Tamarindo Diving Center

by Tristan Paylado · Published October 29, 2016 · Updated November 2, 2016

Managed by a PADI Instructor with experience coming from major dive destinations in the world, Tamarindo Diving Center is working to show people the underwater beauty of Costa Rica while teaching the value of respecting mother nature.

With Safety First as the top priority, they always make sure that they have a small and manageable group where they also vary their dive spot depending on weather conditions.

Dive Tours and Special Packages

Tamarindo Diving Center offers not just dive tours to nearby dive spots, but also a chance and experience to live in Tamarindo.

Diving in Catalina Island
Price for a 2-tank dive: $110
This day trip usually starts at 7:00am where Flamingo Beach will be your jump-off point. On board a dive boat, you will travel to Catalina Island which will take about 30 minutes. In between dives and during your surface interval, you will be served with some snacks, fruits and drinks. Many divers have a wonderful experience where they were able to see eagle rays, manta rays, sharks, turtles and schools of big fish. Some have even seen whales during their travel to the island.

Dive Camp
Price: $888 + tax at $115 (price valid except during Easter week and Christmas)
This package gives you this chance to live a life in Tamarindo even for a short period of time. While being accommodated in a fully furnished beachfront apartment for 6 nights, you will be diving for 4 days in Catalina Island allowing you to maximize your underwater experience to the 20 plus dive sites surrounding the island. Aside from the diving experience, you will also go for a Gourmet Sailing trip via the Antares Sail Boat and dine in a 6-course gourmet menu over live and relaxing music. Surfing lessons can also be arranged upon request. Just make sure to book for a reservation 1 month prior to your target date of vacation.

Scuba Certification

All the certification courses offered in Tamarindo Diving Center are sanctioned by PADI.

Scuba Diver
Price: $330
This is the minimum PADI certification that is being recognized all over the world. Unlike a full certification in an Open Water Scuba Diver certification course, this course will just require you to attend a 90-minute lecture and a 30-minute confined water session. After this, you will make 2 dives in a sheltered bay in Catalina Island.

Open Water Scuba Diver
Price: $500

This is a full course for scuba certification that will take you up to 3 days where you will need to attend classroom lecture, confined water session and open water dives in Catalina Island.

Advanced Open Water Diver
Price: $450

This particular course will consist of five briefings which comprises the knowledge development of the 5 different kinds of dive required for an advanced certification like deep diving, underwater navigation and night dive.

Discover Scuba Diving
Price: $150
If you have no time for a full certification course but still wants to explore the underwater environment of Catalina Island, you can opt for Discover Scuba Diving. You just need to attend a 45- minute lecture plus a 20-minute confined water session, then you’re off to go diving in Catalina Island under the supervision of certified instructor.