PADI Open Water Diver Course in Mexico with Underwater Video

Summary

Learn Scuba Diving in Mexico: PADI Certification Course

You’ll get hands-on scuba training in both cenotes and open sea with an experienced instructor by your side—plus an underwater video to relive it all later. This course is perfect if you want a real taste of diving in Mexico’s unique waters while earning your PADI certification.

What’s the experience like?

First day started early—bit of a salty breeze in the air as we met our instructor outside the dive shop. He handed us digital manuals weeks before, so I’d already skimmed through some theory on my phone during the flight. We spent the morning going over basics, cracking jokes about equalizing ears and “never holding your breath.” The classroom’s nothing fancy, but you can hear birds outside and smell sunscreen everywhere. After lunch (grabbed a quick taco from the vendor next door), we hit the pool for confined water skills. It’s weird at first, breathing underwater, but our guide—Carlos—was patient and kept things light. By late afternoon, I was floating face-down, watching sunlight ripple across the tiles.

The real magic kicked in on day two. We loaded up gear and drove out to a cenote just past Tulum—mist still hanging over the jungle road. Slipping into that cool freshwater is something else; it’s clear enough to see your own bubbles drift up forever. Carlos pointed out tiny catfish hiding under rocks and showed us how to check our gauges every few minutes. On day three, we switched to open sea dives off Playa del Carmen. The current was gentle that morning, and schools of silver fish flashed by like confetti. Someone spotted a turtle gliding past—a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment. All four dives felt different: sometimes calm, sometimes a little nerve-wracking when you first descend, but always safe with Carlos nearby.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Open Water Diver Course Overview

• Knowledge development (theory study)
• Confined water dives (basic skills)
• Open water dives (skill application)

Top questions

Is previous diving experience required?

Nope! This course is designed for beginners—you just need basic swimming skills and comfort in water.

Are cenote dives included or only ocean dives?

You’ll do four open water dives total; depending on conditions and schedule, these can be in cenotes or the sea (sometimes both).

What should I bring?

Just swimwear, a towel, sunscreen (reef-safe if possible), and some cash for snacks or tips. All dive equipment is provided.

How long does certification take?

The full PADI Open Water Diver course runs over three days—one for theory/pool practice and two for open water dives.

What’s included

Your PADI Open Water Diver course covers all equipment, digital manual access before arrival, hotel pickup/drop-off, bottled water during sessions, four open water dives (cenote or sea), pool practice time, an underwater video of your experience, plus guidance from a certified multilingual instructor.