Xcalak & Banco Chinchorro · Mexico · Wall · Cave & cavern
La Chimenea
La Catedral, a large cavern lit through a hole in its ceiling
Area photo: Juan Ortega · CC BY 3.0
La Chimenea, also called The Chimney, is a coral wall south of Xcalak that drops from 12 m to 34 m (40 to 110 ft), surrounded by sand flats that extend into deeper water. Divers drop to the wall and swim to La Catedral, a large cavern lit through a hole in its ceiling. It is a deep site, open only to advanced divers.
Also known as The Chimney.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Xcalak & Banco Chinchorro and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
The boat heads south from the shop along the inside of the sheltering reef, then crosses through a natural cut in the reef to reach deep water. The site is a coral wall that drops from 12 m to 34 m (40 to 110 ft), surrounded by sand flats that extend further into deeper water.
A common entry is a descent to 15–18 m (50–60 ft), then a swim along the wall until the dive reaches La Catedral, a large cavern. Light enters through a large hole in its ceiling and makes a backdrop for photos and video, and tarpon and barracuda are often seen here.
Marine life and season
- Barracuda
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Xcalak & Banco Chinchorro: Summer brings the calmest seas and near-daily Chinchorro trips. Hurricane Dean came ashore near Mahahual one August.
Know before you go
- The wall drops to 34 m (110 ft) over sand flats that fall into deeper water; watch the gauge and agree a maximum depth before the descent.
Dive videos
Buceando en La chimenea @ Xcalak, Quintana Roo · Eduardo Amaya on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is La Chimenea in Xcalak?+
The coral wall drops from 12 m to 34 m (40 to 110 ft). A common entry is a descent to 15–18 m (50–60 ft) before swimming along to La Catedral cavern.
What certification is needed for La Chimenea?+
It is a deep site, so it is open only to advanced divers visiting Xcalak.
Sources
- Dive Sites — Diving Xcalak
- XTC Dive Center: recreational diving — XTC Dive Center
More dive sites in Xcalak & Banco Chinchorro
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Large numbers of lobster and octopus on night dives
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Tall, narrow canyons where groupers appear to nest
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Schools of large tarpon along the wall just past the swim-through
Similar dives elsewhere
A coral arch on the wall, named for a Cayman photographer
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Shoals of jacks, tuna and barracuda on a wall from 18 m
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A chimney fracture in the wall from 12 m down to 33 m
Garden eels on the sand at 15 m, coral arches at 30 m