Cave Sidemount Diver Package

The best way to learn Sidemount and Cave Diving.

$2,899.00

Duration: 9-10 Days

Experience Level: Advanced - 25 Logged Dives

Dive Type: Cenotes/Cave

What's included? The courses include the student manual, transportation to/from Playa del Carmen or Tulum, equipment, certifications (once you complete requirements), snacks, water, park entrance fees, and 4 pats on the back.

Are you ready to take part in the most extreme diving adventure you can imagine?

Blue Life’s Cave Sidemount Package is the perfect combination of knowledge, advanced techniques, and fun. During this intense program, you will learn many aspects of cavern and cave diving in the cenotes near Tulum and Playa del Carmen. We will begin by taking you through the Cavern Diver and Sidemount Diver Courses, showing you the most basic concepts in overhead diving.   You will study sidemount equipment use, buoyancy control, trim, swimming techniques, team awareness, situational awareness, and we will introduce some basic cavern diving skills like reel use and zero visibility exits.

Once you are comfortable with the basics, we will move into the complete darkness of the cave for the Intro to Cave and Full Cave portions of the class.  During these portions, the course becomes much more mentally challenging.  Dives at this level require high levels of concentration and planning and we will focus a ton of time on making sure you are comfortable with the skills necessary to cave dive safely.  Some of the topics we will cover are cave conservation, accident analysis, emergency procedures, navigation inside caves, mapping, and many others.

After all of that training, we will go out and practice all of the skills we learned by doing 2 cave dives in one day.  We will go to a nicely decorated cave so you get to enjoy the beauty of the cenotes.

This is by far the most rewarding dive course any of us at Blue Life have ever participated in.  Come see why!

Reviews

  1. Rated 5 out of 5

    Domagoj V

    Cave training Did full cave and sidemount course with Hugo in June. Overall great experience. In terms of instruction, I can safely say that Hugo is the best instructor I ever worked with. He really knows how to set the pace and progress to harder stuff when you\'re ready, or repeat some drills to make you feel more confident. I came into the course unsure of I\'d be able to finish all the coursework, but after 10 days of training felt completely confident in my skills and was probably in the best diving shape I have ever been in. Also, had some really good banter with Hugo. In terms of logistics, I think that Bluelife is an amazing dive shop. The communication with them was very good from day 1, and the staff are really friendly. Also, the gear they provide is top notch. Would definitely recommend to dive with them if in Playa.

  2. Rated 5 out of 5

    Devin Ramdutt

    Cave Diving Excellent dive school for cave diving. Took an 8 day full dive course with Hugo and thoroughly enjoyed it. Strong focus on cave dive safety and etiquette. One day of calssroom work and then the rest were at several different Cenotes round the Riviera Maya. And the tacos for breakfast every morning were a happy bonus.

  3. Rated 5 out of 5

    soo yeol k

    Perfect diving with Blue Life I\'m a South Korean PADI scuba instructor. Since PADI lacks a professional cave diving course, so I searched for a solution and found Blue Life. Last year, 2017, after I finished a cave diving course with them, I came this year again to gain more experience. Normally, in my experience, cave diving course instructors are a bit too stern with their teaching styles. Fortunately, the Blue Life staff, especially Hugo and Frank, were kind and forgiving while teaching. I look forward to coming here again in the upcoming years with other curious divers. For those seeking a grand experience in underwater caves, look no further than Blue Life.

  4. Rated 5 out of 5

    Kyungtae K

    Caven diving I and my wife had 2 days diving :) It was amazing diving experience. Very comfortable and nice guide. Thanks for good service :)

  5. Rated 5 out of 5

    Tally8585

    Safety is their main priority Having visited a lot of dive companies over the last 20 years you can tell who is safe and organized, and who isn\'t! It took me a year to pluck up the courage to even think about diving in the Cenotes, and it was obviously very important to choose a company whose values aligned with ours. We have been diving with Blue Life almost every month since January, slowly building our skills towards a cave certification. Sidemount, nitrox and cave diving were all new to us, and Blue Life has dedicated amazing staff to teach us, (patiently) the skills we need to safely, and confidentally cave dive. We didn\'t walk in as dive superstars, and they have not let us progress too quickly, simply to hand out a certificate, (which is important). I\'m sure there are plenty of places out there that will just hand out cards to people who don\'t have the skills. This area of Mexico is the best place to experience cave diving, so take advantage of it if you plan to visit. Big shout out to Hugo, Mauro, Frank, Sarah, Fernanda, Matthias, Veronica and **sorry I forgot the girl\'s name from Costa Rica :-( ..... see you all soon!!!

  6. Rated 5 out of 5

    JasonSharp1980

    Full Cave Course Big thanks to the team at Blue Life. Having dived with a lot of different operations I can definitely say that this dive operation is absolutely top notch. I did my full cave training with them and I can\'t say enough good things about the experience. My instructor Hugo De la Llata was extremely knowledgable, friendly, and enthusiastic about the amazing underwater world of the Yucatan. I learned an incredible amount in a short period of time and will be ever grateful for the experience. I am definitely making plans for regular visits to Blue Life and would suggest them to anyone who has an interest in diving in the area.

  7. Rated 5 out of 5

    Derek H

    Best dive school ever ... Recently got back from enjoying a fantastic time with Blue Life. Up until then I had my favourite dive school many thousands of miles away from Mexico, but after spending 8 days with them my opinion has changed. Nothing is too much of a problem for them, all you have to do is ask. From spending two and a half hours setting up Louie\'s and Deb\'s new Sidemount rigs on the first morning, to mentioning that a wreck would be nice and it being arranged for the next day, anything is possible. Fernanda and Sarah were super quick answering e-mails prior to arrival, pickups from hotel, equipment in good order, organisation for the Cozumel trips very smooth, attention to details, dive briefings, everything was first class. We were lucky enough to have Sarah for our whole trip who was brilliant. Cannot think of anything bad to say about her, other than if she asks you what you have done with the vehicle keys, ask her to check her bag before you spend too much time worrying that you have lost them (we won\'t mention my camera incident). There are many dive schools in PDC, but if you want one that provides everything you need, look no further than Blue Life. Many thanks to you all for a great time and I wish you continued success. Derek.

  8. Rated 5 out of 5

    Jonathan W

    Superior Sidemount Cave Training This is my second trip back to Blue Life for Cave training. This time around we spent a lot of time doing stage cave dives and exploring some less popular cenotes. The level of instruction is excellent, you will learn something new every day just fun diving with Blue Life. All of the staff have excellent knowledge of the local caves and also awesome people as well. I\'ll be back again soon! <3

  9. Rated 5 out of 5

    Devinkr

    Amazing Diving With Amazing People I did my full cave course and some fun dives with Blue Life and wish I could have stayed even longer. From the start everything was great. Fernanda was quick to answer all my questions and check in with me as the trip approached. When there was a last minute family emergency with the instructor she took us out for some beautiful dives. Frank and Hugo offered a challenging but incredible course; very knowledgeable but also approachable with any questions. Sarah took us on some of the most beautiful dives I have ever done in over 10 years of diving. I will definitely be back!

  10. Rated 5 out of 5

    traveler_raph

    Great dive center - perfect staff and equipment I dived with Blue Life for the TDI Sidemount, Cavern and Intro TO Cave certification courses, in september-october 2016. The center is ideally located close to the beach (on 40th street) for ocean dives. They offer new, clean and well maintained diving equipment, a nice course room, and a very friendly athmosphere. My instructors for Cave diving were Hugo and Franck, who are both great people and very serious and dedicated instructors. I feel well trained, and during the course, I always felt secure and at ease with the team. I recommend Blue Life for Cave Diving courses.

  11. Rated 5 out of 5

    Faiths

    Absolutely Wonderful.. Now we know why Blue Life get so many 5 star rating. We did six days of diving reef, cenotes and sidemount training. Fernada even guided us on our 2 tank boat dive and spotted a \"Pea\" very young, tiny Trunk Fish. She was so happy and the mood was set for the rest of our time. We were totally pleased with all our guides and sidemount instruction. Thank you all again Fernada, Sara, Rimas and especially, patient instructor Suzy. We would highly recommend \"Blue Life\" for safe diving and great instruction.

  12. Rated 5 out of 5

    Jonathan W

    Amazingly talented instructors. I\'ve done a lot of dive training in the past but taking full cave and some advanced cave training at blue life totally changed my attitude towards diving in overheads. We plan to return again this year to dive more. Thanks blue life team, it was time well spent!

  13. Rated 5 out of 5

    ChasHudson

    Cave Diving in the Cenotes of Riveria Maya I just returned from a week of diving with the staff at Blue Life Diving. Day one, Vale and I took the ferry to dive in Cozumel. I love diving in Cozumel. The remaining 6 days I went cave diving with Hugo as my guide. We visited a different cave system each day; it was fantastic. Both of the guides were personable, safety conscious and very knowledgable about the area and its dive sites. Last year, I took a two week course in side mount, cavern and cave diving at Blue Life. Interested in exploring a new chapter in diving? If so, investigate the options at Blue Life. You can feel comfortable diving with the personnel there; you will be in good hands. Charles.

  14. Rated 5 out of 5

    mike stanton

    Full Cave! This was my 2nd time training with BlueLife. I returned to become full cave certified. The instructors were fantastic. They were helpful, knowledgeable, professional, etc. I have been to Mexico diving 8 different times over the last 10 years. By far, this operation is the best I have seen. The personalized attention was amazing. In addition to the cave diving, I also went on a night dive on the Playa reef with instructor Hugo as a guide to take some pictures. A special thanks to Hugo for running back (literally) to retrieve my camera after I forgot it. I am planning on completing my TEC training with BlueLife in the very near future. PS If you go cave diving with BlueLife, make sure to ask about the tacos for breakfast.

  15. Rated 5 out of 5

    wwwGlobeTrekker

    Great team, location, and service Blue Life is one of the smaller dive operations in Playa, with experienced instructors that offer everything from discover scuba courses through to technical and other advanced courses, that you can do with either PADI or TDI. We went for 2 weeks with the aim of completing the TDI full cave diver course. After much research, we decided to book with Blue Life and our course instructors were Hugo and Frank. What a great choice! In almost 30 years of diving, this was easily the most intense dive course I\'ve ever done. I don\'t think I could have asked for better instructors - Hugo & Frank strike the right balance between enjoying the course and ensuring it\'s seriousness is not lost in the fun. If you\'re considering options in Playa for a course or just to do some fun diving and you\'re looking at prices online, one bit of advice I would offer is to go beyond the \"headline price\". For the course I did, for example, Blue Life was more expensive than most others, but this is because it covered everything whereas most others don\'t - cenote entry fees, specialist cave gear, even breakfast and lunch was included. Over 2 weeks, all this would have added up quickly. I can only rate the gear we used on the course, which was a mix of brand new and almost brand new. Frank is pretty fanatical about his gear and this seems to flow through into what he stocks for clients. The kit we used (lights and sidemount harnesses) was so good that we actually bought it from them once we completed the course. If you\'re looking for a fun team with first-rate instructors and years (and years) of local experience in and around the cenotes, I would highly recommend Frank and his team at Blue Life.

  16. Rated 5 out of 5

    Jonathan W

    Tailored training and exceptional service. I recently participated in cave training up to Advanced Cave Sidemount with Blue Life. This is one of the most demanding courses I have ever been involved in, Frank tailors all of his cave training to the students level focusing on the aspects that will help you personally succeed with your diving objectives. None of these courses are simply a \'meet the curriculum\' exercise. The new shop is in it\'s infancy but the classroom, equipment room and outdoor areas were already well established. The staff were exceptional and things ran well. If you\'re looking to challenge yourself and get some serious training for cave and technical diving, Blue Life would be a stand out recommendation. See you all next year ;)

  17. Rated 5 out of 5

    Keith W

    Became a better diver with Blue Life I recently spent an amazing week in PDC taking the TDI sidemount and cavern courses and cenote diving with Blue Life. The excellent staff (Frank and Hugo in particular) made the week both unbelievably enjoyable and highly educational. I have been diving with my partner for just over a year and half, and I love it! We booked this diving learncation with Blue Life because we wanted to find out more about diving in the beautiful cenotes of the Yucatan, and there is no higher-rated dive shop in the Mayan Riviera. Frank (the owner), responded to our emails promptly and made sure we were up to the challenge of the TDI sidemount and cavern diving courses. Blue Life also offers guided cavern tours of local cenotes, which don\'t require any extra training, but we wanted the opportunity to hone our diving skills with world-class instructors. I wasn\'t disappointed. As promised, the TDI sidemount and cavern courses were challenging, but rewarding. It took me quite a while to get used to the sidemount equipment configuration and diving position, but my instructor Hugo persistently worked with me until I could achieve the expected level of competence. My buoyancy, trim, and propulsion technique are all considerably improved! The cavern course taught me how to handle challenging diving scenarios and equipment failure in zero visibility situations. I have never been more challenged nor felt more rewarded! After completing the courses (which were taught on-site at the gorgeous cenote Jardin del Eden), my partner and I decided to take advantage of Blue Life\'s excellent service, and spent two more days diving with them in local cenotes. Despite torrential downpours, the diving was spectacular with unbelievable visibility at every location. Chikin-Ha was extraordinary, Dos Ojos was epic, and Tajma-Ha was majestic and serene...there is no way to choose a favourite among them. The week spent with Hugo and Frank at Blue Life has made me a considerably better diver, and although I saw many wonderful things, I have had only the slightest glimpse of the beautiful caves, caverns and cenotes of the Yucatan. As I write this review I am currently booking my next trip to PDC to take another course with Blue Life. The cenotes are calling!

  18. Rated 5 out of 5

    Matthew C

    First-Class Diver Training I had visited cenotes in the Yucatan prior to becoming a diver. Only recently it occurred to me I could combine my love of cenotes and diving. While you can do guided dives in cenotes as an open water diver, I decided to get my TDI Cavern certification with Blue Life. They also recommended Sidemount certification if I had any interest in continuing the training with Full Cave (which I do). I just spent a week in Playa del Carmen, all revolving around training and diving with Blue Life... and it was an amazing vacation. After our sidemount and cavern certifications, we spent 2 more days with Blue Life visiting cenotes and reaping the benefits of our hard work. Hugo and Frank were amazing instructors. They\'re tough and work hard to make you the best diver you can be. Diving in overhead environments is very different than open water diving and should be taken seriously. Some of training days would make you wonder why you\'re spending your vacation this way. But if you\'re serious about diving and want to take it to the next level, I strongly recommend cavern and/or cave training with Blue Life. You\'re guaranteed to leave a better diver, along with amazing memories flying weightlessly through caverns. It\'s really something that needs to be experienced to understand.

  19. Rated 5 out of 5

    ErikaDiver

    Great Cave Course I just finished my full cave and sidemount course with Frank and it was awesome. I work as a scuba instructor and was looking to learn something new. Man, I learned a lot! Frank really knows what he is doing, which is good when going into a underground hole filled with water. He was very informative about all aspects of cave diving and a patient instructor. He was able to take me to some of the more out-of-the-way caves which was cool, as several times we were the only ones there. I can\'t recommend Frank and Blue Life enough.

  20. Rated 5 out of 5

    SwayTec

    Cenotes and cave diving, Instructor Training I went to Mexico for two reasons, diving cenotes and doing instructor courses. After being recommended Blue Life and Frank, the communications were excellent even before I went and a personal schedule was set up. I did 13 days of diving in total, also assisted on some courses for the instructor level training in some amazing cenotes. The instruction in second to non, Frank is very professional and obviously loves caves! The rental gear is great and there are no corners cut with Blue Life which is perfect! If you\'re looking to do recreational, technical diving or courses then you don\'t need to look any further, I can recommend Blue Life to anyone.....I will be back for more!

  21. Rated 5 out of 5

    Mike_Rochester_NY

    Another FANTASTIC Experience This was my 2nd time training with BlueLife. I returned to become full cave certified. The instructors were fantastic. They were helpful, knowledgeable, professional, etc. I have been to Mexico diving 8 different times over the last 10 years. By far, this operation is the best I have seen. The personalized attention was amazing. In addition to the cave diving, I also went on a night dive on the Playa reef with instructor Hugo as a guide to take some pictures. A special thanks to Hugo for running back (literally) to retrieve my camera after I forgot it. I am planning on completing my TEC training with BlueLife in the very near future. PS If you go cave diving with BlueLife, make sure to ask about the tacos for breakfast.

  22. Rated 5 out of 5

    simonvelez

    Cave Diving course with Blue Life I started diving with frank and his team aprox two years ago . i had finished my dive masters and wanted to experience something new . I kew frank had a school in Tulum (back then) , so i called him up and started by diving caverns with Blue Life i immediately felt in love with the caverns and saw how this types of dives were improving me as diver. i wanted to learn more and go inside the cave so i first started my sidemount course ( i recommend divers wanting to do the cave dive course with blue life to strongly consider passing into sidemount).The reasons why is simply because as you will be gettinfg better you will want to go thru narrow passages and sediment it is just perfect for cave diving . You will also be instantly aware that buoyancy , propulsion and position are fundamental in cave diving. Frank is very insisting with this in the beginning of the course and it is for matters of security. Divers should control perfectly their gear (if changing to sidemount) before penetrating any cave . When i started the course i felt like a beginner diver , getting use to the gear took me 2 days or 3 so that is why i encourage a lot to take first the sediment course, this will safe a lot of stress that i saw in other divers at the time of taking my course. It will make a lot more enjoyable your course and a lot of fun if you are already familiar a little with cave diving gear. This is an opinion but in my case it helped not being scared or extremely stresses at any moments of course. I never felt that this was too hard or too scary because of the training and the great explanations Frank gives before any dive , make feel secure even tho you are making a complicated dive. I feel that i started to develop awareness when and diving and this feels very satisfying and reassuring for me. I really enjoyed my course with blue life , the amount of little details that they taught me make a me a better diver today , i can see it in the videos and it is just amazing . It was worth every penny to me , they gave me very good counseling on what gear is more appropriate for what i want to do and always helped me adjust it . Not only i made friends at blue life and this for me is extremely important , when i dive with them i feel like i am diving with my friends , the level of confort i feel around Frank and Wilian after diving for a while with them i think no other dive shop could ever provide me this and it is what makes them the best in my opinion. I am looking forward to keep on diving with blue life and getting my advance sidemount and stage bottle certificates. The learning never ends with them and it is what makes it unique.

  23. Rated 5 out of 5

    divermonty

    Exceeded expectations!!! I completed my Full Cave Course with Frank in November 2014. This was my first experience diving the fresh water cenotes and caves in Mexico. I have known Frank for many years and was an easy decision when it came to choosing an Instructor based on safety, enjoyment and exploration. When I choose an operation to dive with my first concern is safety, Blue Life exceeded this aspect of diving. During our 2 weeks of training we were pushed everyday with a variety of skills to necessarily enter and exit the cave systems. Frank would pick us up every morning at our condo, we would stop for snacks and drinks, and get Franks favorite street tacos for breakfast. I have in the past recommended my tec students to go to Mexico and learn how to cave dive with Blue Life and will continue to send my students and friends to their operation.

  24. Rated 5 out of 5

    helio666

    Great Program! Wonderful staff! Very Personalized service. I did full cave with some buddys and As a tech instructor i was excited to be challenged and we where! The Cave corse with Frank was challenging and fun. He is a knowledgeable instructor, very patient and thorough. He transported us to and from our accommodations that he help arrange for us. It was all very personalized service. We where very glad we went with Blue Life. Frank puts safety and looking cool and the top of the list when teaching ;) . We also did a few guided cave dives after our course will William and he was a wonderful Divemaster. I have and will keep recommending Blue Life to anyone interested in diving in Playa.

  25. Rated 5 out of 5

    Casey C

    A day in the blue life Blue Life has an excellent and experience staff who are prepared to give you the best diving experience in the Playa del Carmen area and if you\'re up for it the centoes of Mexico. All you have to do is give them a call! Frank and Karla will help arrange everything in advance so all you have to worry about when you arrive in Mexico is having a fantastic time diving and exploring the underwater world. This was my third trip with Blue Life and I can\'t wait to return next year, visit new caves and perfect my diving technique and skill. Even after you\'ve completed a course with Frank you are always a student and diving with Frank will make you want to be a better diver. I\'ve never meet anyone with the excellent buoyancy that he has, if you think you have good buoyancy I challenge you to dive with Frank, he\'ll take you to the next level of control and precision diving. And now, a short poem: I am a slave to the cave, \"Why\" people ask, It makes them quave, \"In the sun, I\'d rather bask\". I tell them a story, Of a place that gives me bliss. Let\'s take a lorry, To a place they call blue abyss. My guide assures me this cave is quite legit. As we begin the dive I feel alive, Parts of it are quite a tight fit, Caves like this make be thrive! As I make a turn, My world changes, Now I\'m in a bottomless cistern! This is a chamber for the ages. Even after my story people still don\'t understand. They say they\'d never try, But they want to shake my hand, Because I\'m the cave diving guy.

  26. Rated 5 out of 5

    Michael O

    Cave Diving with Blue Life This is my second time diving with Blue Life. I was introduced to cenote diving in December 2013 through Pete at Blue Life; we spent a week diving caverns together and I was hooked. I returned mid-april for Frank\'s Full Cave course. I have been diving for 14 years and have been on swim teams in high school and college. I have always felt as relaxed in the water as on a beach. Frank changed all this--the first 8 days of the course were enormously frustrating, exhausting and made me feel like I didn\'t even know how to swim. The experience was humbling and very challenging, to say the least. Cave diving is a serious activity and Frank didn\'t sugar coat his critiques and pushed me to perform to the best of my abilities. At the same time, Frank knew when to step back and throw in some jokes and fun times. By day 8, with 2 days left in the course, everything started coming together. Navigation, laying line, and the many other technical demands of cave diving began to feel more natural and my confidence increased so that by our graduation I was ready to cave dive and handle a variety of situations underwater. Frank\'s training is very tough and he is a straight-shooter when he needs to be and that is what I expect from a cave diving instructor. That being said, I couldn\'t imagine a better instructor to have and we had great time throughout the course as well as spending a few days cave diving afterwards. I always felt safe with Frank and I had a great time hanging out with him and Karla. They even took me out for my birthday dinner!! The bonds you create with your fellow cave divers cannot be understated. I feel like Frank is a true friend and I can\'t wait to get back diving with him again! I would highly recommend Frank, Karla, Pete and Blue Life. And yes, you will have an AMAZING life experience.

  27. Rated 5 out of 5

    Irvings W

    Full Cave Course, a winner ***** Undertaking full cave training is a testing, but rewarding experience for any diver, no matter how much experience they have. Taking the course at Blue Life was a decision I am extremely happy about. The training was very thorough, yet really enjoyable and really satisfying. I am a much better diver because of it. Frank is a fantastic cave instructor and brings to the table a depth of knowledge that can only come from vast experience and open mindedness to new solutions. If you are shopping around for cave training, you can stop right here, as Blue Life will give you everything you need to go on and become a superstar cave diver.

  28. Rated 5 out of 5

    Andrew B

    Living the 100+ 5 star reviews unbelievable right? Wrong. There is one reason Blue Life only have 5 star reviews, because they deserve them. My journey for a Full Cave Instructor began 8 months ago, looking for a company or individual that would be willing and capable of giving me the guidance and instruction needed to become a certified cave diver. It was around 6 months ago I found Blue Life on ScubaBoard.com and contacted Frank. From the very first reply to my long winded email, (response within 24hours) I had answers to all of my questions with detail and understanding. For me it was important to choose an instructor who I connected with and had a similar personality. I did not base my choice of Instructor on which certification agency they are with. I will always learn a lot more from a like minded instructor than the minimal course content differences offered by varies agencies, TDI, NACD, IANTD by choosing an instructor based on agency alone. Within days I had my TDI cavern and cave material and exams and over the following months leading into my trip, Frank was always assisting with questions or concerns I had with the material. Fast forward to April 2014 and I found myself in Playa del Carmen day one of my course. Frank had all the specific equipment that I required, (at no extra hire cost) and away we went, head first into theory and land based drills. I have been diving for 3 years, PADI Rescue with 150ish dives and felt comfortable underwater. This course is where my comfort level was blown out of the water and pushed every single one of my limits; buoyancy, trim, propulsion, teamwork, awareness, communication, no visibility and gas sharing drills and so on. Over the following 7 days Frank and I spent well over 800 minutes in the water where we worked our way through the course, and where more of my attention or skill was required, Frank focused on them with professionalism and respect, generating a real sense of confidence in me. I then finished my course and Frank and I spent 4 days diving as buddies in some of the most beautiful caves in the area, and it is here Frank and I connected as divers and the enjoyment of the caves really came through. Frank was nothing short of perfect with his training and mentoring in and out of the water. If you don\'t like people answering your question with another question go elsewhere, because Frank will not always provide the answer for you, rather he will make you rethink everything you ever knew about diving, and in doing so, create a much more aware and confident diver when you work through your original question. Whether you want to do a open water courses, a Tec course or caves, Frank and his team will cater for your expectations, equipment and skill level, from one on one to group sessions. Blue Life (Frank, Pete and Karla) are three incredible people who do not use the word \"no.\" Nothing is too hard or too difficult and they spend their day making sure your day is the best it possibly can be. Without question I would recommend anyone use Blue Life for their scuba diving training or diving holiday. You will not be disappointed. Frank and Karla, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the incredible experience you provided for me and the life long memories of the beautiful Cenotes and training you gave. See you in Australia.

  29. Rated 5 out of 5

    Neddy_12

    Blue Life = BOSS cave diving! Just finished my full cave with Frank and it was nothing short of one of the best experiences I\'ve ever had in my life. Frank\'s passion for training divers in awareness is incredible, without a doubt its the most important factor in safe cave diving. Not to mention he is also an absolute legend! He actually said I was one of the most boss divers he\'s ever had the pleasure of teaching.

  30. Rated 5 out of 5

    Eduardo L

    Miami Advance Nitrox and Decompression Procedures So me and 2 other friends of mine did both Advance Nitrox and Deco procedures with Blue Life. Initially when i began my search for a technical diving instructor i turned to online dive community forums to search for someone that was competent and skilled at the level of diving i wanted to do and did it at a frequent basis. i interviewed Frank Gutierrez about doing the class and knew i found the guy. From the before the beginning of the class Frank has been laying down great deals of information and answered all the questions i could possible have asked him. Scheduling the class was also very smooth even when trying to match 4 peoples schedules (class was not done on vacation). I felt the Frank had structured the class according to our needs as divers as well as the type of diving we had available in our area. He also made understanding the course marital theory and dive planing very easy and helped us out when we would make mistakes. In addition, he also provides real world experiences with the procedures taught in the class. Pointing out things that seem minor or trivial that have the potential of becoming problematic. From the start to the end of the class there was a drastic improvement in our ability to do the dives and all the task loading. Take a look at the before and after dive profiles i attached, notice the improvement in controlling deco stops and accent rates. Overall, im am very pleased with my experience with Frank and Blue Life, and feel that I defiantly took a lot of useful information from the class that will help me take my diving to new levels and accomplish future goals. Im very much looking forward to do more training with Frank. Hopefully Cave and Sidemount ;)

  31. Rated 5 out of 5

    sunbearOttawa

    Exercise in Humility The first thing one would notice, is that all the reviews are Excellent. The reason, is that the service, training and professional attitude are all \"Excellent\". Two months ago, Frank was not part of the names that I associated with the diving community. Through a mutual FB friend, I saw that Frank was offering a Cave course during the same time period that I was going to be in Mexico. Confirming with Andy Philips, I was told that I would not be in better hands for any level of training. The first part of my trip was to take the Side Mount Instructors course and 5 days later my training in Humility started. All in a positive way. I am a PADI instructor, I have certified many students from beginner to Instructor level. I also have over 3000 dives. Did I know how to dive, I thought I did? I can hover, do tank drills, swim, and stay stationary in one spot. Yes I can. The problem started when Frank asked me to do it all, at the same time, without thinking about it. This became my training in Humility. I had to overcome my inherent confidence that I thought I was doing everything right. Anyone that has trained with Frank, knows Frank\'s \"look\". But it is OK, despite his \"LOOK\" Frank is patient, all so patient. With his calm demeanor, he helps you sort out your problems, lets you have your temper tantrums, but he will not let you quit. Am I a better diver? You bet I am. It is all because Frank is great instructor, he ranks up there with the best. Along with being a top notch instructor, Frank provides top level service. I was staying in a hotel located in Playa del Carmen, without question, Frank picked me up every day at my hotel and returned me safe and sound. Never was there a complaint about the distance that he drove every day. Would I go back to Mexico and train with Blue life and Frank? In a heart beat. Every day, I dream and relive my experiences while taking Cave training. After I completed the Intro to Cave, Frank let me tag along and do some full Cave training. It is only that I ran out of time that I had to postpone the completion of Full Cave. Any one looking for a compressive, detailed, competent and Excellent Training, look no further. Things a person needs to know about an instructor: is the instructor competent, is that person respected by the industry, does that person practice his trade, does that person dive for fun? With respect to Frank, I can answer Yes, to all of the above. Frank, thank-you and I look forward to completing my training.

  32. Rated 5 out of 5

    Chris M

    Full Cave Course Blue life is a highly professional dive operation, they offed exactly what I wanted which was a bespoke service to fit in with my needs and schedule. I would not hesitate to recommend blue life for diving in the region. Great job thanks guys.

  33. Rated 5 out of 5

    Ken Cross

    Blue Life is a great dive company Blue Life is a great dive company. I did my diving with them out of Tulum Mexico. I talked to Frank about my goals and cave diving. He offered good advice about coming down, what gear to bring and presented a custom diving plan for me. Definitely he is experienced and professional. I started intro to cave diving with a \"one on one\" class. This was demanding for me, and to be honest I needed a little time to work with my skills before I was ready to become a full cave diver. After I completed Intro to Cave Diving, we worked out a plan to prepare me for the \"next level\". I met up with Blue life three weeks later - after I mastered my skills. I completed - Full Cave Diver with 2 other divers. Again this was demanding but well worth it. My buoyancy, trim, propulsion techniques, awareness, and team skills have advanced well beyond where I started. My advice to future Cave Divers - 1)Contact Blue Life 2)Make a plan 3)Get in the water. Remember anyone can go into caves - but only a properly trained \"Cave Diver\" comes out every time. Learn to do it right -Start here!

  34. Rated 5 out of 5

    LCripps

    Nowhere better! So I just completed the Cavern/Sidemount training with Frank in Tulum Mexico. I i must say that it was one of the most rewarding courses of my diving so far! I was the only person taking the course at the time and The Instructor went above and beyond to make sure that I understood the materials and worked on my skills. His style of teaching is set to make the student understand the material fully, instead of simply answering my questions Frank made me work out the problems for myself, because of this my personal problem solving skills have improved dramatically along with some key skills. Boyancy is a focus of this course and it needs to be approached with an open mind and an approach that you can always learn. On the whole i\'d highly reccomend this course and the progressions thereof, your skills and diving will be much the better for it! Many thanks to Frank and Blue Life

  35. Rated 5 out of 5

    vladounet

    Impeccable experience! Frank & his team are A+ instructors. I just did a side-mount & cavern diver course with them, but I ended up with much more than what I paid for: their first-hand experience in cave diving and big bag of tech tricks on how to improve your equipment (safely attach equipement to remain streamlined, minimize entanglement risk, etc.). No matter what Frank does (e.g. fixing a broken reg) he will share it with you, even if it\'s not related to your course. You\'re not paying for a plastic card, but for education. This means that it\'ll take what it takes to get certified, and more importantly, they wouldn\'t let you do a course (or bring you in any cave) without being sure you\'re ready (which tells you about the importance of safety for them!). They are all what you expect about a dive center (unfortunately not many centers do have that): friendly, professional, flexible, experienced, safe, and especially fun! So I fully endorse them and agree with other reviewers as well! Even if you can find cheaper alternatives around here, I\'d rather not being cheap with my own life! So if you value yours too, go with them!

  36. Rated 5 out of 5

    Celia R

    Great instructor, great learning, amazing experience. I had planned a trip to Tulum and was really interested in diving some Cenotes, I had asked around other divers I knew and got recommended Frank. I contacted him and he gave me a thorough explanation from everything from diving the caverns to information on his intro to cave and full cave course. What can I say, once I read his email I was convinced on the beauty\'s and thrill it was to take his full cave course. I signed up right away and haven\'t regretted a moment since. He was super professional and fun. I really enjoyed his teaching style: he kept you on your toes and taught you ways to be safe and calm. Every moment with him was a learning experience, first thing in the morning on the way to pick up tanks he was talking about information that was necessary and relevant to the day\'s dive. I enjoyed almost every minute with him, excluding some in cave safety drills that sure got your heart beating, although that being said they were necessary and afterwards a huge learning experience in trying to stay calm in case of problems that can arise in a cave. I finished my full cave course with confidence and went on some fun dives with him after. Even though the course had finished he would still give me pointers to allow me to excel to my potential. Not only did I have fun, but I am now a certified cave diver!!! Thanks Frank I\'ll be coming back for more!

  37. Rated 5 out of 5

    OssieStewart

    A remarkable experience I did my cavern course, Intro to Cave and Full Cave courses with Frank at Blue Life. First of all on a practical level all of the courses were run and managed brilliantly in terms of time management, gear, variety and choice of dive sites, and logistics. All my emails prior to arriving were answered thoroughly on the day they were sent, personally by Frank. It is the level of Instruction that really stands out however, not only is Frank an excellent cave diver, but he is a natural teacher. As a student you benefit from his ability to lead you to find the answers yourself - it really is not \'teaching by numbers\'. The result is more meaningful journey where you learn about cave diving of course - way beyond the minimum requirements for the course, but also a lot about yourself along the way. My courses were really a remarkable experience, which I am very happy to have had, and sad to have finished! I can\'t recommend the diving and instruction with Blue Life highly enough, I plan to come and take more courses with them when I next have some time off.

  38. Rated 5 out of 5

    Julz36

    So...... You The Cave and Tech diving market in Playa is Saturated..... Go and have a look for your self. I assure you, you will find from supper expensive, to unbelievable deals. After much time in taxis, and getting lost along the streets walking. Going to shops that seemed promising(on the net and phone), to find them closed when i arrived.... for siesta i imagine. I did the research, and this is my conclusion. The bottom line is, you \"Generally\" get what you pay for. I feel i got a bit more actually. From my first meeting with Frank (owner of Blue Life) and Marce(owner of Tank Ha), I felt I had finally found what I had been looking for. People who took them selves and their business seriously. Not just on the net where your www design team can produce grand images and your DMT\'s (dive master trainee\'s) can answer the mail a.s.a.p whith the what you tell them too. All my contact had been directly with them. As i had been lead to Frank thru Marce. I have been teaching a variety of P.A.D.I courses since 2007. I have Started to work as a videographer for 3 months prior to my Cave course. I have grown up in the ocean surfing, diving, free diving, and spear fishing. I have well over 3000 dives. I honestly thought that I could dive before I started this course. I honestly thought my buoyancy was very very good(teaching what i new to others) and that i was maybe part fish. Or at least so in touch with the water element from the extensive time i had spent in it since a child. But i was wrong....... Frank showed me what buoyancy really is. how to truly control and be aware of the situations you find your self in, while diving. This is the most challenging and humbling course i have done in water. I has Given me such awareness in all aspects of water sports. as well as refined all the techniques i use everyday. i do feel rather naked with regular scuba now. but my shots have become so steady as a videographer. my style has been eco styled! As I nave no need to push back or steady my self on a piece of reef to get my shot. most people have a great way of teaching, getting you to tick all the boxes and comply with all the standards. As dose Frank. But i really liked the way that when we started to get close to that, he would just create so many more boxes(from his experience with exploring so many un known caves) to tick. He wont answers all you questions, but make you think about why you just asked. Then he will answer you with a question very similar. and when you have shown you have really tried to answer your own question and cant..... That is when Frank will step up, and polish you to been a true gem in the water. One that can not only fix problems with your eyes closed. But he will show you how to prevent those problems. keeping you and your team safe in the water. He works with the most active explorers in the region. His buddies desighn and produce cave equipment. Dam fine equipment too. I do hope this post will help you in your search. Good luck and be safe in the water where ever you go. Julian van Heerden

  39. Rated 5 out of 5

    capncutt

    An adventure and experience, never to be matched... I came to Playa del Carmen determined to start my TDI Full Cave Course with only the best the world had to offer, I knew I was going to find exactly what I was looking for under Franks steady and professional instruction. He provided a learning atmosphere that is unparalleled to anything I have experienced before. Not only does he drive you to succeed but makes you aware that no one wants you to succeed more than he does. Proving this by going above and beyond his professional requirements to make sure you are exactly where you need to be, what your limitations are and how to safely progress. The course is challenging but you always have a strong sense of support from Frank and your fellow peers. It\'s a binding environment where lasting relationships are usually formed. Taking the course was a truly rewarding experience that I will use as the building blocks for many of my future endeavors. The training of this particular course (I used sidemount) coupled with Franks guidance will make even a novice diver into an exemplary diver. You are constantly learning new ways to navigate and explore a rare and exciting underwater world that most will never get to master or truly relish without the thorough training one would receive from Blue Life and Frank. Despite becoming sick (inner ear infection) and having to delay after Intro to Cave Diving, I have already planned my return trip and look forward to working again with Frank. I implore anyone with a need for adventure to pursue this course with Blue Life and be lucky enough to get the best possible training from individuals that focus on safety and are driven by genuine passion. I can personally report everything I went through was beneficial not to just my skills but as a person and I am forever grateful. I\'ve enjoyed and learned so much that I\'ve missed the beautiful cenotes, my training, friends and the city so much I can\'t stop thinking of my return and continuing this incredible journey with Frank and Blue Life :)

  40. Rated 5 out of 5

    nbostic

    Awesome cave class I\'m a recreational SCUBA instructor and have pretty high expectations when I take a class, especially after having taken a few I didn\'t think were worth my time or money. Frank\'s Full Cave Course was incredible. Not only does he take the time to make sure concepts are well explained and practical skills are refined, he pushes your limits to make you the best diver you can be. My goal/hope was to learn dive skills I didn\'t already have and this course fulfilled that desire significantly. I feel like I can confidently say I am now a better diver both in and out of the cave environment. Frank challenged my skills, explained concepts very clearly, had a great deal of patience, didn\'t baby us (we\'re learning to dive in caves, we need to be able to do this again without him) and was enjoyable to be around for the week of the course. He is knowledgable about not just the course material, but various equipment configurations, the local area and the history behind the cave systems. If you have the time and meet the prerequisites, I highly recommend taking a course from Frank because you\'ll come out a much better diver than when you started.

  41. Rated 5 out of 5

    mhbeach

    Absolute Top Notch Having lived in the Caribbean for 13 years, I do enjoy a bubble. Branching out and taking the TDI Full Cave Course with Frank is beyond your wildest imaginations. Frank is extremely thorough and detailed, and goes consistently above and beyond the minimum required to ensure that you are not only capable but also comfortable. He will put in the time and energy needed to get you to where you want to be (and where he knows you need to be). He loves what he does and he does what he loves; that is clear. Cave diving requires a lot of focus and dedication, which describe Frank to a T. During the course, I made a point to talk to as many professionals as possible about the cenotes and Frank hands-down came out on top as far as professionalism combined with passion. I can\'t recommend enough after completing your course to sign up for as many recreational cave dives as your time and money allow....there is no surer way to cement your training and to truly appreciate what you have just accomplished. Cristobal and Frank make a great team and once you finish the course and can fun dive with them is where the real adventure begins. Cristobal has just as much fun if not more than you, which cannot be said for the majority of dive guiding professionals! Cave diving is not for the faint of heart but Frank will get you there no matter your inhibitions or reservations. He not only makes it look easy but eventually, feel easy. Blue Life is flexible and eager to please, listening to what you want to make suggestions catered to your abilities and interests. Frank\'s interest and knowledge about the caves adds so much to the practical application as well. Don\'t hesitate; life is too short to miss this amazing experience!

  42. Rated 5 out of 5

    Beatriz Y

    Great experience, great team Me and my boyfriend went to Playa to take our Intro to Cave and Sidemount Diving Courses. We chose the Blue Life Team since we knew Frank was a great instructor. Our stay was very well organized, laid back and challenging. Diving cenotes is amazing, but it makes the difference if your instructor is, patient, demanding and professional. We learned a lot and enjoyed Playa\'s life and people, I\'d recomend it to anyone ready for a new diving experience. Thanks, Blue Life Team!

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