Best Caves for Cave Diving
Cave diving requires full cave certification (CDS, IANTD, TDI, or equivalent), staged decompression, redundant gas, and reels. Never enter a cave without it — most cave-diving fatalities involve open-water divers without training. The destinations below are the sport's classics.
Cenote Dos Ojos, Mexico
The classic introduction to cenote diving in Quintana Roo's yucatan cave system. Cavern lines for trained divers; cave lines for full cave-certified.
Sac Actun, Mexico
The longest underwater cave system in the world at 374 km surveyed — largely connected to Dos Ojos and Nohoch Nah Chich. Permits and local guide required.
Eagle's Nest, Florida USA
The "Mount Everest of cave diving" — a 90-m vertical shaft into a huge chamber system. Full-cave plus advanced trimix only.
Ginnie Springs, Florida USA
The training and proving-ground cave system in the north Florida springs region — clear water, multiple sites, all certification levels.
Nullarbor Caves, Australia
Cocklebiddy, Pannikin Plains, Tank — the long, technical caves beneath the Nullarbor Plain. Expedition-level diving.
Wakulla Springs, Florida USA
Deep, technically demanding system with iconic clarity — access by permit only.
Plura Cave, Norway
Cold, dark, deep flooded system in Nordland — site of the famous 2014 Plura recovery. Trimix only.
Safety basics
The five rules of cave diving (Sheck Exley): always run a continuous guideline; reserve two-thirds of gas for the exit; stay within depth limits; carry at least three lights; train progressively. These are not suggestions.
Where will you go first?
See every cave-diving site on the interactive map.