Guanacaste dive sites
Costa Rica · Browse dive locations by depth, type and conditions.
Best Season
December to April
Skill Levels
intermediate
Nearby Cities
Playas del Coco
All dive sites
Dive centers in Guanacaste
Pacific Coast Dive Center
Playa Flamingo · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
Most experienced dive operator at the Catalina Islands with 20+ years, based in Playa Flamingo, Guanacaste.
Deep Blue Diving Adventures
Playas del Coco · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
PADI Gold Palm Resort in Playas del Coco since 1998, offering daily boat trips to Catalina and Bat Islands.
Rich Coast Diving
Playas del Coco · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
Premier SSI Diamond Career Center in Playas del Coco offering daily trips to Bat Islands for bull sharks and Catalina Islands for manta rays.
Rocket Frog Divers
Playas del Coco · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
PADI 5 Star IDC with 19 instructors, specializing in Bat Islands bull shark diving and Catalina Islands manta rays.
Summer-Salt Dive Center
Playas del Coco · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
Family-run PADI dive center in Playas del Coco since 2004, offering boutique diving experiences to Catalina and Bat Islands.
Life & Dive
casa contigua Ticos Bakery · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
Under the Sea Diving | Playa Potrero Dive Center
15M Sur de Hemingways · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
ChrisDiving Dive Center
Horizon Lodge · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
ROCKDIVERS COSTA RICA
main street beside · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
Diving Nomads
Provincia de Guanacaste · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
Scuba Dive Costa Rica - Potrero & Flamingo
Guanacaste Province · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
Evasion diving
Guanacaste Province · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
Sirenas Diving Costa Rica
Two blocks South · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
Scuba Tamarindo
Provincia de Guanacaste · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
Tamarindo Diving Center Davide Gabbi
C. Cruz · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
Be Water Diving center Tamarindo
C. Cruz · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
TamaDive Tamarindo - Diving Center
Provincia de Guanacaste · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
Costa Rica Dive Buddies
Provincia de Guanacaste · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
B.A Divers
camino a · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
Diving in Guanacaste
Guanacaste offers pinnacle dive sites across 1 location. Browse dive locations by depth, type and conditions before planning your dive.
FAQ
When is the best time to see giant manta rays at the Catalina Islands?
Giant Pacific manta rays are most reliably seen at the Catalina Islands from December through April, during the dry season when cooler, nutrient-rich water sweeps through the area. The mantas come to specific cleaning stations on the rocky pinnacles where cleaner fish remove parasites. January and February are typically peak months with the highest probability of multiple manta encounters on a single dive. During the warm season from May to November, mantas are less predictable, though they can occasionally appear year-round.
How far are the Catalina Islands from shore and how do I arrange diving?
The Catalina Islands lie approximately 20 kilometres offshore from Playas del Coco and Playa Hermosa on the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The boat ride takes roughly 45 to 60 minutes. Multiple dive operators in Playas del Coco and nearby beach towns run daily trips to the islands, typically departing early morning and returning by early afternoon with two dives included. The crossing can be choppy during the windy season from December to March, so seasickness medication is recommended for sensitive individuals.
What is the visibility like at the Catalina Islands?
Visibility at the Catalina Islands is variable and generally lower than Caribbean standards, ranging from 8 to 20 metres depending on conditions. The lower visibility is actually a positive sign, as it results from the nutrient-rich upwelling that attracts the manta rays and other large marine life. During cooler water periods from December to April, visibility tends to be at the lower end of the range but marine life encounters are at their best. Warmer months from May to November can bring clearer water but fewer pelagic sightings. Experienced divers learn to embrace the green-tinted water as the price of admission for world-class encounters.