite natural beauty they possess, as found at
the Dzitnup cenote near Valladolid.
Due to the existence of these
historical and natural attractions, cave diving, as an ecotourism activity, is
beginning to gather momentum.
For those who enjoy this
fascinating sport, a journey into the depths of the earth, traversing the
fabulous watery labyrinths of Yucatan, the ideal temperature and clarity of the
water offers a unique experience.
