Mexico » Temple Of Doom

Overview Location & Specifics Conditions Resources Nearby Systems  
Portions of the following information were taken from www.cavediving.com.

When driving south on Highway 307 toward Tulum, you first past the entrance to the Tulum ruins, then approach an intersection on the north side of town. If you turn right at this intersection, you are on the road to Coba. Several different cave systems are located along the Coba Road, and it took the building of this highway before these caves could be discovered and explored.

The first system you encounter when heading west on the Coba Road begins at Cenote Esqueleto — or, as it is more commonly known, the Temple of Doom. Located just 1.8 kilometers west of the Coba Road intersection, this site is being developed by its owner to bring it up to the standard of other close-by cave diving sites. It will eventually have parking, banos (rest rooms) and a better trail to the cenote.

Once in the water, you will be at the top of a large, circular breakdown pile. A line leads from the top of this pile to a cavern tour line that runs the circumference of its base. From this line, you have the option of jumping off to either of two downstream cave entrances.

One choice is to enter via The Canyons. The more popular choice, however, is to go by way of the Madonna Passage. These two entranceways join up in the Coliseum Room, and proceed onward to the Hall of Giants. From here you can continue on the main line, jump off to the Old Florida Room or take any of a number of offshoot tunnels.

Maximum depths are around 60 feet. Much of the cave is shallower. You will find portions of the cave both above and below the halocline. A map is available for sale from local dive centers that cater to cave divers.
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Latitude: 20.22923
Longitude: -87.45729
Zone:
Coordinate System:
 Cave Diving
 Cavern Diving
 Open Water Diving
Calavera, Skull
Date Submitter Visbility Remarks
3/13/2009 Don Currie 100' What was not to love about this cave. From the jump in the hole in the ground, you know you are going to have fun. The haloclines and the pure white walls and blue water make this one of my favorite dives of the trip. Walter was a great model and I got some great shots of him going in and out of the haloclines. Photos at Don Currie Photos
3/13/2009 Walter Pickel 100' Did the main circuit starting down the Madonna Tunnel to The Fang. We exited via The Hall of Giants and The Canyons. The existence of so many haloclines and the snow walls was amazing.
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Description Type Date Author Remarks
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 Video Vimeo 2010 Slawek Packo
Sslect Search Radius:
System Depth Cave Cavern OW Last Report Distance (mi)
 Overview Information Available for Nahoch Nah Chich  Nahoch Nah Chich 235 True True True 8/3/2023 5.9
 Overview Information Available for Vaca Ha  Vaca Ha True False False 7/5/2023 3.2
 Overview Information Available for Escondido  Escondido 86 True True True 7/14/2021 3.5
 Overview Information Available for Gran Cenote  Gran Cenote 50 True True True 9/13/2014 1.3
 Overview Information Available for Car Wash  Car Wash 70 True True True 5/6/2014 3.6
 Overview Information Available for Kolimba  Kolimba True False False 12/4/2011 1.6
   Muchachos 70 True False False 11/21/2011 2.8
 Overview Information Available for Tux Kapaxa  Tux Kapaxa 60 True False False 6/18/2011 9.5
   Xunaan Ha 45 True False False 11/14/2010 10.1
 Overview Information Available for Dos Ojos  Dos Ojos 391 True True True 11/13/2010 7.9
 Overview Information Available for Tres Estrellas  Tres Estrellas 60 True False False 3/16/2009 9.6
   Caracol 55 True True True 3/15/2009 5.4
 Overview Information Available for Cristal  Cristal True True True 12/31/2008 3.4
   Uchben Na Illod 35 True False False 3/2/2007 4.7
   Paanah True False False 12/7/2006 5.5
   Luk Dzonot True False False 12/5/2006 4.8
   Cenote Don Polo True False False 12/5/2006 4.6
   Mol Balam True False False 12/4/2006 4.9
   Chamzizil True False False 12/4/2006 4.8
   The Pich True False False 10.4