Cenotillo, Mexico
A Creativity and Freediving Retreat
"Freediving allows me to play at my edges, to revel in nature, soaking up the beauty. It's a meditative practice that reveals my inner world. I come back to the present moment, feeling more alive, and time disappears. It has helped transform my day to day life. In order to dive deeper, you literally have to relax, stay calm, and be positive.
I feel ALL the same while creating my paintings." - Marie McKenzie
This retreat is all about finding your own inner calm and peace, to create and explore what lies beneath the surface in a beautiful resort tucked away on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Our Story
Marie McKenzie met instructor Gustavo while in Costa Rica, a friend of an acquaintance whose freediving instruction came highly recommended. After working with Gustavo for several days, she experienced the magic of diving further than ever before. With his steady, calm presence, she had many breakthroughs along the way, the sound of humpback whales even encouraging her on one dive.
After working together, McKenzie and Gustavo spoke about the synergies between freediving and creativity, realizing how each opens up space for the other. The pair is thrilled to offer their first creativity and freediving retreat, May 30 through June 7, 2027.
Meet The Team
Gustavo Merlino
Argentine Freediving Champion & Instructor
Marie McKenzie
Painter & Instructor
Gustavo Merlino
For Gustavo, the ocean is not a place to compete, but a mirror to learn how to pause. Although his journey led him to become an Argentine Freediving Champion, his true passion isn't about numbers or depth, but in the transformative power of breath and inner calm.
As an instructor and creator, Gustavo views freediving as an art: the art of letting go of control, dwelling in silence, and listening to the body in its purest state. His approach combines safety and technique with a warm, patient, and pressure-free teaching style.
In this retreat, Gustavo invites you to immerse yourself not only in the water, but in your own capacity to be fully present.
Whether it's your first time holding your breath or you're looking to deepen your practice, his goal is to guide you step by step to discover that the silence of the water is the perfect space to reconnect with yourself.
Marie McKenzie
Marie McKenzie is a painter and sculptor whose creative practice begins underwater. Freediving has become the root of her work, not just a way to see the ocean, but a way for her to meet herself.
Once afraid of the ocean, Marie could hardly get past dipping a toe in. Facing that fear changed everything. To dive deeper, she learned to relax, stay calm, and surrender, and she discovered that's exactly what it takes to create too. The stillness she finds below the surface, the way time disappears below, follows her back to the studio. Her immersive underwater paintings come directly from what she feels in those dives: the light through water, the quiet, the sense of moving through something vast and alive.
Marie dives regularly in the Channel Islands, Catalina, and Laguna Beach, and each time she returns changed, more present, more alive, closer to whatever she's trying to paint. Freediving taught her that creativity isn't something to force. It's something to drop into, the same way you drop beneath the surface: slowly, calmly, and with trust.
Casa Apnea Resort
"Apnea means holding your breath – in freediving, it’s the pause between inhale and exhale where everything goes still. And casa, of course, means home. That’s what Casa Apnea is all about for us: presence, connection, and the freedom to go deep – in every sense. We’d love to welcome you here." - Casa Apnea
We will stay at the newly built Casa Apnea in Centonillo, Mexico. For the week, a shared room (two beds) is $3985 per person, or a private room is $5495 per person. Limited availability. One shared room and four private rooms are available. Check in on Sunday, May 30th and check out is Monday, June 7th.
GUEST ROOMS
Your own peaceful space to retreat and recharge
Private bath with walk-in shower
Choice of bed: queen or two doubles (ideal for friends to share)
Air conditioning, strong Wi-Fi, and handcrafted finishes using local wood and Chukum
Bath essentials including shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
TRAIN & RECOVER
Train/relax in the 25-meter pool, recover in the ice bath or plunge pool, and hit the gym to build your base strength. Whether you’re maintaining peak performance or simply looking to move your body and unwind, this is your space.
SHARED SPACES
Gather, connect, and unwind
Casa Apnea was created not only as a place to train, but as a space to connect and belong. Every corner invites you to slow down, share, and simply enjoy the present.
THOUGHTFUL TOUCHES
At Casa Apnea, they thought through the little things – so you can focus on the big ones, like your dives and the beauty around you. From your morning espresso to dinner under the stars, every stay is filled with quiet luxuries.
Toiletries in every room, with spares in case you forget something
Plunge pool open all day and night to refresh and unwind
Home-cooked meals for breakfast and dinner, with dietary needs met
Dedicated drying area for wetsuits and dive gear
Fresh coffee and espresso served each morning
Private, secure rooms with strong Wi-Fi
Freediving Retreat FAQ
What is this retreat?
A week of freediving with Gustavo, from Freediving Santa Theresa and painting instruction by Marie McKenzie, set in the cenotes of the Yucatan jungle. Expect wonder and mindfulness through creative play, writing prompts, guided meditations, rest time, and diving, all held in a peaceful, remote setting.
When is it?
May 30 through June 7, 2027. One full week.
Where does it take place?
Casa Apnea, in Cenotillo, a small, remote town deep in the Yucatan jungle. The energy here is quiet and peaceful, a true escape from the everyday.
How do I get there?
Fly into Cancun. From there, you have a few options to reach Casa Apnea:
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Tren Maya (the new train connecting Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and the Yucatan peninsula)
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Shuttle
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Private taxi
All routes take roughly 3 to 4 hours from the airport, and Casa Apnea is within 20 minutes of the final stop. Arrival to Casa Apnea is on each guest. Once you're there, transportation to the cenotes each day is taken care of for you.
What's included?
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All art materials to create for painting, a journal/sketchbook for daily musings
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Breakfast and dinner daily
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Transportation to the cenotes
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A full week of guided freediving with Gustavo
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All diving gear available for use
What are the accommodation options?
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Shared bedroom: $3,985
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Private room: $5,495
Space is limited: only 4 private rooms and 1 shared room are available for this retreat.
What does a typical day look like?
The retreat is built around three rhythms: creative time, rest time, and diving. It's designed to give you room to breathe, not a packed schedule.
Can I see the space before booking?
More photos and videos of the lodge are available at https://www.casa-apnea.com/
How do I book, inquire or next steps to proceed?
Please fill out our application form here. Feel free to reach out at marie@mariemckenzie.com and we will walk you through availability and next steps.