Top 4 PADI Courses in Playa del Carmen

1.PADI Discover Scuba Diving Program in the Riviera Maya

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 67 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $126Our pick

Start at Pro Dive Mexico with a short scuba lesson and pool practice, then board a boat for one guided reef outing. Instructors such as Alex, Nicole, Anna, Jordan, and Toby have led beginner sessions, with groups limited to four. Gear is supplied, but marine park fees and some pickups cost extra.

“Great Riviera experience. We took our four kids, ages 10-14 for their first dive. They were not certified. Our dive guides, Anna and Jordan, were great with the kids. The pool skills training was well done and the kids got comfortable with their gear. The reef dive was great with lots of fish, nice reef features, and good visibility. The guides did a nice job on the descent to make sure everyone was comfortable and safe. Awesome first family SCUBA experience! Thank you for offering this intro to diving package.”

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2.PADI Discover Scuba Diving in Playa del Carmen

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 61 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $135

Meet at Hotel Riu Yucatan for a short PADI lesson, basic pool practice, and one boat-based open-water session off Playa del Carmen. An instructor stays with you throughout. You may see tropical fish, turtles, octopi, and sea anemones. The group is limited to eight, with equipment, water, and English or Spanish instruction included.

“Terrible experience. The training is for less than an hour and is very rushed. The practice "tank" is actually a 3ft resort pool in which we were taught to breathing and hand signs for about 20 minutes. There was no pool lesson on equalizing pressure etc. We spent more time waiting for the boat to arrive than on the lessons itself. I felt very uncomfortable after the lesson and chose not to go into the ocean. My husband went and within 10ft in the ocean felt ear pain and couldn't complete it. This would've been identified if the practice tank was deeper. We spent a lot of money for nothing...…”

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3.PADI Open Water Diver Course in the Riviera Maya

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 47 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $602

Learn scuba skills with Pro Dive International in Playa del Carmen through five pool sessions and four guided boat trips. You’ll study at your own pace with a digital manual, then visit coral reefs near Cozumel. Instructors have included Boris, Esteban, Erica, Karim, and others. The small group limit is four people.

“My 11 year old son and I met Alexia and Diana at the Occidental Xcaret. After a trial run with them we wanted to go further and get our certification. What an amazing experience. Karim was very patient with us and helped us learn so much. All the instructors were very friendly and made us feel very welcome. We were lucky enough to see a bull shark on our third dive. My son had a blast and won't stop talking about it. Anytime I'm in playa I will be diving with these folks again. Even if I never dive again, it was worth it. I was scared to even snorkel…”

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4.Discover Scuba Diving Course in Playa del Carmen with Two Coral Reef Dives

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $169

Spend a full day learning scuba basics, practicing in a pool, then exploring two shallow coral reefs near Playa del Carmen. A PADI professional guides each 40-minute session, with equipment and water supplied. Alma, Jack, Geovanni, and Sam have led instruction for past groups, with patient coaching for nervous beginners. Minimum age is 10.

“I had a wonderful time learning scuba and seeing the two reefs.. Alma was so patient as my ears would not regulate and I was getting very frustrated but she was a champ. Once I was shown how to be patient with my ears I enjoyed the whole experience and will definitely try it again!! Thanks Alma for the whole experience..”

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