Experience Mex-ECO Tours offers excellent diving experiences in the Costalegre and excursions to other dive sites. Our expert instructor is a PADI certified Master SCUBA Diver Trainer and Emergency First Response Instructor, and is also a qualified paramedic. Israel creates a calm and encouraging atmosphere and is an excellent guide for first timers and experienced divers alike.

The Costalegre offers a great array of dive sites and therefore allows us to offer various speciality courses as well as regular PADI certifications. (Please see below for the list of PADI courses available with Mex-ECO Tours). For those of you who already have a diving qualification then why not try one of our half-day or day trips with Israel to a local dive site of your choice.

Each of our certification courses includes the necessary learning materials and dive equipment. We also offer PADI e-Learning® so you can start learning online.

For those of you who already have some diving experience don’t forget to bring your log books!

Don’t miss out on some excellent opportunities to join Israel on trips to la Isla Isabel, las Islas Marias, Cozumel and other diving hotspots in Mexico. Check back from time to time for upcoming trips, or contact us to sign up for our SCUBA newsletter with more information.



(click on headings for more detailed information):

Discover SCUBA Diving: Although this is not a certification, it provides an excellent opportunity to test the water and discover whether or not SCUBA diving is for you.

SCUBA Diver: A quicker option than the Open Water course for those of you who are strapped for time; covering the basics and certifying you to dive under supervision up to 12m/40 feet.

Open Water Diver: The most popular PADI certification, this course provides a full introduction to SCUBA diving and allows you to dive with PADI Dive Centres anywhere in the world.

Refresher course: An excellent way to refresh your knowledge and once again acquaint yourself with the theory and skills required to get back into the underwater world.

Advanced Open Water Diver: This is the next step up from PADI Open Water Diver, allowing you to choose some adventure dives such as wreck dives and night dives; a real confidence booster!

Rescue Diver: This course trains you to recognise and react to your own emergency situations, as well as other people’s emergencies, panic and stress.

Master SCUBA Diver: Join the best recreational divers in the world by completing the last step on the ladder of recreational diving; you will develop confidence, skills and experience.

Divemaster: This is the first step towards a professional career in diving. You will work alongside an instructor to learn how to assist with dive groups and begin to teach others what you know.

Speciality courses: Join us for a range of speciality courses which best suit your interests.



This dive is for those of you who are interested in testing the water to see if it’s really for you, or perhaps you just don’t have time to participate in a course right now. Join us and experience your first SCUBA dive with our expert instructor. This introduction to SCUBA diving includes a briefing on the basics of equipment and techniques and takes you into the water under the direct supervision of a PADI instructor. Your experience on this course can even be carried over to an actual PADI certification if you choose to do so (also see cost information for discount off next course).

Timescale: half-day

Cost: $935 pesos, $250 of which is deductable from your SCUBA Diver or PADI Open Water course if you sign up within one month (please see prices table for payments from outside Mexico).

Requirements: No previous diving experience, minimum 2 people, minimum age 10 years.



Perhaps you do not have the time to complete the PADI Open Water certification but are interested in pursuing SCUBA diving as a hobby under supervision of a PADI Instructor, in which case the SCUBA Diver certification is for you. It involves just three of the five knowledge development sections involved in the PADI Open Water course, three of the five pool dives and two of the four open water training dives.

Timescale: 5 days

Cost: $2,640 pesos (please see prices table for payments from outside Mexico)

Requirements: No previous diving experience needed, minimum age 15 years.



Refresh your memory in less than a day with this PADI refresher course. This is for those of you who have already taken part in a PADI course, but have not been diving in a while and would like to make sure everything is fresh in your mind before you get back into the ocean. On this course we cover the basic principles of diving, equipment set-up and a pool dive to refresh SCUBA skills.

Timescale: 3 Hours

Cost: $1,430 pesos (please see prices table for payments from outside Mexico)

Requirements: For previously certified divers, minimum age 15 years.



This is the most popular PADI certification available, allowing you to be able to dive at any PADI Dive Centre worldwide upon presenting your PADI certification card. The course includes five knowledge development sections, five pool/confined water dives and four open water training dives. Join us on this course and become part of the PADI community.

Briefings and debriefings are an important part of this course in order to maximise understanding and ensure you remember what you learn each day.

Timescale: One week

Cost: $4,625 pesos (please see prices table for payments from outside Mexico)

Requirements: No previous diving experience needed, minimum age 15 years.



This course is an excellent way to become a more confident diver; this is where the fun really starts! On this course you can choose between a selection of 15 adventure dives such as digital underwater photography, wreck diving, night diving and peak performance buoyancy. By the end of your course you will have improved your underwater navigation skills and feel much more confident in deeper dives. You will also be given the opportunity to try Nitrox.

Timescale: Two days (minimum 5 dives including a deep dive, navigation dive and limited visibility dive).

Cost: $4,180 pesos (please see prices table for payments from outside Mexico)

Requirements: Must have PADI Open Water Diver certification, minimum age 15 years.



Both challenging and exciting, the PADI Rescue Diver course trains you to recognise and manage problem situations and emergencies. During five dives you will learn to recognise and relive stress in other divers as well as to rescue panicked and unresponsive divers, manage emergency situations and of course self rescue. The next step from this certification is the PADI Oxygen Provider Course.

Timescale: One week

Cost: $4,950 pesos (please see prices table for payments from outside Mexico)

Requirements: Must have PADI Open Water Diver certification, must be trained for First Aid and CPR within last two years, minimum age 15 years



This is the ultimate rating for a non-professional diver. Join Israel to become a confident and knowledgeable diver in a range of different environments; taking part in several speciality dives.

Timescale: Flexible

Cost: Flexible.

Requirements: Must have PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification, PADI Rescue Diver certification and Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care, have at least 50 logged dives and a minimum of 5 PADI Speciality courses.



If you are considering a career in SCUBA diving or simply taking it to the next level, this is the first step towards professionalism. Work alongside Israel whilst he is training others, and learn how to lead the group both in the classroom and in the water. This qualification will allow you to then assist instructors in certifying others, and eventually go on to qualify as an instructor.

Timescale: One week

Cost: $8,360 pesos (please see prices table for payments from outside Mexico)

Requirements: Must have PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification, PADI Rescue Diver certification and Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care, have at least 20 dives at the beginning of the course and 60 for certification, submit Medical Statement, minimum age 18 years.

Israel Bernal began diving in 1985 and has over twelve years of experience as a PADI Instructor; he is certified as a PADI Master SCUBA Diver Trainer and Emergency First Response Instructor and is also a certified paramedic. Israel has travelled Mexico and the U.S. to satisfy his passion to learn and see more about the underwater world, he also has extensive experience as a technical diver, underwater videographer and University Instructor (University of Guadalajara). As a PADI Instructor he regularly receives updates and attends courses and is as dedicated to his profession as they come! “I would like to invite you all to join us in the beautiful Costalegre and experience the fun and the challenges involved in learning to SCUBA dive or advancing to the next level. I strive to bring out the best in my students and make sure that each dive is suitable for those taking part. Safety comes first and enjoyment comes a close second!” Israel Bernal, Mex-ECO Dive Instructor.

Instructor Israel Bernal

All prices include the use of equipment. We do recommend however that once you reach PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, and if you plan to continue diving, that you purchase your own basic equipment (mask, snorkel and fins); having well fitted equipment makes for a much more confident diver!

All courses require a 50% deposit to guarantee a place, and the other 50% must be paid before the start of the course. 30% of the total cost is non refundable for cancellations made less than three weeks before the start of the course.

Prices are given in Mexican Pesos for courses booked locally and in US Dollars for courses booked from outside of Mexico (please contact us for payment details).

DAN insurance is included with PADI Open Water Diver course, and for other courses/dives can also be arranged at extra cost.