Recreational Diving in San José del Cabo, Mexico

The Advanced Open Water course is the next step in your diving journey. We focus on building your confidence, expanding your skills, and introducing you to new types of diving in a safe and structured way. In Los Cabos, it becomes an opportunity to explore completely different underwater environments — from deep pinnacles and wrecks to abundant marine life and structured navigation training.

Working with our team of multilingual, experienced instructors, you will get the opportunity to see fish and coral species found in the deeper waters, understand the effects of nitrogen narcosis, how to recognise it, and how to manage dives safely at greater depths. Most importantly, we’ll help you grow your skills and confidence so you can take more out of each dive you do.

The Advanced Open Water course is designed to build on your existing skills as an Open Water diver and help you become a more confident, capable diver in a variety of environments. This is a skill-focused course that introduces you to new types of diving, including deep diving down to 30m (100ft), underwater navigation, and different dive environments such as reefs, wrecks, and deeper offshore sites.

You’ll also develop a better understanding of marine life found at depth, including fish behaviour, coral systems, and how conditions change as you descend. This certification is recognised worldwide and allows you to dive to a maximum depth of 30m (100ft), giving you access to a much wider range of dive sites around the world. Most divers find this course is where their confidence underwater really starts to grow, as they begin to explore beyond the limits of beginner diving.

The Advanced Open Water course is shorter than the Open Water course because it builds on skills you already have. The focus is on gaining experience through diving rather than learning lots of new theory. Over just 2 days, you will complete 5 dives — two are mandatory (Deep Diver and Navigation Diver), and the other 3 are electives you can choose from, including Buoyancy, Fish Identification, Search and Recovery, Drift Diving, Night Diving, or Wreck Diving (our instructors will happily help direct you the right way).

There is a small portion of knowledge development, completed online before coming to the dive centre, which should take approximately 5 hours. Once in San José with us, our tentative schedule is:

Day 1 (full day)

• Course briefing and knowledge review
• Dive planning
• 3 dives

Day 2 (half day)

• Dive planning
• 2 dives
• Dive logging and certification

Whether you’re planning multiple dives over several days, exploring deeper reefs, or preparing for adventures such as Gordo Banks or liveaboard trips, becoming a Nitrox Diver is one of the most useful certifications you can have. Diving with Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx) allows your body to absorb less nitrogen than when breathing regular air, meaning you can often enjoy longer no-decompression limits and shorter surface intervals.

This gives you more flexibility throughout your dive holiday and can help you feel fresher after completing multiple dives over consecutive days. It’s no surprise that Nitrox is the most popular scuba diving specialty in the world and is considered an essential certification by many experienced divers.

The Nitrox Diver course teaches you how to safely plan and conduct dives using Enriched Air Nitrox. Rather than focusing on new underwater skills, this course develops your understanding of dive planning, oxygen exposure, and how different gas mixtures affect your dives. You’ll learn how to analyse your cylinder, calculate your maximum operating depth (MOD), programme your dive computer correctly, and safely plan dives using Nitrox. Once certified, you’ll be able to rent and dive with Nitrox anywhere in the world.

During the course you’ll learn how Enriched Air Nitrox differs from regular compressed air and why it has become the preferred breathing gas for many recreational divers. You’ll learn how to analyse the oxygen content of your cylinder, calculate the maximum operating depth for different gas mixtures, programme your dive computer correctly, and plan dives safely within oxygen exposure limits. By the end of the course, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to dive safely using Nitrox wherever it is available.

The Nitrox Diver course is one of the quickest specialty courses to complete and can usually be finished in just a few hours. Most of the course consists of independent online learning, completed before arriving at the dive centre. Once with us, your instructor will review the theory, demonstrate how to analyse a Nitrox cylinder, explain dive planning procedures, and ensure you’re confident using Nitrox safely before issuing your certification. No training dives are required, although many divers choose to complete the course before a day’s diving so they can immediately begin enjoying the benefits of Nitrox.

Los Cabos is home to some of the most exciting deep dive sites in Mexico, making it the perfect place to complete your Deep Diver certification. From dramatic offshore pinnacles and steep drop-offs to encounters with schooling hammerhead sharks and other pelagic marine life, many of the region’s most spectacular dives take place beyond the limits of the Open Water certification.

The Deep Diver course is designed to build your confidence and knowledge while teaching you how to safely plan and conduct dives to greater depths. Working alongside our experienced multilingual instructors, you’ll gain the skills needed to explore deeper environments safely while understanding both the rewards and the responsibilities that come with deep diving.

The Deep Diver course is a practical specialty designed to teach you how to safely dive to a maximum recreational depth of 40m (130ft). Throughout the course you’ll learn how depth affects your body, your equipment, and your dive planning, while gaining valuable experience under the direct supervision of your instructor. The emphasis is on safe decision-making, proper preparation, and building the confidence to enjoy deeper dives without exceeding your personal limits.

During the course you’ll learn how to plan and conduct deep dives safely, manage your gas supply, and understand how increased depth affects your body and mind. Your instructor will teach you how to recognise the signs and symptoms of nitrogen narcosis, minimise its effects through good dive planning, and respond appropriately should it occur. You’ll also develop buoyancy control at depth, practise effective buddy procedures, and learn the additional safety considerations involved in deep diving, including ascent planning and the use of safety stops. By the end of the course, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to safely explore recreational dive sites down to 40m (130ft).

The Deep Diver course is typically completed over two days. Before arriving at the dive centre, you’ll complete a short online knowledge development section at your own pace. Once in San José del Cabo, your instructor will review the theory before completing four training dives, where you’ll progressively build experience, practise deep diving techniques, and apply everything you’ve learned in real diving conditions. Upon successful completion, you’ll earn a globally recognised Deep Diver certification, allowing you to safely plan and enjoy recreational dives to a maximum depth of 40m (130ft).

Day 1 (half day)

• Course briefing and knowledge review
• Dives 1 & 2

Day 2 (half day)

• Dives 3 & 4
• Dive logging and certification

If it’s been a while since your last dive, you’re certainly not alone. Whether it’s been one year or ten, it’s completely normal to feel a little rusty before getting back underwater. A Scuba Refresher (ReActivate) course is designed to rebuild your confidence, refresh your diving knowledge, and help you feel comfortable in the water again before joining fun dives or continuing your diving education.

At San Jose Divers, we keep our refresher sessions relaxed and personalised. Working in small groups with our experienced multilingual instructors, you’ll have plenty of time to practise skills at your own pace, ask questions, and regain the confidence needed to enjoy your diving safely. Many of our guests choose to complete a refresher before diving local reefs, Gordo Banks, or beginning their next certification course.

The Refresher course is designed for certified divers who haven’t been diving for a while and would like to refresh their knowledge and practical skills. Before entering the water, you’ll review the key principles of safe diving, equipment use, and dive planning. Once you’re ready, you’ll complete a skills session in calm water before heading out on a guided dive to put everything back into practice in a relaxed, real-world environment.

Whether you haven’t dived for six months or several years, the course can be adapted to suit your level of experience and confidence.

During your refresher, you’ll review the fundamental skills that every diver relies on, including equipment assembly, buoyancy control, underwater communication, and safe diving procedures. You’ll practise mask clearing, regulator recovery, emergency skills, and other techniques that may have become a little rusty over time. Your instructor will also review dive planning, safety procedures, and answer any questions you may have about new equipment or changes in diving since your last dive. By the end of the session, you’ll feel more confident, comfortable, and ready to enjoy your next underwater adventure.

The Refresher course is usually completed in half a day. Before arriving at the dive centre, you’ll complete a short online knowledge review to refresh the theory at your own pace. Once with us, your instructor will review any areas you’d like to revisit before completing a practical skills session and a guided open water dive. Because we work in small groups, we can tailor the pace of the session to suit your individual needs, ensuring you leave feeling confident and ready to dive again.

While Los Cabos is known for warm waters throughout much of the year, conditions can change with depth, season, and exposure to offshore sites such as Gordo Banks. In these situations, a drysuit can offer a completely different level of comfort, allowing you to stay warmer for longer and extend your time underwater. The Dry Suit Diver course introduces you to this specialised type of diving, teaching you how to safely manage buoyancy, comfort, and control while wearing a drysuit. Working with our experienced instructors, you’ll learn how to adapt your diving style to suit colder or longer dives, giving you more flexibility when planning future dive trips both in Mexico and around the world.

The Dry Suit Diver course is a specialty designed to teach you how to safely dive using a drysuit instead of a wetsuit. Unlike a wetsuit, a drysuit keeps you completely dry by sealing out water and using an insulating layer of air and undergarments to keep you warm. During the course you’ll learn how to control the air inside your suit, maintain neutral buoyancy, and adjust your weighting to suit drysuit diving. Your instructor will also introduce you to different types of drysuits, how they perform in different conditions, and the basic care and maintenance required to keep your equipment in good working order.

During your training you’ll learn how to safely control buoyancy when using a drysuit, including how to add and release air from your suit to maintain comfort and stability underwater. You’ll also learn how to prevent and manage common drysuit-related issues such as excess air in the legs or feet, uncontrolled ascents, and buoyancy shifts during ascent and descent. In addition, you’ll gain an understanding of how to choose the correct drysuit and undergarments for different water temperatures, how to care for your equipment, and how to adapt your diving technique to suit colder or longer-duration dives. By the end of the course, you’ll have the confidence to safely plan and conduct dives in a drysuit in appropriate conditions.

The Dry Suit Diver course is typically completed over two days. Before arriving at the dive centre, you’ll complete a short online knowledge development section covering theory, equipment, and safety procedures. Once in San José del Cabo, your instructor will guide you through equipment setup, buoyancy practice, and a series of training dives in a controlled environment. Throughout the course, the focus is on developing comfort and control while adapting to the unique characteristics of drysuit diving. On completion, you’ll receive a globally recognised Dry Suit Diver certification allowing you to dive in cold-water environments using a drysuit anywhere in the world.

Self-reliant diving is about developing confidence, awareness, and independence underwater while still maintaining safe diving practices. In Los Cabos, this course is particularly valuable due to the diversity of dive sites and conditions, where strong personal control and situational awareness enhance every dive experience. At San Jose Divers, we focus on building capable, thoughtful divers who understand how to manage themselves safely underwater, whether diving in pairs or in more advanced environments where redundancy and independence are essential.

The Self-Reliant Diver course teaches experienced divers how to plan and conduct dives with a focus on personal responsibility and self-sufficiency. While buddy diving remains standard practice, this course develops the skills needed to safely manage dives with increased independence and redundancy planning. It introduces concepts such as independent gas supply, dive planning without reliance on a buddy, and enhanced problem-solving skills underwater.

During your training, you will learn how to plan and execute dives with increased independence, manage redundant air sources, and develop strong self-awareness underwater. You will also improve navigation skills, buoyancy control, and gas management techniques. Your instructor will also cover emergency procedures, equipment configuration for redundancy, and how to maintain safe diving practices while operating more independently. By the end of the course, you will have a much stronger understanding of your own limits and capabilities as a diver.

The Self-Reliant Diver course is typically completed over two days. It includes theory development, confined water training, and open water dives focused on building confidence in self-sufficient diving practices.