Conquering My Fears One Creepy Cenote at a Time

It has been a big year for conquering my fears. I have adopted a, Just Do It attitude. A deep breath and a hunger to never ever feel bored are all I need. If someone asked me a year ago, “Hey Shiv, fancy swimming around this dark underground cave system while relying on a little plastic tube to breathe?” I would have politely declined. Yet here I found myself, in this gloomy damp cave system, swimming around. I wouldn’t go as far as to say I enjoyed the experience but I certainly tolerated it the best I could. I bumped my head a few times and the water was freezing but I did it. The whole area I am in in Mexico is covered in these underground cave systems called cenotes. They are not all as small and ghostbustery green gloomy as this one. I have been in some as tall as a house. When I first arrived in Mexico I was in one so often that I started to think that cave swimming was part of a Mexican’s daily routine – eat a taco, get in a cenote, do a shot of tequila.

The good thing about facing your fears is the relief you feel after. When I stepped out of that cave and into the open air… that first breath of air… amazing. Breathing through your mouth is awesome !!!@!@!