Private Dive Guide
Professional dive guiding for private vessels, charter guests and marine expeditions.
Looking for a dedicated dive professional to join your vessel?
I can integrate into private yacht, sailing and expedition operations as a dive guide, guest instructor or marine field support.
Common destinations
These are some great sites, but I'm available for any other.
Revillagigedo
Multiple seasons guiding liveaboard expeditions to the archipelago.
La Paz
Based here year-round — private day charters on my home waters.
Sea of Cortez
Multi-day routes for private yachts and sailing charters beyond the usual sites.
Also available for expeditions beyond Baja and Revillagigedo — let's talk about your destination.
Two ways to work together
What I bring to a vessel shifts with the trip — guest-facing guiding, or scientific fieldwork.
Yacht & Expedition Diving
Guiding guests and crew on private yachts, catamarans and liveaboards — day trips, multi-day charters and full expedition itineraries.
Marine Science & Offshore Support
M.Sc. in Marine Science and certified Marine Mammal Observer (MMO/PSO/PAM) for scientific diving and offshore environmental monitoring.
Hello, I'm Rafael.
I'm a dive instructor and marine scientist with a strong background in guiding, training, and leading expeditions in marine environments — from private yachts and catamarans to offshore expeditions and marine mammal impact mitigation programs.
I hold an M.Sc. in Marine Science, which shapes how I guide — with a scientific eye for marine wildlife and a real curiosity about what we find on every dive. Alongside recreational guiding, I've spent years working offshore as a Marine Mammal Observer on scientific and energy-sector projects in Mexico, the UK and Spain. Sea of Cortez and Revillagigedo are the waters I know best, and where I most like to share what I've learned.
Offshore & science work
Environmental monitoring and scientific diving alongside guest-facing guiding.
- CONANP — Scientific diver, Parque Nacional Revillagigedo
- Seiche / NKT / SSE — Marine Mammal Observer, cable-lay & monopile installation, Bay of Biscay & Dogger Bank
- Repsol / Alenta — Marine Mammal Observer, offshore platform decommissioning, Spain
- Revillagigedo liveaboards — Divemaster & Deckhand: Sun Riders, Solmar V (Blue Realm), Valentina (Fun Baja), Quino el Guardián (Liveaboard Mexico), Rocío del Mar
Certifications & credentials
Diving, instruction, marine science and offshore safety — the complete list.
View full credentials
Diving & Instruction
- SSI Open Water Instructor2024
- CMAS 1st Star Instructor2020
- Guía NOM-09-TUR-SECTUR (dive guide, Mexico)
- Authorized guide, Parque Nacional Revillagigedo (CONANP)
- SSI React Right Instructor (FA, CPR, AED, O2)
Marine Science & Offshore Safety
- M.Sc. Marine Science & Limnology, UNAM
- B.Sc. Chemistry, UNAM
- Marine Mammal Observer / PSO / PAM — Seiche, UK2024
- NMFS/NOAA approval — visual & acoustic PSO
- STCW-10 · OPITO CA-EBS · GWO Sea Survival
- ENG1 & OGUK Medical · SEMAR seaman's medical exam
- Libreta de Identidad y Marinero (Seaman's Book)
Get in touch.
Tell me about your vessel, destination, dates and the type of diving you're planning.