★★★★★
Getting my open water certification was a great experience! Lukas my instructor really helped me get comfortable & enjoy the process with his calm & informative knowledge. Grateful. I’ll be back soon!
Xico Dive Academy
PADI Scuba Courses in Playa del Carmen
Start diving, continue your certification path, build specialty skills or train toward professional-level diving with Xico. Choose the route that matches your current experience and the kind of diver you want to become.
Choose by Experience & Goal
Where are you in your diving journey?
You do not need to search through a long course list. Start with your current level and goal, then move into the focused training page or course group that fits you.
New to scuba
Start Diving
Try scuba first or earn your PADI Open Water certification through Xico’s dedicated beginner pathway.
Start Your Dive Training
Already certified
Continue Your Training
Refresh after time away, move into Advanced Open Water or build the awareness and problem-solving skills of Rescue Diver.
See Continuing Education
Build specific skills
PADI Specialty Courses
Choose focused training in Nitrox, buoyancy, deep, wreck, DPV, PADI Sidemount, Dive Against Debris or other ocean-conservation specialties.
Explore Specialties
Kids & families
Kids & Junior Scuba
Age-appropriate pool experiences, ocean introductions and junior certification pathways for young divers.
Explore Kids Training
Go professional
PADI Divemaster & Professional Training
Compare the standard Divemaster course, full-time internship and the preparation required before your first PADI professional rating.
Explore Professional Training
Advanced gas & decompression
TDI Technical Diving
Build advanced gas-management, technical configuration and planned-decompression skills through Xico’s current TDI technical-training pathway.
Explore Technical Diving
Overhead-environment progression
Cave Diving
Progress through TDI Cavern, Intro to Cave and Full Cave, or follow the complete staged pathway from the beginning.
Explore Cave Diving
Continuing Education
Keep progressing after your first certification
These are the main core progression choices outside the specialty catalog: refresh skills after time away, expand your diving with Advanced Open Water, or move into Rescue-level awareness and problem solving.
Build experience5 Adventure Dives
PADI Advanced Open Water
Expand your range through Deep, Navigation and three additional Adventure Dives selected around your goals and suitable local conditions.
8,000 MXN
per person
≈ $471 USD
- Duration
- 3 days
- Minimum age
- 12+
- Certification
- PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
Build awarenessProblem solving
PADI Rescue Diver
Shift from managing only your own dive to recognizing stress, preventing problems and responding effectively when another diver needs help.
9,000 MXN
per person
≈ $529 USD
- Duration
- 3 days
- Minimum age
- 12+
- Certification
- PADI Rescue Diver
Return with confidenceRefresher path
PADI ReActivate / Refresher
Refresh knowledge and core scuba skills before normal fun diving when it has been a while or you simply want controlled practice first.
2,750 MXN
per person
≈ $162 USD
- Duration
- Approx. 5-6 hours
- Minimum age
- 10+
- Certification
- PADI ReActivate completion
Why Train With Xico
One dive center for your full training progression
Train with a PADI 5 Star Dive Center, real dive-center facilities and professional instructors who can guide your progression from first certification through continuing education and professional development.
PADI 5 Star Dive Center
Professional recreational diving and training from a PADI 5 Star Dive Center.
Runs Even With One Client
This product does not depend on Xico filling a group before it can operate.
Real Dive Center Facilities
A physical dive center with showers, lockers, retail, rental gear, and diver facilities before and after the activity.
Training Feedback
What students say about learning and progressing with Xico
Real Google reviews from beginner, continuing-education, specialty and family training experiences with Xico.
★★★★★
Came to Mexico purely to dive and choosing Xico was the best decision. Did AOW, Nitrox and DPV with Santi, and cenote dives with Manu, also spent time diving with all the other instructors here during my stay. (Too many to mention!) I was quite… Read full review Show less
Came to Mexico purely to dive and choosing Xico was the best decision. Did AOW, Nitrox and DPV with Santi, and cenote dives with Manu, also spent time diving with all the other instructors here during my stay. (Too many to mention!)
I was quite anxious at times, but every single one of them was incredibly calm, patient and reassuring, helping me build confidence step by step. Their approach is perfect… safety and training always come first, and once that’s right, then it was time to have fun!
Professional, safe, friendly and totally reliable. don’t go anywhere else!!
★★★★★
Very frindly & uncomplicated! My son felt very good while the course and in good hands. Special thanks to Felipe , he did a great job and now my son is proud to be an official Open Water Diver!
Help Me Choose
Not sure which scuba course fits you?
Choose the closest training option or ask Xico to help. Tell us your current certification, recent diving experience and preferred dates so we can confirm the right route and availability before anything is booked.
- Direct reply from the Xico team
- We confirm the right product and availability before booking
- No instant-booking assumptions
Before You Train
Scuba course questions before you choose
Start dates, one-student courses, eLearning, medical screening, returning after time away, age requirements and the prerequisites for advanced or professional training.
Will Xico run my course if I am the only student?
Yes. Xico can run its courses with one booked student, so you do not have to wait for us to fill a group. Your requested start date still needs instructor and operational confirmation.
Can I choose my course start date?
Send us your preferred start date. Xico will check the appropriate instructor, training schedule and any required training logistics before confirming the course. Start dates are flexible, but a website request is not an instant booking confirmation.
Do I need medical clearance for scuba training?
Scuba students complete the required diver medical screening. Depending on your answers, physician approval may be required before in-water training. Any external physician or consultation cost is separate unless a course page explicitly says otherwise.
When should I complete the course eLearning?
When eLearning is part of the course, complete as much as possible before the first practical session. This protects your in-water training time and lets the instructor focus on questions, skills and application rather than basic theory.
Who should take a PADI ReActivate refresher?
ReActivate is for already certified divers who have been out of the water, feel rusty, have only a few logged dives or want controlled skill practice before joining normal fun diving. Tell Xico your certification, last dive date and comfort level so we can confirm it is the right option.
What certification do I need for PADI Advanced Open Water?
You need an Open Water Diver certification or equivalent. Divers aged 12-14 complete the Junior Advanced Open Water version with the applicable junior depth and supervision limits.
What paperwork is required for students under 18?
A parent or legal guardian must complete the required participation and medical paperwork for a minor. Age-specific PADI limits and supervision rules continue to apply after certification where relevant.
What are the prerequisites for the PADI Divemaster course?
You must be at least 18, hold Rescue Diver or an equivalent qualification, have at least 40 logged dives to begin and 60 for certification, hold current CPR/First Aid training, and provide the required physician-signed medical clearance.
What are the prerequisites for the TDI Cavern Diver course?
Minimum age is 18, or 15 with the required parental consent. You need Open Water Diver or equivalent and at least 25 logged dives. If planned training goes deeper than 18 m / 60 ft, Xico also requires proof of suitable deep training/experience.