MARCH 2, 2007, PLAYA DEL CARMEN -- Cave divers near Playa del Carmen have just discovered what may be the world's longest underground river, connecting two cave systems with a waterway at least 95 miles long.A group of foreign divers exploring the area have yet to name the stretch, but believe it could be connected to two other major systems, adding more than 125 miles to its length.
"It's a bit of the Star Trek syndrome: the thrill of exploration, to go where no one has gone before," said diver Steve Bogaerts, who helped find the underground river.
Prior to the discovery, the Palawan underground river in the Philippines and Vietnam's Son Trach River vied for the record as the world's longest.
Entering a cave like this is extremely dangerous and can only be done by expert cave divers, but snorkelers and scuba divers can witness similar underground rivers and cave systems for themselves at other lagoons and "cenotes" in the region. One of the most popular -- and most dramatic -- is located at Hidden Worlds Cenote Park, which was the location for a recent IMAX film about cave diving.
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