Scuba Dive Costa Rica
Scuba Dive Costa Rica
5
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
About
We dive at Las Catalinas Islands everyday and welcome certified divers of all levels. We also offer Discover Scuba Diving for those wanting to try diving for the first time and Snorkeling for others. We conduct PADI Open Water Courses and Discover Scuba Experiences daily in addition to PADI Advanced Open Water Course for those wanting to further their scuba training. If you have started a PADI Course at home and want to get finished up in Costa Rica, we can assist you with completing your course and issuing your PADI Certification. We meet daily at 7:30 and our boat departs from Flamingo Marina at 8:30 returning by 1pm. We also dive at Bat Islands, the famous Bull Shark Dive in Costa Rica. This tour operates for a min of 4 divers from May to October and departs from Playa Del Coco. We offer return transfers from most accommodations in the general area.
Tamarindo, Costa Rica
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Travelers talk about
(96 reviews)
(123 reviews)
(23 reviews)

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles447 reviews
Excellent
425
Very good
15
Average
2
Poor
2
Terrible
3

ADVGabe
Blaine, MN35 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Solo
I got to dive with Manta Rays. I know that is more luck than anything but figured I better mention it. It could happen to you too!

Phil and his crew are awesome! Highly recommend!
I randomly picked SDCR when I decided to get my Open Water Scuba cert and am I happy that I did!
Phil(owner/operator) is super communicative via email; he sent me some preliminary information to get me started and then personally responded to all of my questions in a very timely manner. He lives in the area and gave me tons of useful input for lodging and activities. Not to mention is a cool guy to talk with!
The beach they operate from (playa potrero) is a 20-30min drive trom Tamarindo. Just like all if the other Dive centers “in Tamarindo.” I enjoyed the drive and getting to see more of the area. There is also a newish brewery a block up from where you get off the boat. There is also Hemingway’s Restaurant on the same property if you don’t mind paying a but extra for the convenience.

All of the divemasters/instructors were super nice and helpful. There was a family diving at the same time as our class and the guys were super hands on with the two young boys; helping them fill out their dive logs and teaching them about the gear and different fish. All while keeping a super upbeat and playful atmosphere on the boat.
The dive boat and captain are also awesome! Clean, professional, nice.

The only con, since this is a review, is that the pool at the sailing center (the property that SDCR operates from) is small. 3 students+1 instructor made for tight quarters. We still worked through all of the confined water material though. not complaining, just putting that out there.
Written February 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write up your experience. We know that time your time is precious, so this means a lot to us at SDCR. We look forward to welcoming you back and keep diving!
Written August 13, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

MrMarcR
Coquitlam142 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
We wanted to do an intro dive to see if we would all enjoy it before splurging on the full-meal-deal and going for our PADI certification. After a short safety session on land and practicing what we learned in the pool, we were off to Islas Santa Catalina for 2 great ocean dives. There were 4 of us with our dive instructor who was attentive, friendly and very knowledgeable. At no time did we not feel safe, even with a bunch of sharks swimming overhead, and we thoroughly got to enjoy our dives down to 40 feet. Our 13 year old daughter took to it like a fish, and my wife and I finally got to enjoy some deeper water without having to come up for air!
I highly recommend the crew at Scuba Dive Costa Rica, and if we were to come back I would not hesitate to take the full course with them.
Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write up your experience. We know that time your time is precious, so this means a lot to us at SDCR. We look forward to welcoming you back.
Written August 13, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Lee W
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Scuba Dive Costa Rica deserves the highest of marks for the dive experience they provided for me and my family of 5. Phil was very easy to work with as we booked the reservation and discussed details of the dive prior to our trip to Costa Rica. We arrived to find a very cheerful staff who was excited for the dive and very helpful with check in process, equipment sizing, and getting us all off to the dive site. Lacey was our dive master and I highly recommend her! She has an obvious passion for diving, is very knowledgeable, and was top notch throughout the experience.
The highlight of the trip was an extended period of time with 3 Giant Manta Rays which only ended because we were at the end of our dive and air was limited. This was amazing and Lacey had prepped us prior to the dive on how to act around the enormous animals. We also saw several whitetip reef sharks, many types of eels, and the usual fish.
After our dive, Lacey sat and talked with us as we had lunch at the onsite restaurant. This was a perfect end to an already outstanding morning.

Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write up your experience. We know that time your time is precious, so this means a lot to us at SDCR. We look forward to welcoming you back.
Written August 13, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Melissa E
San Diego, CA3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021 • Couples
I reached out to Scuba Dive Costa Rica about a week in advance to try and schedule some dives for my husband and I while we were in Tamarindo. Phil responded immediately and was very helpful. He informed us about all the diving options and we decided on diving at Bat Island with the bull sharks. Unfortunately, with the island being so far and needing more experienced divers we needed at least four people to come out. We decided to wait it out. In the mean time, Phil was very helpful collecting our certification information and answering all our questions. Luckily we were able to go to the Bat Islands! Phil was prompt in giving us recommendations on where to stay and even helped give us directions from our hotel in Tamarindo to the pick up location in Playa Del Coco. The dive was amazing and visibility was great! It was a perfect day. After we got back to our hotel at the end of the day Phil reached out and asked about the dive. This shop knows what it's doing and I highly recommend them. Very professional and could make even the most timid of divers feel comfortable and welcomed.
Written October 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write up your review of your experience with us to Bat Islands. Candid customer reviews are so very valuable to us to help us improve our services and for people to find us. We look forward to seeing you again one day. Happy Diving. Phil
Written March 3, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

George K
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
My son and I had a very good experience with SDCR months before the dive when I corresponded with Phil via email and during the 3.5 hours we spent on the boat and diving with Lacey, Javi, and the captain. I'm a planner so I booked this dive months in advance and Phil even accommodated a last-minute date change. Lacey was our guide during the dive. She is professional and knowledgeable. The captain was great although his singing needs a little work....;-). Thanks for a memorable send off to 2019.
Written January 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write up your experience. We know that time your time is precious, so this means a lot to us at SDCR. We look forward to welcoming you back.
Written August 13, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Caroline P
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Couples
We dealt with Phil who I believe is the owner and originally an Aussie (i can never tell, he could be from NZ;-). Super professional and amiable, especially given our last minute booking. Check for sure with Phil, but there was no up charge for us asking for mask and fins in addition to the scuba gear for rent, which was really nice for travelers just wanting to come down to Costa Rica with minimal carryon.for tight connections. One other thing, Phil was very prompt in his communications, calling me back I believe while he walked up the beach from a dive and then checking in frequently by other methods (what’s app and email). I know this review is all about logistics, but sometimes this can be the biggest hassle when traveling. Scuba Dive Costa Rica exceeded my expectations in this regard.
Written January 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking a moment to write up your time with us and highlighting your booking experience. We really hope you enjoyed the diving and Costa Rica. Pura Vida.
Written March 10, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Gray S
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
Scuba Dive Costa Rica was awesome! Ryan completed his OW certification & his instructor Lacey was super fun and professional, making him feel totally at ease throughout the course. The owner Phil was so helpful, quick to answer my many questions by email before we arrived and was so friendly and genuine. The boat captain Cappy was a beautiful energetic person whose passion for the sea & everything in it is obvious + contagious. Our dive master / instructor was Risky, who was so friendly, funny and an excellent dive guide. I very highly recommend this dive operation!
Written January 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write up your experience. We know that time your time is precious, so this means a lot to us at SDCR. We look forward to welcoming you back.
Written August 13, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Rick M
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
The dive masters were awesome, spoke perfect english and the diving was fabulous. We saw three giant manta rays off of Las Catalinas islands, plus plenty of other sea life. Customer service and responsiveness was fantastic. And pricing was much much better than the resort pricing for similar dives. Really great experience beginning to end. My son went back for a second day of diving during our trip. Strong recommendation!
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write up your experience. We know that time your time is precious, so this means a lot to us at SDCR. We look forward to welcoming you back.
Written August 13, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

KaT F
Burlington, Canada8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Robert and I came here to finish our PADI certification here at the end of February. We had already done our on-line training and confined water dives and were looking to complete our 4 open water dives. We had Alvaro to show us the ropes on the first day and Phil on the second day; both of these instructors were attentive, personable and informative. We felt comfortable throughout the diving experiences and saw things we never dreamed we would see on our first open water dives! We saw white tip sharks, a school of devil rays, eels, blow fish and much much much more. If you are looking for the best diving team in Costa Rica this is the place! Thank you SDCR for an unforgettable experience and helping us to complete our PADI certification.
Written March 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write up your experience. We know that time your time is precious, so this means a lot to us at SDCR. We look forward to welcoming you back and keep diving!
Written August 13, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Andrew M
2 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • Couples
Not sure it exists. We were put on a trip with Pacific Coast Dive Center. Paid to dive Catalina's but instead we're taken to nearby islands with poor visibility. This is primarily a snorkeling operation.
Written December 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Andrew, we are sorry you had a less than satisfactory day out diving. There are over 10 sites across Las Catalinas and the boat aims for the best sites for divers everyday. This year seasonal winds have arrived approx 4 to 6 weeks ahead of their normal arrival. This means that some days, conditions at some sites may be inappropriate to enter and we need to choose sites that have safe access for everyone on board. Some days we have more divers on board and vice versa, it really depends on the day. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your time in Costa Rica.
Written December 20, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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