Frequently Asked Questions

No. Beginners can join a Discovery Scuba Dive experience with one of our professional instructors.

Without certification (no diving license):
You can still go diving through introductory programs such as “Discover Scuba Diving”.

• Always with a professional instructor
• Limited depth and supervised at all times
• No certification required

Certified divers can explore deeper depths and more advanced dive sites like Catalina Island.

The minimum age for the Open Water Diver and Discover Scuba Diving is 10 years old.

For the BUBBLEMAKER – Discover Scuba Diving is 8 years old and is limited just for the pool.

Yes — Diving in Costa Rica is highly recommended, even for beginners.

Costa Rica offers several dive areas with calm, shallow, and beginner-friendly conditions, sites around Playa del Coco/Papagayo are recommended for first-time divers because of gentle conditions and good marine life. Scuba diving is very safe when taught and supervised by certified professionals. All beginner programs include safety briefings, pool/confined water practice, and guided ocean dives.

The Open Water Diver certification courses take 3 days to complete.

To take the Open Water course, you can complete the theory part at home as PADI eLearning before your holiday.

For snorkeling: usually basic swimming ability is strongly recommended.
For scuba diving: most training agencies require that you can swim and float comfortably, though you do not need to be an athletic swimmer.

Yes — Costa Rica is a very good diving destination, especially if you’re interested in marine life rather than coral reefs.

Costa Rica is known for:

• Large marine animals (manta rays, turtles, sharks, eagle rays, dolphins and whales)
• Dramatic underwater landscapes (volcanic rock formations, pinnacles, reefs)
• Diving for all levels, from beginners to advanced
• Papagayo Gulf:
  A fantastic diving area with great biodiversity, well suited for advanced divers and beginners alike.
• Catalina Islands:
  Famous for manta rays and pelagic encounters.
• Bat Islands (Islas Murciélagos):
  Advanced diving, known for bull sharks and stronger currents.

You can book online, contact us by phone, or send us a message.

We accept major credit cards (VISA, MASTER, AMERICAN EXPRESS), cash in USD and CR COLONES, SINPE and transfers from banks in Costa Rica.

Divers should wait at least:

• 12 hours after a single dive
• 18–24 hours after multiple dives or multi-day diving

Non-divers and snorkelers are welcome on our Papagayo Trips.

We do not take passengers or snorkelers on our island tours to Islas Catalinas or Bat Island. This is only possible as part of a private boat charter.

The best time to see giant manta rays is from December to April at the Catalina Islands. These islands are among the most well-known spots for manta ray watching.

The best time to dive with bull sharks at the Bat Islands (Islas Murciélagos) is from May to October. Due to the depth and conditions (currents and swell), these dive sites are only suitable for advanced divers with good experience.

Depending on the season and dive site, divers may encounter turtles, reef fish, stingrays, sharks, octopuses, nudibranchs, seahorses, harlequin clown shrimp, frogfish, pufferfish, dolphins, and seasonal pelagic species. During manta season from December to April, manta rays can be seen around the Catalina Islands. From May to October, bull sharks can be encountered around the Murciélago Islands (Bat Islands).

Costa Rica offers great diving year-round, but the best time depends on what you want to see and the conditions you prefer.

VISIBILITY:

• 15 – 80 feet
• 5 – 25m

WATERTEMPERATURE:

• Average 78-86F° – Thermoclines in Feb/Mar down to 65F°
• Average 25-30C° – Thermoclines in Feb/Mar down to 19C°

Dry season (November–April)

• Cooler water (24–26°C)
• Nutrient-rich conditions
• Higher chances of encounters with rays and manta rays around the Catalina Islands
• More plankton and sometimes lower visibility

Rainy season (May–November)

• Warmer water
• Generally better visibility and overall diving conditions
• Best season for bull shark diving at the Murciélago Islands

Visibility can vary from day to day, but marine life is abundant throughout the year, making every dive unique and exciting.

For our diving trips, equipment is not included in the price. We offer complete rental equipment.

Rental equipment is included in the course price for all diving courses.

You cannot wear normal glasses inside a dive mask because the mask must seal against your face.

Alternatives

1. Prescription dive masks
2. Contact lenses with a regular mask

Please bring:

• Swimsuit
• Towel
• Reef-safe sunscreen
• Certification card (if certified)
• Logbook (optional)
• Credit card or cash for payment, cash for tips or extra services
• Dry clothes for after diving

Yes, subject to availability. Please contact us in advance to reserve specialty equipment.

Yes. All instructors and divemasters are professionally certified and trained in emergency first aid and oxygen administration.

Yes. Emergency oxygen and first aid equipment are available during all dive operations.

Dive insurance is highly recommended for all certified divers, especially for advanced or multi-day dive trips.

We maintain small group sizes to maximize safety and comfort. Ratios vary by experience level and trip type.