Catalina Islands & North Island: 2-Tank Scuba Dive Tour CR

Summary

Morning dives at Catalina Islands with volcanic reefs and sea life

You’ll start your day diving off Flamingo with a local guide, exploring volcanic rock reefs around Catalina Islands & North Island. Expect encounters with tropical fish, rays or maybe even sharks as you descend up to 18 meters deep. Between dives, relax on deck with fresh fruit and cookies before heading back around noon — it’s those quiet surface moments that stay with you.

What’s the experience like?

We were already squeezing into wetsuits at the Flamingo dive center when I realized how salty the Pacific air actually tastes this early. Our guide, Diego, had that calm way of talking — he double-checked my regulator and grinned, “Visibility’s a mystery today, but that’s half the fun.” I liked him right away. We loaded up the boat with tanks clanking and motored out toward the Catalina Islands, just forty minutes or so from shore but it felt farther once the coast faded behind us. There was this mix of nerves and excitement buzzing in my chest — always happens before a dive.

The water was cooler than I expected for Costa Rica (Diego said it swings between 16 to 30 degrees Celsius depending on season), but honestly after five minutes you stop noticing. First descent — we dropped down to about 18 meters where these volcanic rocks loom up like something from another planet. Schools of angelfish flickered past and a white tip shark glided by so close I almost laughed into my mask. Someone pointed out a fat moray eel wedged in a crevice; I couldn’t help thinking how much it looked like an old sock puppet. The silence down there is thick but not empty — every now and then you catch your own bubbles echoing back.

Between dives, we sat on deck with iced tea and slices of pineapple, trying to guess what we’d spot next. Diego told us about giant manta rays showing up some seasons, or even humpback whales if you’re lucky — no promises though. He handed me a cookie and shrugged: “Sometimes you get everything, sometimes just the little things.” Sun on my face, salt drying on my skin — I didn’t really care either way. There’s something about being out here that makes small moments feel bigger than they should be.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Two tank scuba diving at Catalina Islands

• Arrive at dive center in Flamingo
• Fill out paperwork and test equipment
• Travel 40 minutes to Catalina Islands
• Complete first dive, 40 minutes at 18 meters
• Complete second dive, 40 minutes at 18 meters
• Observe marine life and rock formations
• Return to dive center around noon

Top questions

How long does the scuba diving tour last?

The tour starts at 7:30 am in Flamingo and ends around noon.

Where does the tour depart from?

The tour departs from the dive center located in Flamingo, Guanacaste.

What marine life can I expect to see?

You might see white tip sharks, rays, moray eels, nudibranchs, angelfish, butterfly fish, and large schools of tropical fish; some species are seasonal.

How deep are the dives during this tour?

Each dive usually goes to a maximum depth of 18 meters (60 feet).

Is equipment included in the scuba diving tour?

Yes, all necessary diving equipment is included.

Are snacks provided during the trip?

Yes, water, iced tea, seasonal fruits and cookies are provided as snacks between dives.

Do I need to be certified to join this dive?

Yes, evidence of dive certification is required for all divers wishing to participate in a certified dive.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

What’s included

Your day includes all diving equipment prepared at the Flamingo dive center plus guidance from a local instructor throughout both dives. Between underwater sessions at Catalina Islands & North Island you’ll get water, iced tea, fresh fruit and cookies before returning to shore by midday.