Itinerary & Country Map

Day 1–6
Arrive in Mexico and leave the mainland behind in search of underwater adventure in Cozumel. Plunge below to drift dive some of the most famous and spectacular sites in the world – Tormentos, Palancar Reef and Santa Rosa Wall. The perfect summer conditions and exceptional visibility create a wild rush of underwater activity… grouper, turtles, eagle rays and barracudas are all common place. After a memorable day of diving, we explore town or begin PADI specialty training. As night sets, listen to the serenade of sizzling taco stands and roaming mariachi bands singing in the streets.

Day 7–8
Next we head to the laidback island Holbox. The locals here are mostly fishermen, descendants of the pirates who intermarried with Mayans long ago. There are no cars and life moves much slower. From this tranquil village, we take a ponga boat in search of adventure. At peak whale shark season, we find plenty of these awe-inspiring creatures and more…dolphins, sea turtles and even giant rays sunning themselves on the warm surface waters. Hop overboard to find yourself just inches away from as many as ten whale sharks, gracefully moving beneath the surface. It's an experience you'll never forget.

Day 9–10
Whale sharks are truly impressive, but so are the Mayan ruins. At Ek’ Balam, explore the 2,000 year old stone structures that tower out of the jungle and find incredibly preserved carvings of Mayan animal gods. Immerse yourself in Mayan culture by working hand-in-hand with the community on service projects, mastering the local art of hammock weaving, playing with the children and learning how to cook in traditional ways.

Day 11–17
Further south, we embark on more adventures in the pale blue water off Xcalak. From the dock of our beach house, we watch the waves crash over the reef only a 100 yards away. We spend our mornings working on our Rescue Certification, and our afternoons diving through perfect coral formations. Explore incredible sites including The Chimney, with its magnificent swim throughs, and La Posa, where enormous tarpon swim in giant schools of a hundred or more. Then we snake our way through the mangroves towards the Belize border, where we visit a ranger’s station and learn about ongoing conservation work in the area.

Day 18–21
Found only in this part of the world, freshwater cenotes give divers the opportunity to experience something completely different. With the guidance of cave diving experts, explore the cavern passages of four different caves — the left and right eye of Dos Ojos, Cenote Carwash and the Grand Cenote — to find limitless visibility in eerie surroundings. The only signs of life are a few translucent shrimp and the occasional flash of small fish. The only sound is the thunderous escape of our air bubbles finding their way to the surface. It is a magical event and a great way to rinse the gear! Afternoons are spent enjoying the sun, surf and sand, and lending a hand with local service projects. Learn about efforts to protect sea turtles at the Centro Ecologico Sian Ka’an, and assist with turtle conservation endeavors such as beach clean ups with local school children. We end our time in Mexico with a celebration on the beautiful beaches of the Mayan Riviera, sharing unbelievable stories about our Yucatan Dive Safaris.