
Marine Life in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is not only famous for its land biodiversity but also for its incredible marine life. With over 550,000 km² of ocean territory, the country offers a wide range of marine ecosystems and species.
Plan your day hassle-free with our modern tourist shuttles. For just $10 round trip, enjoy safe and reliable transportation. Check out our detailed schedules, prepare to be 5 minutes early and review the routes in detail.
March 27, 2026
27°C / 80°F
15m / 49ft
March 27, 2026
27°C / 80°F
15m / 49ft

With more than 20 years of experience behind us, we know every single step to satisfy your needs.
We fit all sizes, up to 19 divers and +15 snorkelers on the perfect boat to give you the best experience out in the ocean. All the equipment used is checked daily to offer the maximum security and enjoyment of our customers.
Our experienced team will give you everything you need to really enjoy your holiday experience. Because even the smallest detail matters.
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Costa Rica is not only famous for its land biodiversity but also for its incredible marine life. With over 550,000 km² of ocean territory, the country offers a wide range of marine ecosystems and species.

Getting started in the world of scuba diving is an exciting experience, but as with any new activity, it’s normal to make mistakes. The good news is that most of these mistakes are easy to avoid with knowledge, practice, and good guidance.

Costa Rica is one of the most spectacular destinations in the world for whale and dolphin watching. Thanks to its strategic location between two oceans and rich marine biodiversity, thousands of visitors gather each year to observe these incredible marine mammals in their natural habitat.
Whether you’re planning a boat tour, recreational diving, or simply ocean views from shore, this guide will help you understand when, where, and why to see whales and dolphins in Costa Rica.

Becoming a diver involves not only learning how to move underwater, but also understanding and choosing the right equipment. Whether you are starting your first course or want to put together your own personal equipment, this guide will help you learn what is essential, why it is used, and how to choose the right gear.

Sharks play an essential role in the balance of the marine ecosystem as apex predators and are one of the most fascinating species to observe during dives or diving trips. In addition, Costa Rica is an incredible destination for diving and marine life enthusiasts, home to more than 80 species of sharks in its waters, both along the coast and in oceanic areas such as Cocos Island and the Bat Islands.

Guanacaste, on Costa Rica’s north Pacific coast, is a paradise for ocean lovers and adventure seekers. With its warm waters, golden beaches, and stunning scenery, this region offers endless opportunities for aquatic fun; perfect for both beginners and experienced explorers.
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Everything You Need to Know


Two dives at different sites are included, one dive for each site visited.
If you are a certified Open Water diver, your maximum depth limit is 18–20 meters (60 feet). If you are an Advanced diver and wish to go on deeper dives, please request this in advance. An additional fee will apply so we can assign you a private guide, as the rest of the divers on the boat will be doing shallower dives.
The price includes all diving equipment (except dive computers or cameras), two guided dives, very small groups underwater (maximum 4-5 divers per guide), dive master or bilingual instructor who will give you a very personalized treatment and refreshments on board (water, cold tea, cookies and seasonal fruits).
To come diving you will need your bathing suit, sun protection, a cloth and cash if you wish to tip our staff or buy pictures from our guides. Anyway, the boat is very habitable and we have a dry area where you can leave your bag or backpack during the tour.
At Pacific Coast we provide all the equipment you need, but if you wish to bring your own equipment we offer a $15 discount if you bring your own BCD, regulator, wetsuit and fins. However it is important that you understand that we cannot be responsible for the proper functioning of your equipment (inflator and deflator of your BCD, plastic clips, zippers) and that is why we always recommend you to use the ones we give you from Pacific Coast.
Of course! Our operation is ideal for combined groups.
Check out the option for your husband/friend to go DISCOVER SCUBA DIVING, SNORKEL or just join us as a BOAT RIDER.
Both Catalinas and the North Coast do not have a coral bottom, so the main attraction of our rocky bottoms, apart from the geological formations, is to observe large schools of tropical fish, giant manta rays, different types of rays, octopus, echinoderms and of course two or three kinds of sharks, such as white tip, black tip or nurse sharks.
Pacific Coast does not sell photos on board, however some of our dive guides have underwater cameras and can arrange with them the direct purchase of photos or videos. In exchange Pacific Coast will only ask you to leave us a review on Google, to improve our positioning on the Internet.
The Pacific coast of Costa Rica is quite unpredictable, and it is very difficult for us to give you a simple answer to this question. However, we have implemented a section on our website where we are updating the conditions we are having on our dives and snorkels.
In response to the request of our clients who stay from Tamarindo to Las Catalinas, and all points in between, we have developed a shared shuttle that follows a pre-established route and can bring them to the dive shop. The bus costs $10 per person round trip and must be booked when you make your dive reservation.
Check the transportation map to see which point close to your hotel you can choose to be picked up.
The tour lasts approximately 4 hours. We leave Flamingo around 8 am and return around 12 noon. The exact time of arrival we never know, and sometimes we decide to stay longer at sea, because we have observed something especially interesting.
As a general rule you will always be back at your hotel at 2 pm, so try to avoid booking activities that start before 2 pm, the same day of your dive tour.
Your tour includes two snorkels at different points in the Catalina Islands or North Coast. We include all snorkeling equipment, flotation devices (BCDs, rings or flaoties), bilingual guides and snacks on board.
There is no minimum age to participate; however, we recommend that children be at least 6 years old and comfortable in the water to fully enjoy the experience. If you feel that your child could benefit from additional attention, we are happy to offer you the option of hiring a private guide who can provide personalized accompaniment for the child.
Our guides strive to cater to all members of the group and ensure a safe and fun experience for everyone.
We can help you with flotation devices, so you don’t have to be an expert swimmer. What we do need is that you feel comfortable in the water, since this snorkeling tour is in deep water, not on beaches; and therefore, this is very important for you to enjoy the activity.
You should bring a bathing suit, sunscreen, a cloth and some cash in case you want to leave tips or buy pictures from the guides.
Of course! You can join us as a BOAT RIDER!
The tour lasts approximately 4 hours. We leave Flamingo around 8 am and return around 12 noon. The exact time of arrival we never know, and sometimes we decide to stay longer at sea, because we have observed something especially interesting.
As a general rule you will always be back at your hotel by 2 pm, so try to avoid booking activities that start before 2 pm on the same day as your snorkeling tour.
The Pacific Ocean is very unpredictable so conditions vary a lot from one season to another and even from one day to the next. To try to give you a more accurate answer we have created a section on our website where we detail the conditions of the last few days.
Our guides will help you to see octopuses, starfish, different types of echinoderms, and if you are able to dive and freedive, you will be able to observe them by yourself. From your position, floating on the surface you will also be able to see schools of tropical fish, sharks, different types of rays and even sharks.
Publicado en Jessica BalhornTrustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. Diving with pacific coast dive center was a dream. We went to the Catalina islands and saw 4 giant manna rays, white tip reef sharks, eels, puffer fish, multiple schools of fish and more. Our dive instructor, Iann, was great and helped to guide us through every step. We’re so thankful we chose this company and will use them again next time we’re in Costa Rica.Publicado en Tyler HecoxTrustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. Our tour started with a very quick trip to the dive shop from the nearby Westin. We were greeted and the crew immediately started gearing us up for our dive. A quick clipboard waiver and sizing for B.C.D.s and wet suits, then the same van took us to the shore where we rode a "barge" to the boat. Once onboard and moving we were given a rundown of the day's plans with our guide Samuel. Sam was great, energetic, very knowledgeable and funny. We got along with him instantly, and we were a bunch of Firefighters so joking with each other is our love language. Our first dive was near a grouping of islands, we hopped in, went roughly 60 feet deep, and saw a ton of marine life, a great little swim around the reefs, saw a shark, and as a group had a blast. Sam kept tabs on the group, kept us together and pointed out a lot, while documenting on a GoPro. In between we sailed around, saw a pod of dolphins playing and swimming along the boat, had some snacks, and then prepared for dive #2. Our second dive was only around 40 feet deep, but similar to the first with an abundance of fish, jelly fish, and we saw a spotted eagle ray before we climbed back to the surface and got out for the day. Sam's photos and videos were awesome, and I'm glad that we got to document what we saw for our friends who weren't on the dive with us. The entire staff was friendly, we engaged with everyone on board as we went back into port after our dives. It was an amazing day, I'll definitely book with them again if back in the area.Publicado en Cory JaquesTrustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. Had an amazing first dive with Pacific Coast Dive Center. Sammy was our instructor and made the whole experience easy and comfortable—super patient, calm, and kind. As first-timers, we really appreciated how relaxed he made us feel. We’ll definitely be back to dive again. Highly recommend!Publicado en Meg NovackTrustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I cannot say enough great things about Pacific Coast Dive Company. From start to finish, the experience felt completely concierge- level - every detail was handled with care, professionalism, and genuine hospitality. As a group, we felt incredibly well taken care of. The team took their time with us, never rushed anything, and made sure we were comfortable and confident every step of the way. Their communication and guidance were clear, thorough, and reassuring—especially important when diving abroad. Safety was clearly a top priority, which gave me so much peace of mind. You can tell they truly care about their divers and operate at a very high standard. A special thank you to my dive partner and group leader, Sammy, who was absolutely fantastic—attentive, knowledgeable, and made the entire experience even more enjoyable. Risky, Sandra, you all were wonderful. This was hands down one of the most service-oriented dive experiences I’ve had. I would highly recommend them to anyone, whether you’re experienced or newer to diving. I will definitely be back!Publicado en Greg BalickiTrustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. Sam and the crew really took care of us and taught my boys and wife the essential skills to keep the trip safe and fun. Sam was very patient and explained things really well. We had a blast and felt very safe throughout the whole trip. He also took some amazing photos for us.Publicado en Lisa RialTrustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. We added this to our trip on a whim and it turned out to be the highlight! I felt very safe and even our ten year old had a blast. Our guide was very diligent with all of us and we saw giant rays, moray eels, puffer fish, and so much more. Here are my tips: bring extra cash if you want to buy photos, bring a few granola bars or chips, and take UV rash guards to wear when you don’t have your wetsuit on. We were a big group of deep sea divers, discover divers, and snorkelers!Publicado en Heather MadsenTrustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. My family and I had the opportunity to go scuba diving last week, and for three of us, myself included, it was our very first dive with Risky. I truly cannot say enough about what an incredible experience it was, thanks in large part to Risky. He was absolutely wonderful, especially with me and my youngest son, showing remarkable patience, encouragement, and expertise throughout the entire experience. I honestly do not know if I would have been able to overcome my fear and fully enjoy this amazing experience without his calm guidance and support. Risky is truly a gem, and I would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone—from the most apprehensive first-time diver to the most seasoned professional. You could not be in better hands.Publicado en Paris SequeiraTrustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. Amazing diving experience with Sandra. Super professional, patient, and she makes you feel completely at ease—especially diving with my daughter. The photos turned out incredible 🙌 Also, it was super easy to pay her instantly to her bank account in Spain, which made everything even more convenient. Highly recommended!Publicado en Jerry OsborneTrustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. I’ll be honest — I came into this a bit shaken after a rough snorkeling experience and wasn’t sure scuba was for me. Then I met Sammy at Pacific Coast Dive Center. From the start, he had that calm, steady approach (with just the right bit of cheek) that made you feel like, “alright… I’ve got this.” No pressure, no rush — just patience and guidance exactly when it was needed. The training was spot on. He made sure things actually clicked, not just rushed through. And because of that, the dive turned into something I’ll never forget — calm, surreal, and honestly a bit emotional. This was a bucket list moment for me, and I genuinely couldn’t have done it without him. If you’re even slightly unsure going in, Sammy’s your guy. Top notch. And yes… I’d absolutely do it again. Thanks again, Sammy — you made this one count.
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