Maya Blue takes cenote diving in Yucatán to the next level

Image credit: © The Chilam Group / Tom St George

"Good things take time", a German proverb says. And Javier Salas and his team took their time to create a dedicated facility for divers of all levels which is unique to the entire region: The newly opened "Maya Blue" dive centre located in the small town Xpu-Ha between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.  

The 420 sqm area also hosts "Dark Zone Diving", the tec and cave diving counterpart to Maya Blue, the "Rebreather Academy" and - for everyone, regardless of their training level - a 140 sqm first-class shop with quality brands such as Fourth Element, Razor, Shearwater, Hollis, Apeks and more. The on-site "Bat House Café" café/restaurant offers culinary delights and was designed according to the most modern ecological guidelines.

"We've been gathering expertise and knowledge about the peculiarities of cenote and cave diving here for quite some time, after all we've been working with the best guides and providers for so many years," explains Javier Salas, owner of the new dive competence centre. He has enjoyed recognition and popularity in the diving industry for a long time, his "XTC Dive Center", located in the very south of the peninsula, is the starting point for those famous trips to the saltwater crocodiles at Banco Chinchorro as well as manatee encounters and tec diving in the Xcalak National Marine Park.

"We are the safety and comfort alternative from the heart of the Riviera Maya", Salas explains, "Maya Blue is a PADI 5 star dive resort, designed to offer itineraries through our unique cenotes which suit every level of education". According to him, this includes the best equipment, comprehensive background information, thorough preparation and intensive adherence to rules and regulations.

"Dark Zone Diving" (DZD) is reserved for technical divers, especially certified and new cave divers. At DZD, trainers and explorers recognised throughout the scene rely on first-class equipment from leading manufacturers for training, education and support, without being bound to a particular system or philosophy. With Javier Salas being one of the first official Razor instructors, Dark Zone Diving offers GoSidemount training at all levels and also is an associated partner of TDI, IANTD and PADI Tec Rec. There are air-conditioned multimedia training rooms available, as well as a mixed gas blending system and many other amenities.

And for those, who always wondered how it feels to dive bubble-free, long and deep, just drop by the "Rebreather Academy", where you can test different systems to find a suitable one for you.

The new facitilies in Xpu-Ha are purpose-built to enjoy the whole range of diving as well as Yucatán’s one-of-a-kind ecosystem to the fullest.

For further information on the Chilam Group and Maya Blue, please visit: www.thechilamgroup.com and www.mayabluedivecenter.com.

About the Chilam Group

Under the umbrella of the Chilam Group, various suppliers and companies are joining forces that offer unparalleled travel experiences in the areas of diving, fly fishing, water sports and culture on the Yucatán Peninsula, all with the same high quality standards. These include Yucatan Dive Trek, XTC Dive Center, Maya Blue Dive Center and Dark Zone Diving.