You will find underwater and dry caving news from Quintana Roo on this page, in the form of a short chronicle of updates that are made to this web site.

12 May, 2008 - We have many updates for this month. Updated Sistema Sac Actun, Sistema Naranjal, Sistema Toh Ha, Sistema Tux Kupaxa, Sistema Dos Pisos, Sistema Miguel, Sistema Yax Tun, Sistema Alomo, Cenote Chan Ha (now Sistema Chan Ha), and Cenote San Pedro. Added a new underwater cave, Cenote Chac Dzonot. Also updated the dry cave and sumps page.

21 April, 2008 - Updated Sistema Actun Hu, Sistema Dos Pisos, Cenote Herradura, and Cenote Ak Tulum. Added a new underwater cave, Cenote Nohoch Kai. Concerning dry caves, we have updated information on Sistema Tixik K'una on the dry cave and sumps page.

20 March, 2008 - A small update for this month is included. Added two new underwater caves, Sistema Actun Balam and Cenote Chac Ah.

05 February, 2008 - Corrected the depth information on Sistema Actun Hu. We retract the past stated depth of -62.8 meters (-206 feet), correcting the surveyed depth to -60 meters (-197 feet). Actun Hu remains the fourth deepest underwater cave in Quintana Roo.

31 January, 2008 - Updated information on Sistema Toh Ha and Sistema Actun Hu. Actun Hu was connected to Sistema Outland. The explorers surveyed passage as deep as -62.8 meters (-206 feet). Actun Hu is now the fourth deepest underwater cave in Quintana Roo, congratulations to the team on a great effort!

12 January, 2008 - Updated information on Sistema Toh Ha, Sistema Naranjal, Entrada Boca Paila, and Cenote Sole (Sunscape). Added Entrada Boca Paila Dos, Cenote Palomita Spring, and Cenote Palomita Siphon underwater caves. Added Cueva Palomita to the Dry Cave page as it connects the Palomita spring and siphon tunnels through dry cave passage.

18 November, 2007 - Updated information on Sistema Ox Bel Ha, Sistema Naranjal, and Sistema Xunaan Ha underwater caves. Also updated Sistema Tixik K'una; it is now the longest reported dry cave in Quintana Roo at over 2.1 km.

21 October, 2007 - There are updates for for two underwater caves presently. Sistema Actun Hu is now connected to Sistema Cueva Seca. Exploration in Cenote Herradura continues after a two-year hiatus. Concerning dry cave explorations, the length of Sistema Tishik K'una is also updated. We have also added another QRSS Map Distribution Center, Aquanauts Dive Center (in Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo). The web-link to Aquanauts, including other  Map Distribution Centers and Sponsors, is found here.   

26 August, 2007 - There are not any cave updates to report just of yet. However you will notice a new selection of web pages on this site, now in Spanish!  We extend our greatest thanks to Franco Attolini for volunteering long hours in making this effort. We hope to expand this selection of pages later on in the year. Thank you Franco! 

21 August, 2007 - Updated Sistema Sac Actun, Sistema Aktun Hu (Iguana cave system), and Cenote K'oxul. Added information on a new underwater cave, Cenote Gorilla. Updated a few items on the Links, Cave Names and Dry Cave pages. You should see a new set of introductory pages in Spanish soon. Many thanks to Franco Attolini for the upcoming web page translations! 

03 July, 2007 - Sistema Ox Bel Ha was connected to Sistema Yax Chen East recently. With the added length, Ox Bel Ha is again the longest cave in Mexico and the longest underwater cave in the world (164.4 km). MCEP (Mexico Cave Exploration Project) and CINDAQ (Centro Investigator del Sistema Aquifero de Quintana Roo) are working hard in this area proximal to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere. By investigating diverse aquifer characteristics in the Ox Bel Ha and Sian Ka'an Biosphere areas, their work should prove to be invaluable for future studies. Our congratulations to the team!

You will also find an update on Sistema Sac Actun, Sistema Regina, Cenote Little Fish, and Cenote K'oxul underwater caves. New additions include Cenotes Tribal Village and San Pedro. Concerning dry cave explorations, there are two new additions; Sistema Santa Cruz (Sacred Blue cave) and Cueva M2.

25 May, 2007 - Added data on two new underwater caves; Entrada Boca Paila and Cenote Dos Ayim. Updates on Sistema Ox Bel Ha, Sistema Yax'chen East, Cenote Apocalypse, and Yax'chen Diversion underwater caves are also included in this update. Further progress is being made in Sistema Actun Hu and Sistema Cueva Seca (both are underwater caves). There is also a small update on Sistema Dos Ojos. In dry cave explorations, another 600 meters of surveyed and mapped passage has been added to Sistema Tishik K'una. 

16 April, 2007 - A connection was made from Sistema Toh Ha to Sistema Sac Be Ha. A Czech Speleological Survey team also made significant progress in exploring and mapping Sistema K'oox baal. We have reports on two new underwater caves, Sistema Aktun Hu and Cenote Cueva Seca. Concerning dry caves, Sistema Yax Muul has passed two kilometers in length. We also have survey reports on two new dry caves, Sistema Chemuyil and Cueva Powerline.

24 March, 2007 - We include a few updates this month. A connection from Sistema Toh-Ha was made to Chumkopo Antigua underwater cave (Cenote Chu An). One day later, a connection through Cenote Chan-hol cave to the southern area of the Chumkopo Antigua area was made to Sistema Toh-Ha. Chan-hol was the longest, single-entrance underwater cave in Quintana Roo. These efforts confirm the entire cave system, Sistema Toh-Ha, as the 5th longest underwater cave in Quintana Roo. It is the 15th longest cave in Mexico. This is quite an accomplishment in both persistence in exploration within the three caves and cooperation among the separate dive teams who made the connections. What a breath of fresh air to see cavers working together! Further updates include new lengths for Sistema Sac Be Ha and Sistema Baab Zotz ("diving bats").

27 February, 2007 - A new area in the southern portion of Sistema Sac Actun is being explored (update added). Also updated are Sistema Toh Ha, Entrada Caapechen, Cenote Chan-hol, Sistema Sac Be Ha, and Cenote Chumkopo Antigua (Chu An). Interestingly enough, Entrada Caapechen and Cenote Chan-hol are the 16th and 18th longest underwater caves in Quintana Roo, yet with only one entrance. Most underwater cave systems of this length in Quintana Roo have an average of three to eight separate entrances to the cave.

06 February, 2007 - Added Entrada Oxpechen ("Three Wells") in the Sian Ka'an region. Apparently I failed to report this cave during the 28 May, 2006 update. Also updated the Cave Names, Links, and Sponsor pages.

25 January, 2007 - After three years of dedicated exploration, Sistema Sac Actun is now the longest underwater cave in the world, and Mexico's longest cave. The final connection between Sistema Nohoch Nah Chich and Sistema Sac Actun occurred between the Muul Ha region in Sac Actun, and the Cenote Manati region in Nohoch Nah Chich.  Cenote Por One, a rather small and uninviting cave, is positioned between these two areas. Given eight months of sidemount exploration, Por One was connected to Sistema Nohoch Nah Chich last week. Four successive days of exploration dives by Steve Bogaerts and Robbie Schmittner led to the final connection between Sac and Nohoch.  As Sac Actun was 14,300 meters (47,000 feet) longer than Nohoch Nah Chich at the time of connection, the explorers have named the entire cave Sistema Sac Actun.

 It's now possible to traverse from the Pabilany cenote (W of the Calimba cenote on the Coba Road) around the Grand Cenote (Sac Actun), Cenote Esqueleto (Temple of Doom), Cenote Naval, Cenote Abejas, Cenote Nohoch Kin, bypass Manati, press on to Balancanche, Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich, pass by the Dinner Hole Cenote, and end up in the Dirty Dog or Pet Cemetery Cenotes. In straight line distance, that's a bit over 10 kilometers. But there's 152,975 meters (501,887 feet) of cave to look at on the way. Congratulations to each and every cave diver who has made this possible!

01 January, 2007 - Updated underwater cave information on Sistema Sac Actun, Sistema Naranjal, Cenote Chan-hol, Sistema Sac Be Ha, and Sistema Regina. We have also added information on a new underwater cave, Sistema Yax Tun.

The Calimba cenote entrance to Sistema Sac Actun is not passable at this time. The entrance area is not safe to enter or exit due to a digging project.  We would suggest you not use, or plan on the Calimba cenote as an entrance or exit for traverse dives to other cenotes in the system. You may wish to avoid the entire area altogether until you receive a definitive report on the cave's stability and permanent guideline conditions. At this time, we have no first-hand information as to the the condition of the underwater cave passages near this entrance.

Photo: R Schmittner

15 November, 2006 - Updated underwater cave information on Sistema Sac Actun, Sistema Nohoch Nah Chich, Sistema K'oox Baal, Sistema Baab Zotz, and Cenote Chun Che Chen. The Czech Speleological Survey has made quite an impressive effort in exploring the Sistema K'oox Baal area. We have also updated dry cave information on Sistema Yax Muul; the newly discovered Labertino area holds many new leads. Also added information on a new dry cave; Cueva Chichan Muul.

09 October, 2006 - Updated underwater cave information on Sistema Nohoch Nah Chich, Cenote Chan Ayim, Cenote Por1, Cenote Chan Ha, and Sistema Tam Chac Ha. Also updated dry cave data for Sistema Yax Muul. Road improvements (2-lane to 4-lane expansion) on MX 307 at Puerto Aventuras are threatening the Alux dry caves in the area. Cave breakdown due to road and utility construction is reported in one cave.

05 September, 2006 - Updated underwater cave information on Sistema Ox Bel Ha, Sistema Sac Actun, and Sistema Camilo. Added one new underwater cave, Cenote Shagadelic. Also corrected the spelling of the Cenote Cocodrilo cave on Cozumel Island (erroneously reported as Cenote Crocodrilo).

30 June, 2006 - Updated underwater cave information on Sistema Sac Actun, Sistema Nohoch Nah Chich, and Sistema Dos Ojos. Added two new underwater caves; Cenote Por One, and Cenote Hatzutz Tam Ha.

28 May, 2006 - Updated underwater cave information for Sistema Sac Actun, Sistema Dos Ojos, Sistema Toh Ha, and Entrada Caapechen (was earlier named as Cenote Manatee in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere).  Added Entrada Camaron, Cenote Chan Ha, and Entrada Oxpechen Two. We have also updated the Unconfirmed Cave Lengths, Cave Names and Dry Cave pages.

16 April, 2006 - Updated underwater cave information on Sistema Camilo, Cenote Chan-hol, Cenote Manatee in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere, and Sistema Sac Be Ha. Added new dry cave data on Sistema Tishik K'una; the "dry Temple" cave system.

Explorations continue to be hampered by the effects of last year's hurricane season. Many "mensuras" (property boundaries)  and trails to distant cenotes and caves are blocked, or choked, by fallen trees - and now presently by new jungle growth. Old trails will need to be cleared before explorations in outlying cenotes and caves are possible.   

21 March, 2006 - We are sorry to report that Greg Brown died on 23 February, 2006. Among his many contributions to the exploration of underwater caves in Quintana Roo, Greg was instrumental in exploring and surveying Sistema Aak Kimin. This cave system is a unique coastal cave; its reported depth is -68.6 meters (-225 feet) in depth. A memorial was held at Cannon Point, Akumal in Greg's honor.

There's been a flurry of exploration in both the underwater and dry caves of Quintana Roo. Updated information on Sistema Sac Actun, Sistema Nohoch Nah Chich, Sistema Toh Ha, Sistema Crustacea,  Sistema Regina, and now Sistema Yang Kai (a connection was made between Yang Kai Two and Yang Kai). Added Sistema Sac Xiquin,  Cenote Manatee, Cenote Hatzutz Molo, and Cenote Xcan.

17 February, 2006 - Updated information on Sistema Ox Bel Ha, Sistema Sac Actun, Sistema Toh Ha, Cenote Chan-hol, Cenote Crustacea, Sistema Ich Tunich, Cenote Regina, and Cenote Yang Kai Two. Added three new underwater caves; Cenote Lilly, Cenote Salvaje, and Cenote Tam Chac Ha. Also updated the Cave Names page.

04 January, 2006 - Updated information on Sistema Dos Ojos, Sistema Mundo Escondido, Sistema Miguel, Cenote Chan-hol, Cenote Regina, Cenote Yang Kai, and Cenote Yang Kai Two. Updated the Links, Site Map, and Cave Names pages while adding a few page translations in German. We thank Tanja Mueller, Philipp Huber, and Robbie Schmittner for their help in these translations. We are still working on Spanish components for these pages.

03 December, 2005 -  Updated information on the Cenote 27 Steps cave. Added three new underwater caves, Cenote Yang Kai, Cenote Yang Kai Two (a potential siphon area for Cenote Yang Kai?), and Cenote Ralle.

30 October, 2005 - Sorry for the late update, I've updated information on Sistema Sac Actun, Sistema Dos Ojos, Cueva Aak Kimin, Laguna Lagarto, and the dry cave Sistema Yax Muul. Added three new underwater caves, Cenote Balun Actun, Cenote Balan Ak on the Quintana Roo mainland, and Cenote Crocodrilo on Cozumel Island.

28 September, 2005 - Updated information on Sistema Sac Actun, Sistema Nohoch Nah Chich, Sistema Muul Three, and Cueva Quebrada on Cozumel.  Updated the dry cave Sistema Yax Muul.  Added two new caves, Sistema Bat and Cenote El Tigre.

23 August, 2005 - Sistema Muul Three is now connected to the smaller Abejas Negras cave. With last month's Hurricane Emily, many jungle trails need to be cleared due to wind damage.

10 July, 2005 - In recent developments, the Yaxchen Project connected Sistema Yaxchen West to Sistema Ox Bel Ha. With these new explorations, Sistema Ox Bel Ha is over 142,854 meters ( 468,680 feet) in length. Updated new investigations in Sistema Nohoch Nah Chich. Added reports on a new cave, Cenote Herradura.

27 May, 2005 - Sistema Muul-Ha is now connected to Sistema Sac Actun for a total of 77,183 m (253,226 feet). Updated Sistema Alimi, Sistema Miguel, Sistema Muul 3, and Sistema Sac Be Ha . Updated information on the dry cave, Sistema Yax Muul. Added a new web page for unconfirmed reports of cave lengths in Quintana Roo.

07 May, 2005 - Sistema Sac Actun is now connected to the Naval Mud Hole Cenote, and to Sistema Esqueleto (Temple of Doom). The total length for the Sac Actun cave is confirmed at 69,686 meters (228,629 feet). We have added Sistema Sueno. Updated Sistema Ak Tulum, Sistema Joolis, Sistema Leon, Sistema Muul Ha and Muul 3, Sistema Nohoch Nah Chich, Sistema Tux Kupaxa, and Cenote Chan-hol. Also updated the length of Sistema Yax Muul dry cave and the dry cave connections to Sistema Tux Kupaxa for Sistema Lion for the overall cave length (wet cave to include dry cave connections).

29 April, 2005 - Updated Sistema Esqueleto, Sistema K'oox baal, Sistema Miguel, Sistema Sac Actun, Sistema Sac Be Ha, Cenote Coop One, Cenote K'oxul, and Cenote Regina. Added Sistema Nachan Kiin, Cenote Chumkopo Antigua, and Cenote Little Fish. Added two new dry caves, Sistema Tak Be Luum and Sistema Leon. Sistema Leon connects the underwater Sistema Lion cave to the underwater Sistema Tux Kupaxa cave. Updated Sistema Yax Muul as well. Details on these dry and combined caves are found on the Dry Caves page. Also updated the Cave Names page.

29 March, 2005 - Updated Sistema Ich Tun, Sistema Sac Actun, and Sistema Toh Ha. Added two new caves, Sistema Abejas Negras, and Cenote Ich Tun Three.

19 March, 2005 - Updated Sistema Dream Gate, Sistema Ich Tun, Sistema Sac Actun, Sistema Ich Kin, Sistema K'oox baal, Sistema Ox Bel Ha, and Sistema Zapote. Added eight new caves; these are Sistema Ich Tun Two, Sistema Miguel, Cenote Chac Ha, Cenote Coop One, Cenote Gemelos, Cenote Stram, Sistema Dos Locos, and Sistema Zebra. Added another cave that is now under resurvey, Sistema Tux Kupaxa. Added a short dry cave that contains two short sumps, Cuevas Lorenzo.

04 February, 2005 - Updated new information on Sistema Sac Be Ha, and Sistema Mundo Escondido. Added a new underwater cave, Cenote Chun Che Chen. There have been some very significant advances in the past two weeks. Cenote Vaca Ha is now connected to Sistema Zapote through an obscure tunnel. Sistema Altar Maya (Cave Under the Sea) and Sistema Nohoch Kiin are now connected to Sistema Sac Actun. This makes Sistema Sac Actun the second longest underwater cave in the world at 61,941 meters (203,218 feet). Congratulations are due to the Sac Actun Exploration Team (SAET)!

10 January, 2005 - Updated new information on Sistema Mundo Escondido, Sistema Ox Bel Ha, Sistema Sac Be Ha, Sistema Toh Ha, and Sistema Tortuga. Added information on new underwater caves; Sistema Cubera, Cenote Camino, Cenote Maya, Cenote Venado, and Escondite del Diablo. Also added two new dry caves, Gruta Pica Piedra and Gruta Mil Columnas, on the Dry Caves of Quintana Roo page.

10 December, 2004 - Updated new information on Sistema Mundo Escondido, Sistema Muul Ha, Sistema Sac Be Ha, Sistema Tortuga, and Cenote Regina. We are very pleased to add a new page; the Dry Caves of Quintana Roo.

26 November, 2004 - Updated information on Sistema Toh Ha, Sistema Tortuga, Sistema Muul Ha, Sistema Mundo Escondido, and Sistema Sac Be Ha. A long-awaited connection was finally made through Cenote Ka'as, connecting Sistema Abejas to Sistema Sac Actun. Total surveyed passage for Sistema Sac Actun is now 35572 meters (116705 feet). 

21 October, 2004 - Updated information on Sistema Altar Maya (Cave Under the Sea), Sistema Dream Gate, Sistema Tortuga,  Sistema Pierre's Hole, Sistema Tu Ha (was Dzonot Tu Ha), and Cenote Ka'as. Added two new caves, Cenote Pierre's P Sump and Cenote Sac Be Ha. 

01 October, 2004 - Updated information on Sistema Naranjal, Sistema Xel-Ha Norte, Sistema Manglar Chaac, Sistema Toh Ha, Cenote Chan-hol, Cenote Baab Zotz, and Cenote Ox Pal. Added two new caves, Cenote Kan'pe Box Kin and Dzonot Tu Ha. Cenote Tortuga is now connected to Cenote Kim Ha, to create Sistema Tortuga. Also updated the Cave Names page.

22 August, 2004 - Updated Sistema Xel-Ha Norte and Cenote Kim-Ha. Added four new underwater caves, to include Sistema Maya Up, Sistema Cueva Maya, Sistema Choke, and Caleta Puerto Maya. Updated the Cave Names, Links, Cave Maps, and Convention pages.

20 July, 2004 - Updated Sistema Sac Actun, Sistema Nohoch Kiin, Sistema Altar Maya (Cave Under the Sea), Sistema Xel-Ha Norte, Cenote Regina, and Cenote Chan Ayim. Added two new underwater caves, to include Cenote Chan Regina and Cenote Muul Ha.

14 June, 2004 - Updated Sistema Nohoch Kiin, Sistema Toh Ha, and Cenote Chan-hol. Added Cenote Kim-Ha, Cenote Las Grutas, and Cenote Regina. Both northern caves in the Xel-Ha region are now connected (the Northwest Arm and Laguna Negra caves) as Sistema Xel-Ha Norte. Also updated Sistema CUTS (Altar Maya). This cave was originally named as Cenote Tancah in a Carnegie Institution of Washington publication (1924) by the famous archaeologist Samuel Kirkland Lothrop. According to our research, Tulum residents have called this cave "Doorway [Portal] Under the Sea", or "Cave Under the Sea" (CUTS) since the 1950's or 1960's. With respect to an earlier 2001 mapping team (to include Philippe Brunet and Nickolai Touissant), we will also refer to this cave by the name Altar Maya.

Updates and corrections are welcome: chac<at>consolidated.net

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