Angelita Cenote

Cenote Angelita sits in the jungle near Tulum in Quintana Roo, part of the Yucatan Peninsula's cenote system. It is known for its dramatic hydrogen sulfide cloud layer, which forms an opaque, mist-like curtain around 30 metres down, giving the impression of a submerged forest floor beneath a haze. Above that layer the water is fresh and clear, while below it turns brackish with a strong sulfur smell, and visibility overall is rated great outside the cloud itself. The cenote is a vertical, deep sinkhole rather than a cave system with horizontal penetration, with a bottom cave environment reaching a maximum depth of around 60 metres and no current to contend with. Divers have also noted a halocline, fragile formations, and the loss of natural light past 30 metres. Given the depth and the overhead environment with its disorienting sulfide layer, it is rated an advanced dive, usually done with a guide familiar with the site.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• Green Sea TurtleChelonia mydasReported here · unconfirmed
• West Indian ManateeTrichechus manatusReported here · unconfirmed