Car Wash (Aktun Ha)
Car Wash Cenote, known locally as Aktun Ha, is a beautiful open cenote surrounded by jungle near Tulum. With clear freshwater, aquatic plants, natural light and an easy-to-explore cavern area, it offers a wonderfully varied cenote dive.
The dive begins in the open cenote before entering the cavern, where limestone formations and shafts of natural light create a completely different environment beneath the jungle.
With a maximum depth of around 15 metres / 50 feet, Car Wash is suitable for Open Water certified divers and is a great introduction to cavern diving in Tulum.
Why Divers Love Car Wash
Open Cenote & Jungle Scenery
The open section of Car Wash is surrounded by jungle and aquatic vegetation. At certain times of year, floating lily pads add to the scenery and create beautiful views from beneath the surface.
Cavern Formations & Natural Light
The dive combines the bright open cenote with a cavern section where limestone formations and natural light create a striking underwater landscape.
Freshwater Wildlife
Fish and freshwater turtles can often be seen around the open cenote, giving Car Wash a lively natural environment quite different from Tulum's deeper cavern dives.
Key Information
Certification: Open Water Diver
Depth: approximately 15–16 m / 50 ft
Water temperature: approximately 24–26°C / 75–79°F
Visibility: typically 30–50 m
Dive time: approximately 45–55 minutes
Also known as: Aktun Ha
Choose Your Car Wash Cenote Dive
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Casa Cenote & Car Wash
Best for: Two Open Water cenote dives combining cavern formations, jungle scenery and mangroves
$3,400 MXN
2 dives · 5–6 hours
Open Water Certified · Minimum 15 years -
Angelia & Car Wash
Best for: Combining Angelita's extraordinary deep-water landscape with the cavern and jungle scenery of Car Wash
$3,600 MXN
2 dives · 5–6 hours
Open Water Certified · Minimum 15 years -
Angelita, Car Wash & Casa Cenote
Best for: Three completely different cenote environments in one day
$4,600 MXN
3 dives · approximately 7–8 hours
Advanced Open Water · Minimum 15 years
Haven't Dived for a While?
Car Wash is suitable for Open Water divers, but good buoyancy control is important when exploring the cavern environment. If it's been some time since your last dive, let us know when you enquire. Depending on your experience and number of logged dives, we may recommend starting at Casa Cenote or completing a refresher first.
Explore More Cenote Diving in Tulum
Discover more cenote diving in Tulum, from beginner-friendly cavern dives to deeper sites for Advanced Open Water divers.
Car Wash FAQs
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Car Wash earned its unusual nickname because local taxi drivers are said to have used the cenote to wash their cars many years ago. Its Mayan name is Aktun Ha, meaning “Water Cave”.
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Yes. With a maximum depth of around 15–16 metres / 50 feet, Car Wash is suitable for confident Open Water divers with good buoyancy control. The dive combines an open cenote with a cavern section, making it a great introduction to cenote cavern diving for divers who are comfortable in the water.
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Aquatic vegetation and lily pads vary with the season and conditions. When present, they can create beautiful underwater views as sunlight filters through them from above.
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Freshwater fish and turtles can often be seen in the open section of the cenote, alongside the aquatic plants that grow around the lagoon.