Beneath the Jungle of Cozumel
Exploring the hidden underwater caves beneath the island.
Few people realize that beneath the jungle of Cozumel lies a hidden network of underwater caves.
Most visitors to Cozumel know the island for its coral reefs and clear Caribbean water. Few realize that beneath the jungle and limestone surface of the island lies a hidden world of submerged caves.
Over the years, divers exploring cenotes and coastal openings have discovered passages extending beneath the island. Some lead to large chambers, others narrow into tight sidemount passages, and many remain unexplored.
This site documents several of the underwater caves that exist beneath Cozumel and the efforts to explore them.
Explore the Cave Systems of Cozumel
Did You Know?
Most visitors to Cozumel know the island for its coral reefs and clear Caribbean waters. However, beneath the jungle and limestone bedrock of the island lies a network of underwater caves formed thousands of years ago when sea levels were lower and the caves were dry. Several of these caves can be accessed through small cenotes hidden in the jungle or near the shoreline.
Learn more about the Cave Systems of Cozumel
Featured Cave Systems of Cozumel
Cueva Quebrada Cave System (Chankanaab)
Cueva Quebrada lies in the Chankanaab region and is one of the coastal cave systems connected to the island’s underground karst network.
Aerolito Cave System
The Aerolito system is one of the best-known underwater cave systems on Cozumel and is located near the island’s western coastline.
Sin Nombre Cave System
Sin Nombre is one of several cave systems that contribute to the understanding of the island’s underground hydrology.
Cocodrilo Cave System
Cocodrilo is a small cenote located on the grounds of one of the resorts south of San Miguel.
Tres Potrillos Cave System
Tres Potrillos represents another example of the submerged limestone passages found beneath the island. It is known for being the second deepest cave beneath the jungle of Cozumel.
Chempita (Jade Cenote)
Located in the southern interior of the island near El Cedral, Chempita is an inland cenote that drops quickly to depths approaching 160 feet.
Kuuchi T’uuchtaj Cave System
Kuuchi T’uuchtaj is one of the lesser-known cave systems explored on the island and contributes to the broader picture of Cozumel’s underground landscape.
Map of the Cozumel Cave Systems
A simple map showing approximate cave locations
Exploring the Underground Landscape
Several caves documented on this site were explored during efforts to better understand the underground landscape beneath Cozumel.
Many of these caves remain only partially explored, and some passages may still connect beneath the island.
➡ Learn about cave exploration on Cozumel
The Exploration Behind the Caves
Many of the caves documented on this site were discovered and explored during efforts to better understand the underground landscape beneath the island of Cozumel. Exploration dives have revealed cenotes hidden in the jungle, submerged cave passages extending beneath the island, and chambers that had likely not been seen since sea levels rose thousands of years ago. Some caves revealed new passages. Others narrowed into tight sidemount restrictions that required careful exploration to continue.
What began as curiosity about caves beneath the jungle became an exploration of the island’s hidden underground world.
The story of these discoveries and the effort to connect cave systems beneath the jungle is described in the book:
Beneath the Jungle of Cozumel: Connecting the Crowns
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About the Author
Rob Neto is an award-winning author and cave explorer whose work spans real-world underwater exploration and high-stakes fiction.
His exploration work in Cozumel and Florida forms the foundation of this series.
Learn more about his full body of work at:
👉 RobNeto.com
Explore More of Rob Neto’s Work
The Hidden Rivers of Florida
An exploration narrative documenting Florida’s underwater cave systems – their geology, history, and the divers who venture into the hidden rivers beneath the state.
The Beyond Series
Psychological thrillers shaped by real-world confined-environment experience.
Beyond Hope is set in one of the caves of Cozumel