★★★★★
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!
Learn to Dive
Learn to Scuba Dive in Playa del Carmen
New to scuba? No previous scuba experience is required. Try it in one day with Discover Scuba Diving, or complete the PADI Open Water course and earn your first certification in Playa del Carmen. Both start with professional training before your ocean dives.
Choose Your First Step
Try scuba for a day or become certified?
Choose Discover Scuba Diving if you want to try scuba before committing to a course. Choose PADI Open Water if your goal is to complete the full beginner training path and earn your first recreational scuba certification.
Try scuba
One-day experience
Discover Scuba Diving
Best if you want to try scuba before committing: learn the basics, practice in confined water and make supervised ocean dives without starting a certification course.
2,750 MXN
per person
≈ $162 USD
- Duration
- Approx. 5-6 hours
- Minimum age
- 10+
- Certification
- No certification
- Dives
- 2
Become a diver
Full certification
PADI Open Water Diver
Best if you already know you want to become a certified diver: complete the full beginner training path and earn your first recreational scuba certification. Junior rules apply at ages 10-14.
10,000 MXN
per person
≈ $588 USD
- Duration
- 3 days
- Minimum age
- 10+
- Certification
- PADI Open Water Diver
- Dives
- 4
How Beginner Training Works
From your first briefing to Caribbean open-water dives
Both options build confidence in stages: understand the essentials, practice with your instructor, then take those skills into real ocean diving.
- Step 1
Learn the essentials
Understand the equipment, breathing, communication and safety procedures before you enter open water.
- Step 2
Practice with your instructor
Build comfort and repeat the essential skills in a controlled environment before applying them in the ocean.
- Step 3
Take your skills into the ocean
Move into real Caribbean diving at a pace matched to your chosen program, comfort and training requirements.
Why Learn With Xico
Start with a PADI 5 Star Dive Center in Playa del Carmen
Learn with a real local dive center, professional instructor support and training that can run even when you are the only booked student.
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.
First-Dive Experiences
Why first-time divers feel confident with Xico
Real Google reviews describing patient instruction, a smooth introduction to scuba and Open Water certification with Xico.
Ready to Start?
Ready to try scuba or get certified?
Choose Discover Scuba Diving, PADI Open Water, or ask Xico to help you decide. Send your preferred date and we will confirm the right option 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 Start
Questions before your first scuba experience
Clear answers about starting scuba, medical screening, eLearning, course timing and weather in Playa del Carmen.
Is the Open Water course suitable if I am nervous or completely new to scuba?
Yes, the PADI Open Water Diver course is designed as a first scuba certification and no previous scuba experience is required. At Xico, you begin with knowledge development and confined-water training before the ocean dives, so skills are introduced progressively. You still need to be comfortable in the water and complete the required water-skills and medical screening requirements.
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.
Can I complete PADI eLearning before arriving in Playa del Carmen?
Yes. PADI eLearning and the required digital study materials are included in Xico's Open Water course. Completing as much of the eLearning as possible before your first in-water session gives you more time to focus on practical training with your instructor in Playa del Carmen.
Can I complete the PADI Open Water course in 3 days?
Xico's standard PADI Open Water Diver course is organized as a 3-day program combining PADI eLearning, confined-water training and four open-water training dives. The published schedule is a typical plan rather than a guaranteed clock: certification depends on successfully completing all course requirements, and timing can change with student progress, instructor availability, weather, sea conditions or port status.
What happens if weather or a port closure affects course dives?
If weather, sea conditions or a port closure prevent required ocean training, Xico will first try to reschedule the affected training according to safe conditions and availability. Certification is issued only after the required performance requirements are completed.