The Cenote Carwash

Cenote Carwash, also known as Aktun-Ha, is located approximately 9km west of Tulum on Highway 109.

Similar to Cenote El Eden, here you’ll find a very large open water area which offers two sections: upstream and downstream. On a guided Cenote Carwash dive, we stay on the cavern side, the section that is open to recreational divers.

Certified Cave Divers

The section where the water flows, however, is only for certified cave divers.

Next to a large tree located at the beginning of our cavern side, this cenote offers a rather small cavern area. Dark and very large formations await you here. The maximum depth of a Cenote Carwash dive is just under 15 meters (49 ft).

During the summer months, the algae bloom takes over, and it seems as if the first 2 meters (7 ft) of the water surface are covered with a kind of cloud.

Underwater Photography

Besides this cloud, in the open water, there are many water lilies, turtles, and other fish to see, which makes Cenote Carwash very attractive for photographers.

Planning Your Trip

Carwash is rated as a beginner site. Look out for water lilies, turtles and fish; in summer, algae clouds form in the water. We usually pair Cenote Carwash diving with Cenote Calavera, and the two dives cost 175 €. Calavera is part of the Sac Aktun system, about 2 km west of Tulum, and is rated advanced.