Diver Explores Underwater Caves in Mexico—and the Photos Are Unreal

Diver Explores Underwater Caves in Mexico—and the Photos Are Unreal
Caters News
Updated:

An underwater photographer has captured Mexican caves that look like something out of a science fiction movie beneath our feet.

Martin Broen, from New York, snapped these images while visiting the Yucatán Peninsula.

Martin says he’s obsessed with capturing the beauty and photographic diversity of the cenotes and cave systems.

A cenote is a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater.

Underwater photographer Martin Broen captured unique caves in Mexico that look like something out of science fiction beneath our feet. (Caters News)
Underwater photographer Martin Broen captured unique caves in Mexico that look like something out of science fiction beneath our feet. Caters News
Light rays passing through vegetation on the surface, as seen from below. (Caters News)
Light rays passing through vegetation on the surface, as seen from below. Caters News
Light rays shine through the sinkhole, lighting the crystal clear water of the science-fiction-like world below. (Caters News)
Light rays shine through the sinkhole, lighting the crystal clear water of the science-fiction-like world below. Caters News

The regional term is specifically associated with the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, where cenotes were commonly used for water supplies by the ancient Mayan civilization.

Martin says that the flooded caves of Yucatan offer a unique set of scenarios that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

Thousands of fragile needle-like stalactites perfectly preserved. (Caters News)
Thousands of fragile needle-like stalactites perfectly preserved. Caters News

“A combination of the feeling of flying as the water is crystal clear, the light effects created by the sunlight coming into the cenote, and the spooky feeling of the hydrogen sulphide clouds,” Martin said.

“You really feel like you’re on a movie set or a different planet. You are actually exploring a world that is only known by very few cave divers or exploring worlds that no one has seen before.

The cavern illuminated below the jungle. (Caters News)
The cavern illuminated below the jungle. Caters News
Stalactites and stalagmites preserved perfectly underwater. (Caters News)
Stalactites and stalagmites preserved perfectly underwater. Caters News
Red tones underwater are due to high tannic concentrations, which absorb light, creating a fire-like atmosphere. (Caters News)
Red tones underwater are due to high tannic concentrations, which absorb light, creating a fire-like atmosphere. Caters News

“The colors are caused by tannic acid accumulating after rain. The different colors are caused by different concentrations of tannic acid and how the light hits the water.

“The hydrogen sulphide clouds, colorful light phenomena, speleothems, stalactites, and skeletons that can be found deep within the caves create an alien world right below our feet.”

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