The bizarre underwater 'lake': Haunting images reveal Mexico's peculiar water-filled cavern

[Batu69]

• The 'lake' lies in Mexico’s Cenote Angelita
• The swirling mist is really a cloud of hydrogen sulphide gas
• This is created by the decomposition of organic matter in the water, in the absence of oxygen

Submerged 100ft underwater, one of the last things a diver might expect to find is a misty lake. But a British diver has captured this eerie phenomenon, in Mexico’s Cenote Angelita. Tom St George, an underwater photographer from London, dove 100 feet down into the cenote – a cave created by the collapse of limestone bedrock which then fills with water

Submerged 100ft underwater, one of the last things a diver might expect to find is a misty lake. But a British diver has captured this eerie phenomenon, in Mexico’s Cenote Angelita.

The swirling mist is really a cloud of hydrogen sulphide gas, which is formed at the point where salt water meets fresh water. Tom St George, an underwater photographer from London, dove 100 feet down into the cenote – a cave created by the collapse of limestone bedrock which then fills with water - to capture the stunning images.

Angelita, which translates as ‘little angel’, is near the Mayan city, Tulum, on the east coast of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. Cenotes were often used by the Maya for sacrifices, and by the looks of things, Angelita has retained its mystique in the present day. 

On the surface, the cenote appears to have fresh water with a clear view, but at around 100ft below the surface, a misty ‘lake’ appears below. The mist is really a thick layer of hydrogen sulphide, created by the decomposition of organic matter in the water, in the absence of oxygen.

Describing one of the images on his Instagram account, Mr St George said: ‘Is it a dream, or is it just fantasy? One more image from our shoot last month at this incredible dive site. I think this one really captures the surreal ethereal quality of diving here’

The mist is really a thick layer of hydrogen sulphide, created by the decomposition of organic matter in the water, in the absence of oxygen

Angelita, which translates as ‘little angel’, is near the Mayan city, Tulum, on the east coast of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. Fresh water fills the first 100ft (30m). Diving deeper reveals a layer of hydrogen sulphate, which separates the fresh water from the salt water.

Cenotes were often used by the Maya for sacrifices, and by the looks of things, Angelita has retained its mystique in the present day

On the surface, the cenote appears to have fresh water with a clear view. But at around 100ft below the surface, a misty ‘lake’ appears below

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