Cenotes of the Riviera Maya

            Cenotes of the Riviera Maya   by Steve Gerrard, 242 pages, 8-1/2 x 11, paperback, 172 color photos, 7 maps, index Steve Gerrard has written the definitive guide to the cenotes and cave systems of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Incredible photographs show the breath-taking wonder of the crystal clear water and the incredible shapes and forms created by the corrosive salt water below the halocline. Stalactites, stalagmites and speleothems of every size and shape exist in these once-dry caves. This book is more than just a complete guide for snorkeling, cavern and cave diving the cenotes of the Riviera Maya; it also provides practical details of where and how to swim, dive and enjoy these beautiful caves. Table of Contents       * Introduction           o Dedication to Parker Turner           o Acknowledgements           o Foreword           o If you don't go, you won't know     * The Riviera Maya     * Protecting Our Fragile Cenotes           o Sacred Waters           o The Visitor           o The Diver           o The Future     * The Cenote Environment           o Understanding The Cenote Environment           o Physical Features           o Speleothems           o Underwater Hazards           o Hydrological Circumstances           o Fauna           o Cave Diving Contributors           o Summary           o Divesite Overview     * Snorkeling           o Snorkeling Equipment           o Using your Snorkeling Equipment           o Snorkeling Sites     * Cavern Diving           o Safe Cavern Diving           o The Cavern Guide           o Cavern Dives     * Cave Diving           o World's Best Recreational Cave Diving           o Why A Cave Diving Guide           o Just The Facts Please           o Divesite Map           o Cave Dives     * Accident Analysis     * The Risks     * Techniques     * Exploration     * How To Plan And Pack For Your Trip     * Cavern And Cave Diving Training Agencies     * Index   About the Author This biography was written by Michael Menduno, the founder/publisher of aquaCorps: The Journal for Technical Diving, 1989 - 1996 Every field of endeavor has its giants—those rare individuals who as a result of compelling passion, dedication and extraordinary competence are able to redefine the limits of what is possible, and in doing so, help blaze the trail so that others may follow. Steve Gerrard is one of those people who stand particularly tall when judged by his contributions. Though others may have accomplished greater technical feats of underwater cave exploration, logged more dives, laid more line, or pushed the technological envelopes further, it’s fair to say that no one, with the possible exception of underground patron saint Sheck Exley, has contributed more to the art and practice of cave diving than the soft-spoken, Ohio born diving educator, explorer, author and photographer. Cave certified in 1975 while attending Florida State University, Gerrard has logged in excess of 5000 cave dives in the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, Belize and has explored over 40 cave systems in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, where he lives in Puerto Aventuras making him a veteran cave diver in anyone’s book. However, his most important accomplishment is arguably, what he has given back to the sport. In twenty-plus years of teaching, Gerrard has trained more cavern and cave divers than anyone else in the world. At last count, he certified nearly 1800 students including several who went on to become some of the leading explorers in the field. Twenty-seven former students later become cavern or cave instructors and he has helped assist another twenty-four cave divers reach that same goal. In addition to cavern and cave diving, he teaches a variety of specialty courses including surveying and diver propulsion vehicles and operates a Riviera Maya guide service. Gerrard has long been one of the guiding lights for the National Association for Cave Diving in Gainesville, Florida. Over the last three decades he has served as board member, vice-president, general manager, editor of the association’s journal and most recently membership chairman where he has helped increase the NACD’s membership roster. Part of Gerrard’s genius is his ability to get others to work together or a common good – no small feat in the highly individualistic cave diving community. This skill has aided him in his work at the NACD, which created the annual “Steve Gerrard Outstanding Service Award” in his honor, as well in exploration efforts. In 1996, he co-directed and led the Ejido Jacinto Pat Expedition in which 50 cave divers mapped nearly 40 miles of new line in the process. As a result of his contributions among many explorers, the Yucatan now boasts seven of the eight largest known underwater cave systems on planet Earth. Remarkably, Gerrard has performed two of the five known rescues in cave diving including rescuing a diver who was trapped in an underwater cave in the mountains of Venezuela for 36 hours. Due to the perilous nature of the cave diving rescue attempts almost always end up as body recoveries In keeping with the philosophy of continual education, Gerrard is writing two more books. They are Introduction to Safe Cave Diving and The Hogathian Concept—the birth of cave diving equipment configuration and its philosophy. In addition, Steve has become one of the most prolific cave photographers on the planet since first picking up an underwater camera in 1995. His photographs, which celebrate the beauty and peril of the underwater cave environment, have been published in more than 30 publications.