The end of Xunaan Ha

[reato]

Hello everyone,
I’m Alessandro Reato, I’m member since long time but I never partecipate that much to this forum, but now it’s time to let you know something.
In the past years I made some dives in the cave system Xunaan Ha, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Me and my friend Mauro B. and with participation of Alain P. and Hans K. have resurveyed all the existing lines and we explored a lot of virgin passages. We connect Xunaan Ha with many satellite cave system and in a couple of year we arrive to count a total of 51.439 meters (168.762 feet) making of Xunaan Ha the fifth largest submersed cave system of Mexico (and maybe sixth in the world, as I know).
You can see this on the QRSS website:
http://www.caves.org/project/qrss/qrlong.htm

We have an 80 meters gap, where no one of us was able to fit, to demonstrate that the water of Xunaan Ha flows in Xcacel bay, named as sea turtle sanctuary.

This is the complete plot of the surveyed line. Me and Mauro are in possess of all the datas.



More detailed, the area where the cave is divided in many parallel passages; are visibile the main entrance, cenote Xunaan Ha, and another cenote which is the closest entrance for the Hol Kin section (10.000 meters of submersed caves; I realized the accurate cartography of this section; http://www.filoariannadive.com/Inglese/hol_kin-ing.htm ).



Useless to say that this should be heritage of humanity. Is a complex ecosystem which involve fresh and salt waters and where any human act could have severe consequences in all the surrounding environments.

Now, the area is considered by the statal government as urban zone with a H2 density (which is just a level under the highest density, and this is the plan of the beginning of a new town:



And this shows as they match together.
Cenote Xunaan Ha will fall into a common area exclusively dedicated to the people living in that neighbourhood (but should be more proper call it town).
Cenote Hol Kin will probabilly be covered, as it falls in the commercial lots area.
I can’t imagine how many collapses we have due to the construction of that town, and I can’t imagine the quality of the water downstream that town and flowing into Xcacel Bay.
Not counting the fact that the world cave diver community will loose a natural wonder where to practice our favorite activity.



This is the web site where the “urban lots” are sold:
http://www.bienesraicesjp.com/?p=501

Where is written:
Lots deeded from 600 square meters, surrounded by lush jungle and cenote around a large common area for the subdivision.
Located 500 meters from the town of Chemuyil so is considered within the urban development plan, so you will have water and light.
30 minutes from Playa del Carmen and 10 from Tulum.

Once that town will be there, it will not be surrounded by lush jungle any more.
They say “close to the town of Chemuyil”, but that monster will be ten times bigger than Chemuyil.
It was placed into “urban zone” when nobody foresee the presence of this kind of cave system, but now we have knowledge, we have the datas of the cave and we have a cave to protect.
When I saw that plan on the table at the cenote Xunaan Ha it was like to loose a member of my family.

This message is for anyone who knows anyone who knows anyone who can do something.
At least is to let anyone to know how human could be stupid.
In the recent days they began to destroy the jungle on the north-western edge.

Sorry for my english, I know is not that good. I hope everyone receive the message

[LiteHedded]

xcacel beach is beautiful.
I was there at the cenote a couple months back and saw some line in there headed to the sea. guess it belongs to you guys

[reato]

That line has been placed by Bil Philips. He has been member of Xcacel project.

[LiteHedded]

That line has been placed by Bil Philips. He has been member of Xcacel project.

yea I saw his arrow on it. its a beautiful place

[AB8CD]

Thank you for your post. One of the sad realities of diving, open water or caves, is witnessing the destruction of habitat over a very short period of time. As you point out, it is often the result of short sighted actions which create long term consequences. I hope that you are successful in your effort to prevent or slow the destruction of the cave system. And while this may sound pessimistic, we better appreciate what we have today because it may not be there tomorrow.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Jay]

Wow, lots of hard work and now this? I do feel for you folks down there. At least in the States we have recourse and a chance to change or prevent a decision like that when we have amazing data such as yours to document a system.
I obviously do not understand the politics and regulation of the area but I can see the economic pressures outweigh the conservation side.
If I had a spare billion and a resident partner I would be buying up all the land available to protect the incredible systems down there that I could.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Great work and awesome map, good luck to you in trying to protect your cave systems down there.

[limeyx]

Truly saddening
I only dove in Xunaan Ha once but I was really looking forward to going back.

[NEON]

What could be done really?

[reato]

At least we have to spread the voice...
The entire world should know how mexican disregard their land.