Other marine life
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Tadarida brasiliensis
IUCN status: Least concern
Not an underwater animal, but part of the dive: the Bat Cave Line at Dos Ojos surfaces in an air dome where free-tailed bats roost on the ceiling above the divers. You take your regulator out, look up, and they are there. Guides ask for lights kept low and no flash.
- Max size
- Wingspan about 30cm
- Habitat
- Air domes and dry chambers above the water line in cenotes and caves
Best places to dive with Mexican Free-tailed Bat
rareoccasionalcommonly seenpeak season
Cenotes (Riviera Maya)
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Roosts are occupied year-round. Seen only where a cavern line surfaces into an air dome — chiefly the Dos Ojos Bat Cave route. Dozens of bat species use Yucatan cenotes; identification underground is not reliable.
Sources & last checked
Checked July 2026
This is a researched draft, not yet human-verified. The seasonality and logistics are drawn from the sources below — confirm specifics (permits, fees, closures) with an operator before you book.
- Best Cenotes to Dive in the Riviera Maya — Aquacore Adventures
- Unique Species to Look for in Yucatan Cenotes — Yucatan Today