Scuba diving in Mexico, FAQ

For certified divers, please note that a Refresher course will be required for any diver who has not dived for 12 months or longer. 

*Proof of your last dive will be required when diving with us*

You need to be certified to Scuba dive in the cenotes. If you are not certified or have never dived before you can experience scuba diving with the TRY SCUBA Diving program. 

Available in Tulum.

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You can dive some of our cenotes with an Open Water certification. Please check out the description of our most popular cenotes around Tulum and Playa del Carmen to see what is required of each cenote and which one "calls" you the most. 

If you do not have your certification card with you, we can look you up on the web.

This service is available for PADI, SSI and NAUI certified divers only.

We will need your full name, as it is written on your card, including any middle initials and your date of birth (Day / Month / Year).

Yes, if you are Nitrox certified, we offer Nitrox with a surcharge of $150 pesos a tank when diving with us.

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*If you are not yet Nitrox certified, consider doing your Nitrox certification with us, that'll be useful through your diving life.  See our diving specialties.

Yes, SCUBA diving requires you to be comfortable in the water.  In order to receive a certification you must be able to pass a simple swim test. 

If you are concerned about diving because of a medical condition, we advise you to seek medical clearance to dive from a Physician beforehand. Please go through the medical questionnaire and if you can answer "yes" to any of the questions, you would have to see a Doctor to give you a clearance, before you can dive.  

Yes, you start your course at home and do your confined or pool sessions and complete the open water dives with us. Please check our "Scuba Courses" page for information in our Referral Courses. 

For a normal Open water Course with us, you will also start with your e-learning theory beforehand, so you are nice and ready to get straight in the water when you get to us, 

We include free transportation between the dive shop and the locations where your activity has been reserved.  ​

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Depending where you are staying and means of transportation you may choose to meet us at the dive site.  For example, if you are staying in Playa del Carmen and we are diving the bull sharks together we would meet there.  ​

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Please note that if you decide to meet us at the diving points, the price will stay the same, as our car also has to go there with equipment and staff.. Often people choose to bring their own cars  because of the comfort and flexibility.

*Please note that we are not allowed to pick people up in Tulum's  "Zona Hotelera."

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We love kids on our snorkel tours. For safety and liability reasons we ask children, especially small children,  be accompanied by a parent or guardian in and around the water at all times.  

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Kids can start the most basic training in free diving and scuba between 8 and 10 years old.  They are allowed to go to a maximum depth of 2,mts (6 feet).

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Children between the ages of 10-14 can earn Jr. level certifications in scuba and apnea (freediving). 

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Adhering to the standards of most major dive training and  kids under the age of 15 years are not allowed to dive the Cenotes (Cavern Diving) and / or do the Bull shark dive. 

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Our price list is in Mexican Pesos. We accept US Dollars, Euros and Mexican Pesos at the exchange rate for that day on google.  

We also accept Credit / Debit Cards, with a 5% surcharge. 

Other options where you can avoid a surcharge is vía WISE or Zelle.

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Please be advised that ATMs in Mexican Pesos and Dollars are available around Tulum and Playa del Carmen. 

• For any cancellation made in good time there is no cancellation fee.

• Refunds can only be given if the booking is cancelled with 24 hours notice. 

• Cancellations made within less than 24 hours will be charged at full rate (including no shows in the morning). 

• Bad weather in the morning, unless it makes the trip unsafe, is not a reason to cancel the trip.

• Dives canceled the same day, (ear problems, dizziness, distress ...) will be charged the full price (including TRY SCUBA dives).

Here are a few suggestions on best practices.

You may want to bring a clean towel from your hotel or airbnb.  Some people also like to have a dry set of clothes to change into when they finish the activity. 

Hats, sunglasses, and rash guards are all recommended to protect yourself from the tropical sun.  

The activity may provide cover from the sun because are are often underground or in a wetsuit, sometimes both.  If you are sensitive to the sun consider wearing a long sleeve rash guard.  Do your best to stay out of the sun in peak hours.  The sun can be dangerous for our skin but sunscreen and other chemicals we put on our bodies are poison to the aquatic ecosystems.   For this reason please note  that sunscreen and mosquito repellent are forbidden when snorkeling or scuba diving the cenotes and our reefs.

If you decide to bring valuables be mindful of possible hazards such as water damage or theft.  Preferably leave expensive items  in the safety deposit bo​x at your accommodation. 

Taking photos while diving can be likened to driving and texting. ...and sometimes people are not great drivers.  The point is our technology can be distracting.  So unless you really have a passion for taking photos or documenting we recommend you enjoy your dives without a camera.  

Many of the cenotes charge a fee to take your own camera into the water.  You can check the list of prices at different locations.  You can consult it at the bottom of our price list.

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Profesional type photoshoots sometimes have an extra cost for use of the location.     

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* Cenote Chac-mool forbids all kinds of cameras, including go-pro, but a professional photographer works on site. 

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Every cenote has its own policy depending on the landowners needs.  We are not involved in making the rules or setting the prices but they do ask we help inform people.  

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The minimum certification to dive some of our cenotes is Open Water, but you want to be sure you have good buoyancy skills before your first guided tour, the caves have been forming for thousands of years so it is very important to be careful and respectful. 

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Please check out the description of our most popular cenotes around Tulum and Playa del Carmen to see what is required of each cenote and which one "calls" you the most. 

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