The week is built around the water. Early days cover the fundamentals of freediving: how to breathe before a dive, how to equalise pressure in your ears and sinuses as you descend, and how to hold your body so you use less oxygen. Later sessions add depth and time, with each one building on the one before. Much of the training takes place in the cenotes near Tulum, which means you are diving in fresh, still, very clear water rather than open sea.

Mental training runs alongside the physical work. You practise staying calm when your heart rate rises and the reflex to breathe kicks in, using breathwork and focused attention. It is the part many people find carries over into ordinary life on land.

The schedule also makes room for quieter hours: yoga, traditional-style ceremonies and restorative sessions to help your body recover from the physical demands of diving. These give the skills time to settle before you head home.

By the end of the six days you should feel more capable in the water, more connected to your breathing, and steadier both in and out of it. It is a practical week rather than a luxury one — the appeal is the coaching and the cenotes, not a spa menu.

The retreat is led by Chelsea Wiersma, who is based in Mexico. The wider facilitator team is confirmed before your stay, so ask who will be guiding your particular dates if that matters to you.

What's included

- 6-day freediving programme - Accommodation in a private or shared room - Freediving training sessions in the cenotes - Mental training and breathwork sessions - Yoga sessions - Traditional-style ceremonies - Restorative and recovery sessions - Meals tailored to the group, including dietary needs

What's not included

- Travel to and from Tulum - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Optional upgrades (ask the leader what can be added)