Photo by Robert Stansfield

As most of North America suffers from a massive heatwave, many of us are dreaming of cool turquoise seas, white sandy beaches, and coconut cocktails. It may seem strange, but the best thing to do when it gets too hot is to head south across the border towards the Equator. Due to receiving constant sunshine throughout the year, the tropics come naturally equipped with a myriad of ecological wonders to help its residents cope with the heat.

Under the Sea

You have heard of ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going’, but did you know that when the weather gets hot, the hot go diving? Only 29 percent of the Earth is terrestrial and so the frontiers of true exploration are, in fact, underwater. People have been fascinated by the hidden treasures of the depths for time immemorial. From Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea to Moby Dick, authors and great thinkers of their time have often been enthralled by the mysterious maritime realm.

In 1943, French naval officer Jacques Cousteau created the film Épaves using an early prototype of the Aqua-Lung and opened the doors to the alien planet beneath the surface of the sea. The Aqua-Lung was the first open-circuit, self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) and it allowed divers to spend unprecedented amounts of time underwater. This landmark invention was the foundation for the modern scuba diving equipment that is now in use all over the world.

For marine enthusiasts, one of the biggest underwater playgrounds of our planet lies just south of the United States border. Coral reefs are some of Earth’s most valuable ecosystems and contain a wealth of biodiversity. The Mesoamerican Reef or the Great Mayan Reef in the Caribbean Sea is considered home to over 60 species of coral and 500 species of fish, many of which can only be found in the region. This reef system—that hugs the coasts of the Yucatan Peninsula round to the Honduran Bay Islands—measures over 600 miles and is the second largest on the globe after the Great Barrier Reef.

A fantastic side effect of spending so much time underwater is that you stay out of the blistering sun. Diving is essentially full immersion into a jacuzzi with a built-in National Geographic movie theatre. Whether you are looking to get certified or already have your diving license, simply head to Mexico and you will find many people who can help you to go scuba diving near me. You will be ushered into a whole new world. It only takes approximately three days to achieve a basic diving license and those who are strapped for time can opt for a Discover Scuba experience that can be completed in a single day.

The biodiverse Mesoamerican Reef is the perfect place for travelers to meet marine celebrities such as hawksbill turtles, nurse sharks, and eagle rays. If you ever get tired of the big names, there are tons of interesting creatures such as toadfish and seahorses that await discovery. Palancar Reef is the most famous dive site of the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park situated in the Mesoamerican Reef and is itself over 3.5 miles long. From sandy bottoms and seagrass meadows to multicolored reef tops and vertical walls with overhangs and swim-throughs, the Palancar Reef area is never the same two days in a row and offers unlimited exploration and enjoyment.

For the more adventurous, the region also presents some of the most incredible underwater cave experiences in the world. The limestone bedrock of the Yucatan Peninsula is riddled with sinkholes that form subterranean passages and caverns. Some of these have become flooded with crystal-clear freshwater, creating iconic and unique dive sites. These underwater sinkholes are locally called cenotes, a word derived from the Mayan dzonot which means ‘well’. Cenotes visited by recreational scuba divers are generally spacious and shallow, allowing divers to bathe in the beautifully filtered light rays that penetrate the vegetation above.

If You Like Piña Coladas

If you have spent some time in Mexico and are thinking of a permanent sea change, rest assured that you are not alone. Many people have extended their trips and started rebuilding their dream lives in the tropics. With relaxed visa restrictions and a generally lower cost of living, the Caribbean region is a great choice for an indefinite holiday. But, of course, you need to find a way to pay for all your dive trips and sunset drinks. The best way to revel in island life forever is to have an independent source of income.

For a career option that allows you to spend more time in the great outdoors, long-term tourists can consider becoming professional scuba divers. Many dive training facilities offer career development courses for divers to become certified Divemasters or scuba diving instructors. Imagine getting paid to go diving! Being a scuba diving instructor is a highly fulfilling vocation for those who want to spread their love for the sea and all its inhabitants. It can also be a lucrative source of income, especially for those who work at busy and popular dive centers.

Whether you stay for a week or a year, the region south of the border will provide a comfortable respite from the oppressive humdrum of city life. If you cannot stand the heat, get out of Hell’s Kitchen, and dive into paradise instead.