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
– Palancar Reef, Santa Rosa Wall and Columbia Deep. The perfect
summer conditions and exceptional visibility create a wild rush
of underwater activity…turtles, reef sharks, eagle rays and tuna
are all common place. After a memorable day of diving, relax on
the beach, play a pick up game of volleyball 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.
Explore the 2000 year old stone structures at Ek’ Balam that
tower out of the surrounding jungle and find incredibly preserved detailed
carvings of Mayan animal gods. Investigate the exactly excavated
ruins of Chichén Itzá and learn about Mayan culture and games. Climb
fourteen stories above the jungle at the breathtaking Cobá ruins. In
Akumal we spend an afternoon learning about the Centro Ecológico Akumal’s
efforts to protect and study sea turtles. Work on a conservation
project, then patrol the beaches at night with researchers to monitor
turtle nesting and hatchings.
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
on untouched reefs and amazing sites including Chimney, Cathedral,
Grouper Hole and Tarpon City. Expeditions on our boat “The Sea Horse”
take us to Banco Chinchorro, the largest coral atoll in the northern
hemisphere. Cruise past pilot whales, dolphins and numerous
wrecks grounded on the shallow reefs. Then dive through perfect coral
formations and count more species of fish then you even thought existed
in the Caribbean Sea.
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 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! We end our time in Mexico with a celebration on the beautiful beaches of the Mayan Riviera, sharing unbelievable stories about our Yucatan adventures.