Cenote Girl - Cave Diving Instructor Mexico

09/09/2025

Sidemount Baja Sur🌵

I’m in La Paz for the next two weeks teaching Sidemount classes!

I teamed up with and will be conducting two fun classes (one spot available still!)

I have dived Sidemount from boats a lot in different countries but I haven’t taught a Sidemount class from a boat yet (because I teach mainly in fresh water!) and I’m super excited to implement changes and adaptations to this familiar environment.

If you want to try Sidemount in La Paz, next class starts on Sunday 14th of September 😎

The class takes place at Marina Palmira, it’s 4 days and lots of fun!

Are you ready for Sidemount diving?

If you want to expand your knowledge about diving…

If you want to learn a new configuration…

If you want to take a first step into technical diving concepts…

If you want to prepare for deep, cave or other tech classes in the future…

If you want to explore a full redundancy configuration that is fun and sleek…

If you have a physical limitation that prevents you from carrying Backmounted doubles…

If you want to be part of the La Paz Sidemount diving community here at Dive Gurus!

Then you are ready for this. Get in touch with questions and sign up!

Please help us and share with your friends!

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08/09/2025

To travel is to live…

Back from a 5 day trip overlanding with on a rig that exceeded all expectations!

We planned to go photograph the wildlife and landscapes of Baja Sur. I was hoping for a great adventure because Baja always delivers!

Starting in Cabo San Lucas on the day a tropical storm was supposed to hit, we changed plans and headed north of La Paz to escape the floods that were already visible in the cape areas.

We drove most of the day, stopping to catch the moody weather, clouds making wildlife photography impressive.

Both Andres and I have experience camping, hiking and in general with adventure sports. Me being a cave explorer I also have a high sense of awareness, stress management and risk assessment. It helped our team make decisions.

When the storm hit us, our best bet was to continue to the next village to seek shelter, we had driven far enough from any other shelter point. Because of the storm we also moved slower and dark fell on us.

We made our way at a snail’s pace, putting the Jeep and our ability at test. I had never driven this car before, let alone in these conditions. The Jeep was not only extra performing, it was also comfortable to drive in very uncomfortable weather. Because of the amount of rain we got, we suspected the bed above would be soaked after the drive. Due to the thunder storm and having been exhausted from the drive in the storm, we decided to accept help from a villager who took us in one of their cabins, the next morning we inspected the rig and were thrilled to discover everything was dry with the exception of some water drops here and there.
All the items that Sampa Explore packed for us were on point and although we never got stuck in the mud, we did help a local whose truck got stranded due to the river growth. It was not only great to be able to pass without a problem but for me it was amazing to be able to use the rescue gear to help someone on the road.
Not all roads are suitable for you, exploration is something to do progressively to expand your comfort zone. Stay safe!

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Rig

03/09/2025

I am sharing this with a heavy heart, I wish I didn’t have to talk or write about this topic.

But it is a reality, I am a woman, I have suffered from this myself and seen others suffer the traumatizing experience of being harassed within the context of recreational and professional diving.

I am calling all agencies to read, share, and take action. There is no one without responsibility here. There is no one who can wash their hands and say “it is not our concern”.

Getting involved and standing with the community to make it safer IS the agencies duty as well as all divers to bring light to this subject. We are many more good people than those who abuse and harass. Let’s outnumber them in action.

https://indepthmag.com/how-much-is-too-much-the-reality-of-sexual-abuse-in-the-dive-industry/

Thanks to InDEPTH Magazine Business of Diving Institute and Girls That Scuba for having offered a platform where this gruesome issue could be talked about and exposed with the aim of finding solutions.

Please tag your agency, shop owners, instructors and dive buddies in the comments 🙏🏼

When that trust is broken by harassment or abuse, the harm runs deeper than any dive.

03/09/2025

The brighter the light, the deeper the shadow ⚡️

This was for sure not the easiest photo I’ve tried. Maybe because I was in open circuit and out of practice. Maybe because I was tired. Maybe because… what makes some dives more difficult for you? Tell me in the comments 👇

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01/09/2025

Every time I ask my students who invented the “cookie” and I tell them it was Mexican instructor and explorer Danny Riordan I feel so proud of our Mexican cave diving history.

This post, from Danny himself, commemorates 30 years of cookies. Thank you for sharing.

30/08/2025

We are expecting 😱

Vanilla Farm explorers and are expecting lots of amazing DPV dives with the new addition to the family. A beautiful baby that we can’t wait to drive in Sistema Vanilla Farm, riding through kilometers of cave and taking us home safely during Phase II of our project starting in November 2025.

Next phase coming up and we are crazy about the things to come. Breaking record dives, extending End Of Line, discovering new passages and hopefully adding a 6th entrance to the system 🤞

Thanks to Alopias Foundation and Josh Walters as well as for the continuous support to our team and Mexican cave exploration.

If you would like to support and sponsor our project please get in touch and we will send you the project brief.

21/08/2025

Which Shearwater computer is your favorite?

📷

20/08/2025

I don’t have words to explain how violent it is to witness this train and other related “developments” along its route. But this article explains the contradiction and the mixed feelings of the people, and the damage to the caves I so love and worry about.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/tren-maya-cenotes-yucatan-mexico?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMSqGNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhaLuydFYPwwOwgzeCY1fW2qiNwZ87k1N3y2j_SdjxgNrjbxe3dxjtudgSAP_aem_U_Ow0-OVdyCFuc3Dh94IDw

Mexico's $30 billion Tren Maya railway was built to unite the country and honor ancient Maya sites. Now that it’s up and running, the true cost of progress is finally becoming clear.

19/08/2025

On the blog today 🚨

XDEEP Tec and Rec Wings 🪽measured 📏 and compared ✅

I provide measurements (in cm and in) for length and width together with photos (in case someone doesn’t believe my measuring abilities!) and a table with comparative measurements.

I also throw in basic fitting principles and some tips for smaller frame people.

Feel free to read, comment, and please please please share 😬

If you have comments please share below 👇

I provide measurements with photos of the XDeep Tec and XDeep Rec wing bcd and help you choosing the best for your body type.

15/08/2025

And baby, that’s show business for you 🧡

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14/08/2025

The drysuit cut matters 🙌

It’s one thing to walk a few steps from the car to the water, it’s another thing to walk fully kitted and climb down in the heat.

In recent months I’ve had to go down this hole more than a few times after walking in the jungle to our exploration site. I originally tried to go down and put my CCR on in the water. Very quickly I realized the best was to go down fully kitted, although harder physically, it was easier overall.

Make sure the suit you pick is awkward-position friendly 😂

In exploration, your body will have to bend, extend, twist and stride in ways you didn’t think you had to.

And the suit can be impeding certain movements.

If you fully inflate a Seal suit, the shape it takes is a versatile knee-bent shape. This simple detail makes movement with this suit a lot easier, natural and comfortable. The suit is made to move with you.

One more reason I love my 🖤

12/08/2025

On the news today: Shearwater Research launches exploration page on their website 😎