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Learn to dive at Costa Rica’s Catalina Islands over three days of classroom, confined-water practice, and four open-water dives. This SSI course is hands-on, beginner-friendly and awards certification to 18 m/60 ft.
Learn to dive at Costa Rica’s Catalina Islands over three days of classroom, confined-water practice, and four open-water dives. This SSI course is hands-on, beginner-friendly and awards certification to 18 m/60 ft.
You step off the dock with the Pacific sun on your shoulders and the briny breath of the sea already in your lungs. The boat hums, and banana bread and fruit sit in a plastic crate — a small, human warmth against the wide blue. Out beyond the beach, the Catalina Islands rise as dark rock and reef, the water turning from turquoise to royal where the drop-offs begin.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Be water diving Tamarindo · Tamarindo, Guanacaste
You step off the dock with the Pacific sun on your shoulders and the briny breath of the sea already in your lungs. The boat hums, and banana bread and fruit sit in a plastic crate — a small, human warmth against the wide blue. Out beyond the beach, the Catalina Islands rise as dark rock and reef, the water turning from turquoise to royal where the drop-offs begin.
Guanacaste’s coastline is volcanic in origin; lava flows and uplifted reefs have created pockets of hard substrate that shelter coral and sponge gardens. Local fishing towns like Tamarindo grew around these riches, and today small operators run courses that blend modern SSI training with old-boat know-how. The SSI Open Water course here compresses the core curriculum — knowledge development, confined-water practice, and four open-water dives — into three intensive days at Catalina, where visibility often sharpens and marine life is bold.
Practically: the certification allows dives to 18 m (60 ft). Minimum age is 10; swimmers only. Equipment use is included, and staff normally provide snacks and a licensed guide. Expect seas that are calm in the dry season and choppier during the rains; boat rides can be 30–60 minutes depending on the launch point.
Plan for hydration, sun protection, and a light breakfast. Bring a personal mask if you prefer fit, practice equalizing before the first descent, and be ready for repetitive, focused drills — the course rewards attention to basic skills. Finish confident, certified, and with a new relationship to a lively Pacific reef.
moderate.
3 days (approx. 72 hours including surface intervals).
Requires moderate fitness—comfortable swimming ability, ability to tread water and perform confined-water exercises.
The minimum age is 10 years old for the Open Water certification offered here.
No prior scuba certification is required, but you must be able to swim and be comfortable in the water.
The SSI Open Water certification permits dives to a maximum depth of 18 meters (60 feet) without professional supervision.
Use of scuba equipment is included; bring a personal mask if possible, reef-safe sunscreen, a towel, and any required medical clearance paperwork.
The Guanacaste coast developed around small fishing villages; volcanic activity and uplift created many of the reefs and rocky outcrops divers use today.
Operators commonly follow no-touch rules and encourage reef-safe sunscreen; respect for local marine protected zones helps sustain coral and fish populations.
Be water diving Tamarindo operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
You step off the dock with the Pacific sun on your shoulders and the briny breath of the sea already in your lungs. The boat hums, and banana bread and fruit sit in a plastic crate — a small, human warmth against the wide blue. Out beyond the beach, the Catalina Islands rise as dark rock and reef, the water turning from turquoise to royal where the drop-offs begin.
You step off the dock with the Pacific sun on your shoulders and the briny breath of the sea already in your lungs. The boat hums, and banana bread and fruit sit in a plastic crate — a small, human warmth against the wide blue. Out beyond the beach, the Catalina Islands rise as dark rock and reef, the water turning from turquoise to royal where the drop-offs begin.
Guanacaste’s coastline is volcanic in origin; lava flows and uplifted reefs have created pockets of hard substrate that shelter coral and sponge gardens. Local fishing towns like Tamarindo grew around these riches, and today small operators run courses that blend modern SSI training with old-boat know-how. The SSI Open Water course here compresses the core curriculum — knowledge development, confined-water practice, and four open-water dives — into three intensive days at Catalina, where visibility often sharpens and marine life is bold.
Practically: the certification allows dives to 18 m (60 ft). Minimum age is 10; swimmers only. Equipment use is included, and staff normally provide snacks and a licensed guide. Expect seas that are calm in the dry season and choppier during the rains; boat rides can be 30–60 minutes depending on the launch point.
Plan for hydration, sun protection, and a light breakfast. Bring a personal mask if you prefer fit, practice equalizing before the first descent, and be ready for repetitive, focused drills — the course rewards attention to basic skills. Finish confident, certified, and with a new relationship to a lively Pacific reef.