Snorkeling Equipment for Cenotes:

Cenote Snorkeling without a Snorkel.

The word “snorkel” has its origin from the German language and its name relates directly to the metallic tube used as ventilation shaft for submarines. Which made it possible to stay submerged even at passages with very little depth, without having to emerge and therefore being vulnerable.

In the present the snorkel is used in recreational form to swim in the open water staying at the surface without having to remove the face from the water with or without independent diving gear.

As said, the snorkel was created for the open water. At the Cenotes we need to remove our face from the water to observe our position and to avoid an impact against delicate formations, Stalactites and Stalagmites. That is why a snorkel is not very useful in this environment. There is another big reason, since people do not like to share their snorkel with others, it became common to us toss away snorkels, they are more hygienic but generate large amounts of plastic garbage contaminating the ecology of the place. Some people even loose their snorkels inside the Cenotes generating a tremendous impact which affects the ecological surroundings of the place enormously

As divers we found lots plastic snorkels in many different Cenotes. That is why Cenotesnorkel does not recommend the use of a Snorkel, especially since it is not needed, a snorkeler can perfectly snorkel at a Cenote with just a mask.

It is also more comfortable to swim only with a mask, one equipment piece less to worry about.

Snorkeling without the Snorkel is the safest as most comfortable, most ecological and best form to protect the Cenotes.