As a family, we have been returning year after year to the Rivera Maya to enjoy her blue Caribbean waters as well as her emerald green cenotes. I remember our first trip down here like it was yesterday. It was a bit over ten years ago, when Justin was just crawling and Katie was 5. My husband, Rick, and I were divers before we were parents; and we would take turns each day between diving and watching the kids. Rick was the first to try diving in a cenote. I went for an incredible ocean dive our first day, but as we woke on our second day, Rick was crushed to see the ocean was too rough to dive. However, the dive shop told him of an inland option – a cenote - that was a “must see” for all divers. Rick was sold!
He came back that evening with the biggest smile I had seen in a while, and he had the idea that it was a perfect place to take the kids. We always joke that our children learned to swim before they learned to walk, and snorkeling was their favorite vacation activity. Granted, that first year Justin was happy simply floating in his inner tube; however, Katie was a snorkeling natural. Rick and I each went for a few cavern dives and the kids loved playing in the cool, crystal clear waters.
About five years ago, we finally heard about Hidden Worlds Cenotes Park, and it rapidly became our choice vacation hang-out. Both Rick and I were able to dive in the same day; while one was underwater, the other had the kids on a jungle cenote snorkeling adventure. We discovered the perfect place for our family.
This year was the first time our family was spilt in a different way. Katie, who is now 15, has become a diver. She did a few ocean dives during her training last year, and this year she could not wait to make it to Hidden Worlds to see her favorite snorkeling spot from an entirely new perspective. Rick and Justin took off first to see Hilario’s Well (Justin’s favorite) while Katie and I awaited the jungle buggy ride to the Bat Cave. Our dive equipment was loaded and we were ready to embark on a new adventure together. Our guide, a nice young gentleman named Jeff, had Katie laughing the whole ride out to the cavern entrance. And, before she had time to get nervous, we were all suited up and floating in the cool water.
Jeff went through a slow, detailed description of our dive plan, the “do’s and don’ts” of cavern diving, and the safety signals. It’s funny, I think I was the nervous one! Katie was calm as a cucumber with a huge smile on her face. With an upside down thumb, Jeff told us it was time to descend. Our dive was flawless; Katie was a pro! We cruised at a relaxed pace among the large stalactites and stalagmites, around huge flowstone formations, and carefully past some delicate soda-straw stalactites. Upon our return to the Bat Cave, Katie was ready for more!
The day was perfect. Justin and Rick had a great time together, and Katie and I experienced something that most mother-daughter’s never get to do together. The friendly staff at Hidden Worlds is the best on the coast. Their infinite patience with a first-timer was a relief for a nervous mom, and the way they made the jungle snorkeling extremely appealing to a younger brother not yet able to dive was comforting to parents trying to keep all children happy. From when these two were little tikes to now-a-days having two adolescents, Hidden Worlds has remained a favorite vacation destination for our family, and I can only imagine that we are not alone in this thought!
Stop by Hidden Worlds to see what options they can put together for you and your family. With jungle snorkeling adventures departing at 9:00, 11:00, 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 and dive trips scheduled daily for 9:00, 11:00, and 1:00 there are plenty of times to coordinate some diving and snorkeling fun for the whole family. And, as always, please tell them Sac-Be sent you.
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