Ananda Divers
At Ananda Divers, we redefine the diving experience through a boutique, highly personalized approach.
We don’t believe in factory-style, crowded boats. Whether you are a solo traveler seeking dedicated, 1-on-1 attention, or a group of 20 looking for a seamlessly coordinated private expedition, we adapt entirely to you.
Your experience, your pace, and your safety prerequisites shape our day. We mold our operations around your specific needs and goals, ensuring that you arrive as a guest, but leave as a true part of our diving community.
We are a team of dedicated technical divers and instructors united by a profound passion for the underwater world. For us, diving and teaching are not just professions, but a calling. We pour our hearts, expertise, and absolute dedication into every single dive…
Meet the team:
Alejandra García
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Base leader and founder of Ananda Divers
Born in Mexico, 1988, Alejandra is a passionate diver and instructor who shares her deep respect for the environment through personalized, meaningful experiences. Her journey began with a single dive that sparked a lifelong calling.
Her career as a recreational and technical diving instructor has taken her across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, accumulating thousands of dives. Yet it was Mexico’s unique submerged cave systems that ultimately drew her back home. With a strong foundation in open water instruction, Alejandra expanded into technical diving to push the boundaries of exploration. But her mission goes beyond personal achievement—she’s devoted to sharing her knowledge, inspiring others, and cultivating a sense of responsibility toward our fragile aquatic ecosystems. Whether guiding beginners through their first underwater breaths or leading experienced divers through complex cave systems…
Ricardo Castillo
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Instructor trainer Ananda Divers
Born in Mexico City in 1975, Ricardo discovered his passion for the sea early on during family trips to Mexico’s southern coast. Today, he dedicates his life to diving and underwater exploration, promoting a deep appreciation for oceans, underground rivers, lakes, and any place where water invites the sensation of floating. Diving, in all its forms, defines his professional journey.
A passionate underwater photographer, his camera is a constant companion, capturing the unseen beauty of the underwater world—from deep caves to remote marine ecosystems. His work invites others to explore and protect these hidden places.
As an expedition leader, Ricardo has documented marine environments across the globe—from Antarctica to the Arctic, including South Africa, Micronesia, the Maldives, Galápagos, Indonesia, and the underwater cave systems of Mexico.
He strives to transform fleeting moments into timeless images—always in pursuit of the perfect shot.
Oscar Cubells
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Instructor of Ananda Divers
Born along the Mediterranean and fueled by a lifelong passion for travel, he earned a degree in Business Administration from the Universitat de València before pursuing scuba instructor training in the Mexican Caribbean. With years of experience in Southeast Asia, he returned to Playa del Carmen and advanced to Full Cave Diver, dedicated to sharing the cenotes’ and the Caribbean’s treasures.
Verónica Ortiz
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Instructor
Originally from Mexico City, and I have a degree in Marketing. My professional career began in the corporate environment.
What began as a recreational activity to admire the beauty of the ocean soon became a true vocation. Each dive was an invitation to astonishment: shoals in perfect harmony, corals of unimaginable textures, fleeting encounters with majestic creatures… and, above all, the sensation of being in a sacred space, where time stands still and the senses are heightened.
Diving taught me to breathe differently, to observe carefully and to deeply respect the rhythms of nature.
Olinka Cortes
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Instructor
A biologist by training, a diver by passion, and a cave explorer at heart. I hold a degree in marine biology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where I developed a deep love for nature, biodiversity, and especially crustaceans.
My journey into cave diving began in 2014 when I joined a research group collecting samples in the flooded caves of the Yucatán Peninsula. In 2017, my enthusiasm for diving and teaching led me to become an Open Water Diving Instructor.
Currently based in Playa del Carmen, I guide, instruct, and accompany divers through the Caribbean Sea, cenotes, and underwater caves. My mission is not only to provide a safe and enriching diving experience but also to raise awareness about the region’s fragile and amazing ecosystems.
My goal is to connect people with the underwater world in a meaningful and respectful way. I believe that education and experience are essential to protecting the ecosystems we explore. With every dive, I aim to foster curiosity, admiration, and responsibility for the fragile marine environments of the Caribbean.
Mission
Our mission is to get more people as passionate about diving as we are and help them become great divers.