You get real coaching in a small group at Maroma Beach. This package helps you complete scuba certification with four open-water sea sessions and includes hotel-to-marina transfers and scuba gear, so the day feels organized instead of chaotic.
I particularly like that the staff handles the practical stuff—wetsuit and full scuba equipment—and keeps the group tight (max 15), which means more instructor attention when you need it. One thing to plan for: there’s a dock fee listed at $15 USD per person that you pay at check-in, and you also must bring your signed referral documents.
In This Review
- Key Points to Know Before You Go
- Referral Scuba Sessions at Maroma Beach: Who This Course Is For
- What’s Included (and What You’ll Still Pay For)
- The Two-Day Program: Four Open-Water Boat Sessions in Plain English
- Hotel Transfers and the 9:30 AM Start: How the Day Actually Runs
- Maroma Beach Club Access: More Than a Waiting Room
- Gear, Wetsuit, and Equipment: Why Included Matters
- Small-Group Attention: What Max 15 Really Changes
- Reef Highlights: What You’ll See at Maroma Beach
- Safety and Health Limits You Should Not Ignore
- The Money Question: Is $300 Good Value Here?
- Should You Book This Scuba Referral and Beach Club Package?
- FAQ
- What do I need to bring for the referral course?
- Is equipment included?
- How many open-water sessions are included?
- Is Maroma Beach access included?
- Do I have to pay any extra fees at the marina?
- What time does pickup happen?
Key Points to Know Before You Go

- Referral documents required: you’ll need signed paperwork showing you already completed the theory and pool parts.
- Four open-water boat sessions included: that’s the core value if you’re finishing your course.
- Maroma Beach club access is free: you can enjoy the facilities between water sessions.
- Small-group format (max 15): more chances for clear answers and hands-on help.
- Gear and wetsuit are provided: you don’t have to rent or pack heavy scuba basics.
Referral Scuba Sessions at Maroma Beach: Who This Course Is For

This is made for people who are already halfway done with scuba training. If you’ve completed the theoretical exams and the pool practices, you can use this referral to finish the open-water portion under a professional instructor.
The “two-day complementary course” angle matters. That’s not just a quick sightseeing outing—it’s structured training in real sea conditions, with four open-water boat sessions included. The activity duration shown is about 45 minutes, but the actual program is spread across two days, so you’ll want to treat this as a short course, not a half-day errand.
This format is also a nice fit if you don’t want to start from scratch. If your goal is certification completion with supportive coaching (instead of guessing your way through buoyancy and breathing in open water), this is built for that.
You can also read our reviews of more scuba diving tours in Playa del Carmen
What’s Included (and What You’ll Still Pay For)

Let’s be honest: value depends on what’s included around the water time. Here, you get the big-ticket items.
Included:
- Round-trip shared transportation from your hotel to the marina and back at set times
- All scuba equipment: mask, regulator, compensator vest, fins, and a lead belt
- Wetsuit and scuba gear provided (practical and saves packing weight)
- Bilingual guide in English and Spanish
- Insurance included
- Free access to Maroma Beach and use of facilities
Not included (the stuff that can surprise people):
- Dock fee: listed as $15 USD per person, paid at the marina check-in
- Another Riviera Maya dock fee is also listed at $15 USD per person in the “not included” section
- Locker rental
- Food and beverages
- Souvenirs and photos
- Private transportation
My advice: budget for dock fees and have a little cash ready for check-in. If you end up paying more than one dock-related item (since both are listed), you won’t be scrambling.
The Two-Day Program: Four Open-Water Boat Sessions in Plain English
Your referral course is built around four open-water boat sessions. Those sessions are the part you can’t fully practice in a pool, because conditions in open water add real variables: current, waves, visibility shifts, and the simple fact that you’re managing gear and breathing in a bigger space.
What you can expect day to day:
- You’ll start with hotel pickup and arrive at the marina.
- At the center, they focus on getting you ready: gear setup is typically a big deal on these trips, and the experience you’re described includes provided equipment and professional supervision.
- You’ll go by boat to the reef areas and spend time in the water with a guide watching your technique and comfort level.
From recent experiences tied to this operator and reef region, I know the in-water coaching style tends to be practical. People often comment on instructors checking in repeatedly and making sure gear is set before you head out, which is exactly what you want during certification completion.
The boat ride itself can be part of the comfort equation. One review specifically notes a roofed big boat and an easy ladder climb after the session—small details that reduce stress when you’re tired, wet, and done with finning.
Hotel Transfers and the 9:30 AM Start: How the Day Actually Runs

This package is built around shared transfers. That’s usually cheaper than private transport, but it comes with one tradeoff: you follow the shuttle schedule.
- Start time listed: 9:30 am
- Pickup time depends on where you’re staying
- Transport runs hotel → marina → hotel in shared service at specific times
If your hotel is spread out from the pickup route, shared transport can mean a bit of waiting. Still, it’s convenient because you don’t have to figure out marina logistics on your own.
Also note the “mobile ticket” detail. Bring it on your phone, and plan to show it at check-in along with your paperwork. Having both ready avoids delays.
Maroma Beach Club Access: More Than a Waiting Room

Between sea sessions, you’re not just stuck around the marina. You get free access to Maroma Beach and its facilities. That’s genuinely useful, because scuba training days can be long and you don’t want to spend downtime stressed.
Maroma Beach access is great for:
- rehydrating and resetting between sessions
- using beach facilities while your group rotates back to the boat schedule
- keeping the day pleasant even if you’re taking notes and decompressing after gear time
This matters most if you’re traveling with kids or friends who aren’t in the water (though this specific course has a minimum age requirement). Even for solo adults, beach time helps you avoid the fatigue spiral: boat → gear → water → tank stress → repeat.
Gear, Wetsuit, and Equipment: Why Included Matters

Trying to assemble scuba equipment at the last minute is a classic vacation headache. Here, you’re covered with provided gear, including mask, regulator, compensator vest, fins, and a lead belt.
Two things I love about this:
- Less packing and fewer rental hassles. You avoid adding extra weight and uncertainty to your trip.
- Gear familiarity is faster. In certification completion, you need time to get comfortable with this mask fit, this regulator feel, and this vest buoyancy before you troubleshoot technique.
One review praises the operator for solid rental equipment and an organized setup on the boat. That’s the difference between feeling like you’re “figuring it out” and feeling like someone has your back from the moment you arrive.
Small-Group Attention: What Max 15 Really Changes

This experience has a maximum group size of 15. That number isn’t just a marketing point. In certification completion, the bottleneck is instructor time. With fewer people in the water, you get:
- clearer feedback
- more chances to ask questions before you’re committed to open water
- better pacing if you need extra time to settle
Recent comments linked to this operator and reef area repeatedly highlight attentive support from named staff. For example, people mention guides and captains like Mau, Alex, Giovanni, Amauri Zermeño, Evan, Moe, Alexander, Carlos, Ivan, Gandhi, and Captain Eddy. Across those experiences, the common thread is guidance that feels close-up rather than rushed.
If you’re new-ish to scuba routines (or it’s been a while), that kind of support can be the difference between enjoying the day and constantly worrying about what comes next.
Reef Highlights: What You’ll See at Maroma Beach

This course runs on open-water reef sessions, and the area around Maroma is known for coral and marine life. In other recent experiences connected to this region and team, people describe reef areas like Paradise and Archos with enough variety to keep sessions interesting even when you’re focused on skills.
Here’s the practical takeaway: you’re not going to only practice techniques in “boring” water. You’ll still get that reef payoff—sea life, coral structure, and the feeling of moving through a living environment—while your instructor monitors control, breathing, and comfort.
Safety and Health Limits You Should Not Ignore
Scuba is fun, but the rules exist for a reason. This program lists restrictions that could block participation, including:
- pregnancy
- certain recent surgeries of the ear, heart, or lungs
- heart conditions, claustrophobia, diabetes, lung collapse, epilepsy, asthma, high blood pressure
- if you’ve consumed alcohol or drugs
They also include guidance like not drinking too much alcohol the day before, and not traveling by air until after 12 hours of your sea sessions.
If any of those health items apply to you, don’t treat it as fine print. Ask your doctor and then ask the operator. The goal isn’t to be dramatic—it’s to keep your week vacation-friendly and safe.
The Money Question: Is $300 Good Value Here?
At $300 per person, this isn’t the cheapest thing on the Riviera Maya menu. But it can be strong value if you actually need this exact service: certification completion with four open-water boat sessions, gear provided, insurance included, and transportation handled.
Where the value comes from:
- You’re not paying extra for the core scuba essentials (mask, regulator, vest, fins, lead belt, and wetsuit).
- You’re not managing transport to the marina yourself.
- You’re not paying separately for the instructor-supervised open-water training portion.
What can reduce value:
- Dock fees add cost on arrival (listed as $15 USD per person, with another dock fee line also listed at $15 USD per person).
- Food, lockers, souvenirs, and photos cost extra.
If you’re already done with theory and pool training, this package avoids the “start from zero” spend. That’s the biggest reason it can feel fair: you’re paying mainly for the open-water completion piece.
Should You Book This Scuba Referral and Beach Club Package?
Book this if:
- you already finished the theory exams and pool practices
- you want structured open-water training with professional supervision
- you like the idea of Maroma Beach facilities included for downtime
- you appreciate small-group support (max 15) and bilingual guidance
Skip it (or switch plans) if:
- you don’t have the signed referral documents from your original diving school
- you don’t fit the listed medical or safety restrictions
- your schedule is too tight for a two-day course structure
One more smart move: before you go, check that you can bring your referral paperwork and keep it organized. This kind of course can’t run on hope; the staff needs that documentation to confirm you’re ready for open water.
If you meet the requirements and want a reliable way to finish your certification in the Maroma area, this is a solid choice.
FAQ
What do I need to bring for the referral course?
You must show referral documents that are signed by the diving school where you completed the original theory and pool parts.
Is equipment included?
Yes. The package includes scuba equipment such as mask, regulator, compensator vest, fins, and a lead belt, plus the wetsuit and other necessary gear.
How many open-water sessions are included?
The program includes four open-water boat sessions as part of the two-day course.
Is Maroma Beach access included?
Yes. You get free access to Maroma Beach and can use the beach facilities.
Do I have to pay any extra fees at the marina?
Yes. A dock fee is listed as $15 USD per person, paid at marina check-in. Another dock fee line also lists $15 USD per person for Riviera Maya.
What time does pickup happen?
Start time is listed as 9:30 am, but pickup time depends on the hotel you’re staying at.



























