• HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • COURSE
  • PODCAST
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • COURSE
  • PODCAST
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

Adventurous Slomad Travel

  • Start Here
  • Destinations
  • Digital Nomad
  • Responsible Travel
  • Slow Travel
  • Van Life

The Complete Guide to Scuba Diving in Tulum, Mexico

Last Updated: February 22, 2023 · Mexico, Riviera Maya

Scuba diving in Tulum is a must-do on everyone’s tropical adventure bucket list!

Tulum is arguably one of the best places in the world to scuba dive because it has both incredible cenotes and the Mesoamerican Reef (the second largest after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef).

You have both options when scuba diving in Tulum and it’s nothing short of amazing.

Not only can you scuba dive in any deep open-air cenote, but you can also experience cave diving in Tulum’s labyrinth of underground flooded caverns and tunnels.

When moving to this beachside pueblo in the Riviera Maya, I knew I had to jump at the opportunity to explore Tulum’s scuba diving scene.

So far, I have been able to scuba dive three times in one of Tulum’s cenotes (Casa Cenote), twice in the Tulum reef, and twice in the Akumal reef. And now I have completed my PADI Open Water Certification!

With so many opportunities to explore Tulum’s aquatic wonderlands, I wanted to create this ultimate guide so you can find have the best scuba diving experience during your trip to Tulum.

Here is my ultimate guide to scuba diving in Tulum, Mexico. It includes Tulum’s dive shops, the best cenotes for diving, and diving on the Tulum reef.

P.S. If you’re a dive shop in Tulum or have dive experience here, please drop any additional recommendations in the comments below!

Table of Contents show
Scuba Diving in Tulum, Mexico
Best Dive Shops in Tulum
Agua Clara Diving
Infinity2Diving
Koox Diving
La Calypso Dive Center
Private Instructor
Best Cenotes in Tulum for Diving
Tulum Reef Diving
Last Tips for Scuba Diving in Tulum

Scuba Diving in Tulum, Mexico

reef diving tulum

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

Best Dive Shops in Tulum

If you want to book with a dive shop, here are the best diving shops and tours in Tulum that I’d recommend.

Agua Clara Diving

Agua Clara is a PADI 5-star center and comes highly recommended by fellow divers. They call themselves an eco-friendly diving center featuring zero waste, small-group tours.

Not only can you book excursions for scuba diving in Tulum, but you can also book reef dives in Cozumel. They also offer eco-tours for snorkeling, cenote Tankah, and Sian Ka’an.

Prices: Their prices are typical of most scuba dive shops in Tulum. The PADI Open Water course costs $490-525 (book/e-learning), $130 for Tulum reef dive ($230 for Cozumel), and their discovery dives for beginners are $115 x 1 dive or $160 for 2 dives.

They also have cenote dives priced at $150 for 2x dives and $195 for 3x.

🤿 Check Agua Clara tours & reviews on GetYourGuide

Infinity2Diving

Infinity2Diving offers all types of tours like cenote diving, multi-day diving packages, PADI courses, technical diving, and more.

Though I haven’t been diving with these guys (yet), I could tell they were really laid-back, friendly, and passionate about diving when I went in to buy my Beuchat dive mask.

Mario and Diego were both there to entertain and Mario specifically helped explain to me all about dive masks, showed me how to burn my first mask, and talked about his love for cenote diving.

Prices: Their prices are $120 x 1 discovery dive ($175 for 2), $450 x PADI Open Water ($350 with e-learning), and $450 for Advanced Open Water.

The cenote dives range from $150-200 USD. They also offer a range of snorkeling and cultural tours like a day trip to float in the canals in Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

Check Infinty2Diving ratings on Tripadvisor

Koox Diving

The team over at Koox Diving knows a thing or two about scuba diving in Tulum, considering they’ve been doing it for over 16 years!

They offer a range of diving tours and courses like technical and deep-sea diving, cave diving, and can arrange all diving excursions whether you’re based in Tulum, Playa del Carmen, or Cancun.

Of all the dive shops, it seems that Koox offers the most in terms of tours and excursions (not just for diving). They also offer freediving, fishing, swimming with whale sharks, Mayan ruins tours, and visits to tourist attractions throughout Quintana Roo.

Prices: At $139 and $169 for 1x or 2x discovery dives and with the PADI Open Water at $539 (with e-learning), Koox Diving prices are a bit steeper.

Check reviews & tours with Koox Diving

La Calypso Dive Center

If you’re looking for a French-speaking dive center in Tulum, then La Calypso Dive Center is your place!

They have notable mentions in French media including Le Monde and Le Routard (which is basically the French version of Lonely Planet).

These guys have over 15 years of experience scuba diving in Tulum. Don’t worry, they also speak English and Spanish too (and also apparently a fourth language per their website!). 🙂

Like other dive shops, they will take care of everything so you can focus on having fun in a safe way. Instead of offering a bit of everything, the folks at La Calypso specialize in cenotes, caves, reefs, and PADI courses.

Their cenote packages are pretty cool because the prices vary based on which cenote you dive in. For example, you can combine two dives with both shallow and deep cenotes.

Prices: Cenotes $100-160, Reef $100-110, PADI Open Water $500, Advanced OW $500

Check La Calypso ratings & prices on Tripadvisor

Private Instructor 

I completed 2x discovery dives (1 cenote dive and 1 reef dive) and I received my PADI Open Water with David, a freelance dive instructor.

I realize this isn’t how the majority of people do scuba tours but if you want 1-on-1 instruction with a pro, then I highly recommend you seek out a private instructor. It was pretty awesome to have just us and our instructor instead of going with a large group.

If you’d like David’s contact info while you’re in Tulum, he can be reached by email at damat85@gmail(dot)com. (He doesn’t have a public social account or website for now.)

His rates are fair and competitive ($390 for Open Water, $120 for 2x discovery dives, or $90 for 1) and you won’t be disappointed with the experience!

Best Cenotes in Tulum for Diving

casa cenote aerial view
Casa Cenote aerial view | PC: Canva
divers in casa cenote mexico
discovery diving in casa cenote

Casa Cenote: Casa Cenote is a beautiful open-air cenote that is used as a training site for new divers.

Its long, snake-like shape carves out the mangroves and creates an awesome aerial picture. On the other side of the sandy road lies the Caribbean sea.

In this cenote, you can see both freshwater and saltwater wildlife, fish, algae gardens, and even Pancho the crocodile! Max depth: 20-25 ft (6-8 m)

Also Read: Diving in Casa Cenote with “Pancho” the Crocodile 🐊

Cenote Carwash: Cenote Carwash, on the surface, looks like a large lagoon or pond but below its water is also a gateway to easy caverns where new cave divers can try out their skills.

There are lots of lily pads, aquatic life, rock formations, and fallen trees which together make for a stunning cenote dive. Max depth: 45 ft (15 m)

Cenote El Pit: Cenote Pit is a cenote that is exactly what it sounds like. It is one of the best cenotes for diving in Tulum as it is essentially a huge pit or underwater chamber perfect for exploring (for advanced divers). At around 400 ft (121 m), it is one of the deepest cenotes in Quintana Roo.

The light rays shining through the water create insane visuals that will make you want to go diving immediately! Max diving depth: 130 ft (40 m)

Cenote Angelita: Cenote Angelita is a favorite cenote for advanced divers in Tulum because it features a spookish thick cloud of hydrogen sulfide gas created by decaying trees and vegetation that gathers in the layer of the cenote where fresh and saltwater meet (halocline).

You can pass through this layer to a deeper, darker part of Angelita. Max diving depth: 130 ft (40 m)

Cenote Angelita with the halocline | Photo credit: Infinity2Diving

Cenotes Dos Ojos: Cenote Dos Ojos is one of the most popular cenotes in Tulum for snorkeling and diving alike. Dos Ojos, meaning Two Eyes, refers to the two neighboring cenotes that both flow with an enormous subterranean river – one of the longest cave systems (Sac Atun) in the world at ~193 miles (310 km).

It is a great option for new divers since you stay relatively near the surface and don’t dive down more than 30 ft (10 m). If you dive at Dos Ojos, you’ll either follow the Barbie Line or the Bat Line circuit (both entrances and lines give way to wildly different diving experiences).

Gran Cenote: Gran Cenote is another hugely popular cenote in Tulum. You used to be able to dive here, but either due to the increase in popularity or tourism, you no longer can.

You can still visit and arrange a snorkeling tour, though. Entry cost is one of the highest in Tulum – around ~350 pesos per person. There are equipment rentals, showers, bathrooms, and a rest area/garden on site.

Cenote Dream Gate: If you want to dive in crystal clear water rich with marine life and cave formations, then go diving in Cenote Dream Gate (often written as Dreamgate). This cenote is unique because you can take two diving routes – either upstream or downstream.

Either or, you will have a blast in this cenote! It is often talked about as being one of the best cenotes for cave diving in Tulum. To dive here, you need to have excellent buoyancy skills and your Open Water certification. Depth: 30 ft (9 m)

Also Read: 9 Best Eco Boutique Hotels in Tulum

woman cave diving in cenote dreamgate aguaclara diving tulum
Cenote Dream Gate | Photo credit: Agua Clara Diving

Cenote Calavera: Cenote Calavera is a fun, skull-shaped cenote with one big hole and two smaller holes (hence the name). At first, it looks just like a big swimming hole to jump in but in fact, you can enter the Sac Actun cave system here.

This dive features cool cave formations and the cloudy halocline layer. It is recommended for advanced divers since there are some dark and narrow spots. Max depth: ~50 ft (16 m)

Cenote Escondido: Cenote Escondido is a large pool-like cenote hidden in the jungle just south of Tulum. It is great for swimming, snorkeling, and also diving! When we were there, we saw two divers resurface after an adventurous dive in the underground cavern.

The entry fee is $120 pesos if you combine a visit with Cenote Cristal just across the street (great for jumping/swimming/snorkeling, but not diving). The price for divers for Escondido is around $200 pesos.

Cenote Nicte-Ha: Cenote Nicte Ha can be found within the Dos Ojos cenotes park. This cenote is both an open-water underwater garden dive and a cavern line.

As a diving cenote, it’s definitely on the less popular side but it still offers cave divers a short and sweet thrill. Max depth: ~25 ft (8 m)

As you can see, there are TONS of opportunities to go diving in a world-famous Tulum cenote. Just ask your diving instructor or dive shop about their various packages and what they’d recommend based on your diving experience.

If you also want to dive in the sea for a whole new experience, then you could also scuba dive into the Mesoamerican reef just offshore of Tulum!

Tulum Reef Diving

woman scuba diving in tulum reef
school of fish tulum reef dive
women scuba diving in tulum reef

Scuba diving in Tulum is so incredible because the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef lies just off the warm coastal waters of Tulum and is the second largest after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

There are several reef diving sites in Tulum that will give you the chance to see lots of rich, colorful marine life including reef fish, crabs, lobsters, and maybe even the passing turtle, stingray, or bull shark! Here are just a few!

Cuevitas: Cuevitas, meaning “Little Caves”, is where we got to do our first reef dive with our private instructor David. It is appropriately named Little Caves because there are several small arches that you can swim through.

On this dive, we saw lobsters, a blowfish, and many blue, yellow, and neon-speckled reef fish swimming around the corals. The dive site is 10-minutes north of Tulum in the sea just across from Casa Cenote. We dove around 25-30 ft (8-10 m).

Stingray: The Stringray dive in front of Tulum ruins is a great option for new divers (on calm sea days) because it is a fairly shallow dive of ~ 8-24 ft (2.5-10 m).

It is often called the Stingray dive because of the possibility to see stingrays exploring the sandy floor.

Coquitos: Coquitos is another Tulum reef dive worth doing. It is nicknamed Little Coconuts because of the coconut-filled palm trees lining the beach.

You can see lots of colorful sea life on this dive. Max depth is ~ 40 ft (12 m) at the bottom of the corals.

scuba diving in tulum in cuevitas reef site

Last Tips for Scuba Diving in Tulum

  • ✈️ Don’t fly for 12-18 hours: You shouldn’t board/fly in a plane for a minimum of 12-18 hours after your last dive. As David told us, little nitrogen bubbles can build up in our bodies and blood system when we dive and it needs to be released. If we fly just after a dive, we are at risk of decompression sickness aka “the bends” and this can cause injury or even be fatal.
  • 💧 Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: The more water you drink, the better. When we hydrate, we clear our sinuses and boost blood pressure. Without good hydration, you may feel too weak or poor to dive and you’ll have a hard time equalizing underwater.
  • 👙 Wear comfortable bikinis: Diving wetsuits are extremely tight. Ladies, make sure to wear a comfortable bikini or one-piece swimsuit and avoid anything that you need to tie with knots as this will stick out and be uncomfortable. Men should wear comfortable boxers/briefs rather than loose-fitting swimming trunks.
  • ☀️ Have fun! Scuba diving is one of the best adventure activities and the more you relax and just “go with the flow” the more you’ll enjoy the experience!

Tulum has so many incredible diving opportunities. If you are ever on the coast of the Riviera Maya you must come to Tulum to dive.

Between the cenotes and the Mesoamerican Reef, Tulum has got to be one of the best places in the world to scuba dive.

If you don’t have your Open Water certification, you can still do a cenote or reef dive on a discovery tour.

But you should definitely consider staying 4-5 days to get your PADI certification and go on a thrilling cenote cave dive or deeper ocean dive.

Enjoy scuba diving in Tulum! If you have any questions about my experience scuba diving in Tulum feel free to reach out in the comments or shoot me an email.

Discover more of Tulum with these guides:

  • 12 Epic Day Trips From Tulum You Can’t Miss
  • Floating Down Ancient Mayan Canals in Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
  • 9 Awesome Things to Do in Tulum, Mexico
  • Tulum Street Art: Exploring the Pueblo’s Muralism Culture

Pin this guide to Pinterest for later!

  • Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
  • Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
  • Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
  • Share via EmailShare via Email

By: Bri · In: Mexico, Riviera Maya

you’ll also love

female digital nomad overlooking Guanajuato City in MexicoThe Perfect 4 Day Guanajuato City Itinerary
Ultimate Mexico Bucket List: 50 Best Places to Visit in Mexcio #mexico #bucketlist | Bucketlist Bri51 Best Places to Visit in Mexico (Ultimate Bucket List!)
Ven A La Luz art structure in Tulum9 Awesome Things to Do in Tulum, Mexico

Join the List

Stay up to date with the latest adventures and travel guides.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. James says

    September 6, 2023 at 12:52 am

    I would love to go diving with David. please send me his contact for further diving information My family of 4 want to get PADI certified.

    Reply
    • Bri says

      September 12, 2023 at 1:42 am

      Email is mentioned in the post 🙂

      Reply
  2. Ariel says

    May 18, 2023 at 10:50 pm

    Stumbled upon this blog looking for a map of the reefs in front of Casa cenote, but as a local diver would also like to add that if you are advanced/have good buoyancy skills, Taak bi ha and tak be luum are also amazing cenotes to dive in. The first is highly decorated and quite shallow, the second has an epic swim through near the end of the dive

    Reply
  3. Nisha says

    February 12, 2023 at 11:08 am

    Could I have Davids’ contact number? I am in Tulum now, would love to speak to him.

    Reply
    • Bri says

      February 13, 2023 at 12:20 pm

      Hey Nisha! His email is provided in the content above 👆 he prefers email

      Reply
  4. Door says

    October 10, 2022 at 1:08 pm

    Hi! Thanks for all the info! Can you share David’s details with me? 🙌🏼

    Reply
    • Bri says

      October 11, 2022 at 12:11 pm

      On its way 🙂

      Reply
  5. Mili says

    September 4, 2022 at 2:07 pm

    Could I have the contact info for your private instructor? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      September 7, 2022 at 2:29 pm

      Hi Mili! Could you shoot me a quick email? x

      Reply
  6. Hussain says

    August 17, 2022 at 3:18 pm

    Hi,
    Thanks for the information. Very helpful. I would love to have David’s information ? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      August 25, 2022 at 8:18 pm

      Hi Hussain! Sending you an email.

      Reply
  7. Nicole says

    July 31, 2022 at 5:04 am

    Hi Bri,

    Super useful post, thanks for the info! Can I please follow suit with the requests for David’s details?

    Many thanks x

    Reply
    • Bri says

      August 15, 2022 at 1:26 pm

      Hello Nicole! Could you pop me a quick email?

      Reply
  8. Tina says

    May 31, 2022 at 8:37 pm

    Hi Bri, hope you are doing well. Can I get your free land dive instructor, David’s contact info if he’s still taking customers in Tulum? My boyfriend and I are going there in two weeks so want to book some dives with him. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      May 31, 2022 at 8:54 pm

      Hi Tina, thanks for writing! Sounds fun. I’ll send you an email with his info. Cheers

      Reply
      • Juliette says

        June 7, 2022 at 4:06 am

        Hello !
        Can you sent it to me to please ?
        Thank you 🙂

        Reply
        • Bri says

          June 16, 2022 at 1:53 pm

          Hi Juliette! Did you get my email?

          Reply
  9. Frank says

    April 22, 2022 at 1:29 pm

    Hello!

    Can I please have David’s details as well?

    Thank you 🙂

    Reply
    • Bri says

      April 26, 2022 at 9:20 am

      On its way, Frank 🙂

      Reply
      • Alexandra Power says

        May 2, 2022 at 7:40 pm

        Me too please?

        Reply
        • Bri says

          May 5, 2022 at 3:55 pm

          Yes! Sending an email about diving in Tulum right now : )

          Reply
    • Toree says

      August 15, 2022 at 3:12 pm

      Hi! I love your blog, I’ve learned so much. THANK YOU! Can I please get the contact information for David? Thanks in advance (:

      Reply
      • Bri says

        August 25, 2022 at 8:20 pm

        Email sent!!

        Reply
  10. Juliette says

    April 7, 2022 at 11:25 pm

    Can I please have David’s details as well?

    Reply
    • Bri says

      April 21, 2022 at 9:10 am

      Hey Juliette! Sure thing! Sending it your way

      Reply
  11. Michael Masters says

    February 22, 2022 at 3:40 pm

    Hello! Awesome post! Can you send me David’s contact info?

    Reply
    • Bri says

      February 24, 2022 at 6:09 am

      Thanks Michael! Sure!

      Reply
  12. Randy says

    February 22, 2022 at 10:18 am

    Hello, love love loved your info on Tulum/ helpful as I’m going in a month. Can I also please have Davids information, going to do my first Dive while in Mexico- thanks

    Reply
    • Bri says

      February 24, 2022 at 6:10 am

      Thanks Randy! Email and info is on its way 🙂

      Reply
  13. Anne Marie says

    February 13, 2022 at 4:56 pm

    You seem to have quite the buzz about Tulum and the great vibes there. This is making me very excited for my travels in 2 weeks! Can I please be one of the many others who have asked about David the diving instructor? I’m hoping he is available for something similar to you (1x cenote and 1x reef discovery dives). That sounds perfect. Thanks for the fabulous information!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      February 14, 2022 at 4:45 am

      Hi Anne Marie! Thanks for reaching out and reading my guide! I’ll send you his info shortly✨

      Reply
  14. Jo says

    February 13, 2022 at 12:43 pm

    Hi!! Thank you for sharing!
    Could you please send me David’s contact information?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      February 14, 2022 at 4:47 am

      Hey Jo! Thanks! Will send it soon!

      Reply
  15. Sia says

    February 4, 2022 at 1:31 am

    Hiii! Could you please share Davids contact with me? Thank you!! Also, Love the page!!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      February 7, 2022 at 9:12 am

      hey Sia! of course!

      Reply
      • Jo says

        February 13, 2022 at 12:06 pm

        Hi!! Thank you for sharing!
        Could you please send me David’s contact information?
        Thanks!

        Reply
  16. Gabriel Tucker says

    February 1, 2022 at 9:25 am

    Hello! Thanks for the tips. Would appreciate David’s info!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      February 2, 2022 at 4:20 am

      Email on its wayyy ✨

      Reply
  17. Caroline Mikolajczyk says

    January 30, 2022 at 10:50 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing! I’ll be solo traveling to Tulum and have never dived before. Is there any way to do a cenote or coral reef dive without any certifications? Also, can you please share David’s information with me?

    Reply
    • Bri says

      January 31, 2022 at 7:00 am

      Hey Caroline! Sure, would be happy to! You can do 2 “discovery” dives with David and/or a dive shop in Tulum. These discovery dives don’t require any previous experience. You’ll be assisted every step of the way and in fairly shallow water from 5-8m. We did our discovery dives in the Casa Cenote and then one reef dive in Akumal. X sending you an email!

      Reply
  18. Mateus says

    January 19, 2022 at 10:17 am

    Hi! Nice post, thanks for all the info! Could you please share David’s contact with me? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      January 20, 2022 at 4:13 am

      Thank you! Just sent you the details by email. Have fun!!

      Reply
  19. Ryan J. says

    January 3, 2022 at 12:55 am

    Hello,

    Thanks for the information- super helpful! Do you mind sharing David’s information with me? Appreciate it!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      January 3, 2022 at 6:24 am

      Hey Ryan! Would be happy to! Email incoming in 3, 2, 1.. 🙂

      Reply
  20. Madhav says

    December 7, 2021 at 6:35 pm

    Hi thanks for the great guide on diving in Tulum. Could you provide me the contact info for David? Thanks.

    Reply
    • Bri says

      December 7, 2021 at 7:52 pm

      Sent! 🙌

      Reply
  21. Danielle Ferree says

    November 8, 2021 at 6:16 pm

    Hi can I have the contact information of david please?

    Reply
    • Bri says

      November 8, 2021 at 7:42 pm

      Hey Danielle! Just sent the info your way 🙂

      Reply
  22. Wojciech says

    September 9, 2021 at 10:44 am

    Hello, I would be very grateful for sharing David’s contact details. Thanks a lot!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      September 9, 2021 at 2:51 pm

      No problem! Email incoming 😊

      Reply
  23. Xenia Lazareva says

    July 25, 2021 at 6:30 pm

    Thanks for this comprehensive guide! I’d love David’s contact info! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      July 26, 2021 at 4:31 am

      Email on its way to you 🙂

      Reply
  24. Jelle says

    July 7, 2021 at 6:37 am

    Hey – please share David’s details. Would be great. I’m there next week 🙂 Cheers

    Reply
    • Bri says

      July 7, 2021 at 8:23 am

      Hi Jelle! Just sent you an email. Check your inbox or junk folder 🙂

      Reply
  25. tyler Van says

    June 22, 2021 at 7:26 pm

    Howdy, would love to dive with David. Could you share his contact?

    Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      June 23, 2021 at 7:57 am

      Hey Tyler! Awesome. Sending an email your way 🙂

      Reply
  26. Joseph says

    April 27, 2021 at 12:33 pm

    Wow, so much fun to read this! I could not be more excited about my trip now! What is David’s, contact information and did working with him feel professional? I really want to make sure the PADI certification is 200% legitimate because I plan to take it with me and use it in many other places. Have you used your certification anywhere else? Thanks so much for writing this, your impacting real lives!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      April 27, 2021 at 1:13 pm

      Hi Joseph! Thanks SO much for your comment! Really so nice of you to say. I’m so happy you are going diving! David is 100% professional and has been diving since he was a child. He is truly a master in his craft and has dived all over the world. He will make you feel so comfortable while driving home the theory + safety + technicalities of diving. I haven’t yet used my PADI elsewhere (currently in Guatemala), but I quickly received my official email from PADI with a temporary ID card and then shortly thereafter received my permanent card and certificate at home in the mail. I will send you an email with his contact info! 🙂

      Reply
  27. Rusty says

    April 26, 2021 at 2:40 am

    Hi Bri,

    Thanks so much for the great write up. Can you please provide me with David’s contact information so I can ask about a private PADI certification?

    Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      April 26, 2021 at 10:55 am

      Hi Rusty! Yes, of course. Sending you an email right now! 🙂 Have fun!

      Reply
  28. Ava says

    April 9, 2021 at 12:41 pm

    This looks so fun, can you share David’s contact? Much appreciated!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      April 9, 2021 at 1:54 pm

      yes absolutely! I will send you an email 🙂

      Reply
  29. Ayeshah Al-Humaidhi says

    April 2, 2021 at 4:53 pm

    Hello, I would love the contact information for the private dive instructor. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      April 5, 2021 at 10:15 am

      Hi Ayeshah! Of course, I’ll send his contact in an email. Be on the lookout for it!

      Reply
  30. Danica says

    April 1, 2021 at 10:40 pm

    Hi there! I would love the contact for your private dive instructor! Thanks so much.

    Reply
    • Bri says

      April 2, 2021 at 10:16 am

      Hi Danica! Thanks for reaching out! I will send you a quick email with his number and email 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Michael Masters Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

Diving in Casa Cenote with “Pancho” the Crocodile

Primary Sidebar

hello!

I’m Bri, an adventurous digital nomad living abroad full-time since 2015. It is my hope to inspire you to live a life of adventure, seek out meaningful experiences, and travel slowly and mindfully!

About Me

Connect

join the list

Featured Posts

Malendure Beach in Bouillante, Guadeloupe lined with palm trees and lush mountains of Guadeloupe National Park

The Perfect Guide to Bouillante — Hot Springs, Beaches, & Diving

View of Sé Porto Cathedral from small street Rua do Ferraz in Porto Portugal

How Many Days in Porto? The Perfect Itinerary

15 Unique Things To Do in Cancun, Mexico (Cancun Bucket List + 5 Day Itinerary) | Bucketlist Bri www.bucketlistbri.com #cancun #mexico #travel #bucketlist

15 Unique Things to Do in Cancun (+ 5 Day Itinerary)

QUICK LINKS

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • COURSE
  • PODCAST
  • DESTINATIONS

Search

Let’s Connect!

@bucketlistbri

Here’s how I did it! 🦋

↯ ↯ ↯

THEORY 📚

1.  Getting familiar with SEO, better blog writing, structure, site speed, etc. I grew two successful niche blogs before ever turning my focus on my travel blog, so when I finally did start, I already had a good foundational knowledge of what to do + how to improve!
 
2. Believing I could do this and actually saying out loud that I was a blogger / writer. 
I waited a LONG time to give myself permission to take action. I used to say allll the time, “If only I had started sooner” — so much so, that I got sick hearing myself repeat it — so I decided to start. I took my travel blog seriously at the end of 2019, right before you know what… But that didn’t stop me and after travel picked back up, so did my traffic (and quickly!)

PRACTICE 💻

3. I adapted to the changing blog landscape and prioritized valuable long-form content and originality > shortcuts

4. I put my head down, grit my teeth, and focused on my output. 
For a month straight, I’d wake up at 6AM, make tea, and then blog until 12PM. After lunch, I’d write a 3k-word blog post for my freelance client, and then I’d spend the remaining afternoon and evening publishing my blog post from that morning, and starting on the next one. I grew so much during that time (from 12k to 30k+ sessions), & it showed me just how powerful FOCUS was. I was quickly ranking in organic search results so traffic (+ earnings) came in fast. 

5. I grew authoritative content hubs and internal links 🕸️

6. I prioritized my goals: writing, and earning sustainable, passive income from my blog > growing on social media to score brand deals that would take me away from writing 

7. I started another (niche) travel blog to keep learning, experimenting, and putting my skills to the test!

8. I created a mastermind and community of travel bloggers @bootstrapblogging. The community helps SO MUCH in overcoming stagnancy & loneliness (because blogging can be a lone-wolf gig). 

9. I keep my blog ethics close to heart and keep my focus on what impact I want to have. This is crucial because burn out happens so quick with blogging!

IF I CAN, YOU CAN TOO!! 💛

#travelblogging #travelblogger #blogtips
The adventures that your soul craves, that mine cr The adventures that your soul craves, that mine craves, originates from a curious desire to go beyond — to seek, to learn, to travel deeper beyond what is known, what is familiar.

If you dare not to live outside your comfort zone, then you will default to comfort. 

It is not easy to choose different or difficult, but it is always, always worthwhile ⚡✨

#traveldeeper #slowtravel #mindfultravel #liveadventurously #adventureanywhere
How to travel more locally ⬇️ I believe local How to travel more locally ⬇️

I believe local travel / responsible tourism can have a long-lasting, positive, and powerful radiating effect on both the individual and on the communities and destinations they visit — starting with an internal (and eternal) spark, a seedling… one of inspiration, love, and connection 🥹💛

(Add a healthy dose of adventure, and voilà — my favorite travel recipe!)

🎥 footage is all from my 3-night stay with the indigenous Tharu women and families of the Barauli village nearby Chitwan National Park, in the lowlands of Nepal.

Read below if you want to have more local experiences like this ❤️

🏡HOMESTAYS
Not all destinations offer homestays, but many around the world do! I found this homestay in Nepal through @communityhomestaynetwork 

*If I don’t lodge with a homestay, I’ll seek out eco boutique hotels, guesthouses, or local Airbnbs

🔍RESEARCH / DEEP TRAVEL
Do research about local activities and organizations in advance and make the effort to include these off-beat or underrated places/things to do in your itinerary. 
Search Google for the destination + words like ecotourism, responsible travel, local, community tourism, women-owned businesses, etc, to see what surfaces. I’ll also check Instagram and tourism board websites + social accounts.

🌿BOOK TOURS RESPONSIBLY
Really take a moment to vet the tours you find online before you book!
> How do they operate? Are they local, employing locals, benefiting local communities? Do they operate transparently? Can you find more info about their mission, sustainability actions, certifications, etc? 

💰WHERE DOES YOUR MONEY GO?
Local bus vs private taxi,
Local food vs international restaurants
Local shops vs commercial stores
… Being mindful of how your money supports your host community/destination is meaningful and can totally transform your travel experience(s) 🙏

Choosing the local route opens up so many new opportunities for discovery and connection!! 

✨Share this to your story if it resonates + follow for more adventures abroad + local travel tips! ✨

#localtravel #chitwan #adventuretravel #mindfultravel #nepaltravel #responsibletourism #barauli #homestay
Mexico with mummy pt. 1 🌵 Last November, Paul Mexico with mummy pt. 1 🌵 

Last November, Paul and I slow-traveled and lived for 6 months in La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur where we basked in the sunshine, dove with sea lions, and ate our weight in fish tacos 🌮 

(Peep my La Paz blog guides for all the juicy deets)🧃👀 

Some of you may remember La Paz is also where I started my Invisalign treatment earlier this year (update: my bottom teethies are nearly straight!!) so here we are six months later to pick up my second load of trays, but this time I brought mom along for the ride to show her around some of my favorite places😃 

Highlights from La Paz (except for the first)👇

💀 Face painting for Día de Muertos in Oaxaca
🌊 Playa Tecolote, one of the best beaches next to Balandra Bay
💡 When in La Paz
🍕 The BEST Naples pizza + burrata salad @ La Casa Madre 
🦋 New baby tats thanks to @tattooinknm
🌞 Sunset and sunken ships from the hurricane
💻 Snuck in a bit of blogging 
🍻 Beach beers!
♟️ My favorite little park in La Paz with a giant chessboard (Parque Piedras y Pájaros)
✈️ We got a plane to catch! La Paz > Oaxaca 

Being back in La Paz made me super nostalgic 🥲 
Revisiting a place after spending an extended amount of time there is always a strange feeling; you feel at home yet you're still a visitor, a tourist, with much to discover. You see people from the community you started to build, but before you know it you are packing your bag and saying goodbye again. I even had to go pick up some clothes we left in our last apartment 🙈

As bittersweet as it is, I'm so grateful for the "slomad" life. And also very grateful to be able to share some of the places close to my heart with my mom 🇬🇧 

I'm not sure exactly when I'll be in La Paz again (if not for my teeth, lol, which is not a bad place to "have to go back to" for that, right?) but I know that this wasn't my last visit 🥲 

#lapazmexico #bajacaliforniasur #mexico #mommydaughtertrip #golapaz #lapazbcs
Alone but not lonely is my new mantra 💛 I am s Alone but not lonely is my new mantra 💛

I am so proud of and grateful for the version of myself that solo travel has made me to step into... 🤗

10 years ago, even if I had already been living abroad, the thought of eating ALONE in a restaurant or taking myself out alone (not to mention traveling through different countries alone) just baffled me — literally, I didn’t understand what the attraction was to do such things alone! 
But now... OH MY GOODNESS 😱 total transformation. Now I’ve solo traveled abroad in Portugal, Japan, and Nepal and all three were like stepping stones to the next solo adventure 🥾 🧘‍♀️ 🏔️ 🥰 🏯

Please everyone go solo travel, if you can, and if you feel pulled to!! 

It’s such a powerful way to get to know yourself, step outside your comfort zone, and make connections! 

As much as I enjoy traveling with my partner, I just simply wouldn’t have had the same encounters or made the connections that I did on this trip and to think what I would have missed out on 🥲 ❤️

Because traveling alone literally forces you to *go out there* and in doing so, you realize just how capable you were of doing it all along! 🙏

#solotravel #solofemaletraveler #nepal #soloadventure #nepalnow #nepaltravel #nepaltourism
When you stay open and curious, pretty magical thi When you stay open and curious, pretty magical things can unfold 🥹 ✨ 

I’ve been harboring this story unsure as to HOW TO EVEN BEGIN to tell it, but the how is less important than the why. 

And this experience reminded me of my why ☺️ 

I live for this kind of magic in life, or rather, it’s this kind of magic that lights me up and makes me feel most alive — the adrenaline of an adventure and how a story unfolds right in front of me like a movie, one in which I’m not only the producer, director, graphic artist, etc but the screenwriter too. And perhaps most interestingly, the viewer as well. 

I’ve said this before, and recently too, but whenever I travel, I often let “the story” lead the way. And there’s always a story. Whether you think of it as scripting your own play, directing your own film, or authoring your own book, we get to be both the creators and the audience. And I think that’s pretty neat. 

For a long, long time, I’ve often kept those kinds of travel moments locked away in my journal — for my personal reflections only, unsure that they’d mean anything to anyone else. But what I’ve come home to lately, is that these stories are mine to tell and if they matter to me, then, well, that’s all that matters.

So here’s to sharing stories that matter, for the intrinsic value of the story itself, and for the meaningful seeds of inspiration and magic that take root in our hearts 🥰 ✌️ 

#solotravel #trekking #nepal #langtang #travelstories #travelblogger #travelstories #mindfultravel
Follow My Adventures

Footer

On the Blog

  • Start Here
  • Destinations
  • Digital Nomad
  • Responsible Travel
  • Slow Travel
  • Van Life

Info

  • Work With Me
  • My Blog Course
  • Slomad Stories Podcast
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

adventures await x

Copyright © 2023 · Bucketlist Bri | All Rights Reserved

28 shares