Scuba Diving For Non-certified Divers At Catalina Islands & North Island - Cr

My daughter and I did a Discovery Dive to Catalina Islands with Pacific Coast Dive Center. I can not say enough great things about our experience and our guide, Risky, in particular. Everything was very professional and fun. I was nervous and Risky was the best instructor we could have asked for. He was very reassuring and funny and helped make the experience absolutely wonderful. The diving itself as great with tons of fish, a spotted eagle ray and eels. We would definitely pick this dive center again and highly recommend. Thank you for such a fun experience!

DO NOT go on this excursion. This so-called company is not legitimate and does not care about its customers.

Everything went smoothly, every detail and step of the experience was just as they had previously described on the phone. Our guide Siri was amazing, super relaxed and easy. I went with my three boys, who were diving for the first time and Siri perfectly anticipated how everything was going to happen. The boat is very comfy and wate, punch and snacks, including the great costarican pineapple were a great fit. Great experience overall.

This was easily the coolest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life. My instructors, Siri and Marie, were incredible! They were great teachers and made us all feel so safe and comfortable. We practiced in the pool, and as nervous as I was, they made everything very accessible. I’d recommend diving with Siri to everyone!! They took some amazing pictures of our trip, so we didn’t have to worry about any of that. The videos of the wildlife turned out fantastic- more than worth what we paid.

Siri was an amazing guide she was very kind and helpful especially for someone who has no experience diving, I had a lotta of fun on this trip and I felt very well prepared before going into the water!

As a first-time scuba diving experience, I really enjoyed it. The whole experience was awesome, and my instructor, Siri, was really great, clear, and made me feel safe and comfortable throughout. I had the chance to see so many things, I highly recommended.

Risky was an awesome instructor and guide. He made the trip enjoyable and fun!

I had such a great time and couldn’t have asked for a better first scuba experience. Siri was a fantastic guide and made everything feel comfortable, safe, and easy from start to finish. She helped me feel so much more confident than I expected to as a first-time diver, and she pointed out all kinds of amazing critters I would have completely missed on my own. She also took incredible photos and videos so I could remember the experience forever. Not only was Siri wonderful, but the entire crew aboard the boat was warm, welcoming, and professional. I highly recommend this experience to anyone interested in scuba or snorkeling — especially if it’s your first time!

Risky was fantastic! Recommend him 100%. We all had scuba dived before but it was nice to do a pool refresher for about an hour. We practice if our mouthpiece fell out how to bring it back in and had to clear our masks. We then drove about 10 minutes to the beach and took a 45 minute boat to the Catalina islands. Our first dive was done nice and slow so we could work out clearing our ears and had to send an ascent safely. Second dive was a total blast and whiskey took lots of photos and even saw a manta ray which was epic! And some sharks too. Risky was wonderful taking photos for us for an extra charge and then uploaded them to us that night. Had some fruit and cookies and drinks after the first dive. Felt very safe. There was a small family of snorkelers with us as well and they appeared well attended to as well while we dove

It was an amazing experience! Everybody was very kind, and Siri did a great job explaining everything, as well as taking care of us underwater. Thank you Siri! 💗

This was by far an incredible experience. I have never scuba dived before and they taught me what was necessary to know to be able to dive. They were great with teaching and ensuring I felt safe. We saw sharks, manta rays, and several other fish. I even got to hold a few starfish. I have snorkeled before however scuba allows you to see so much more. If you can swim and listen to directions- you can scuba! I highly recommend it! A big thank you to everyone on the team for making this an incredible experience!

I could not have asked for a better instructor/guide for my first ever scuba diving experience. Risky was absolutely incredible and patient even when I had some anxiety during the introduction lesson in the pool. He took his time and ensured I was comfortable before moving forward. They sea life was incredible! We heard whales, saw a sea turtle, school of devil rays, several reef sharks, and several other species. Such a great location and company to do your first scuba diving experience with!

This was such an incredible experience for us. Our instructor Sammy was so fun to work with and taught us the skills we needed in a way that was easy to understand, which allowed us to have a worry-free diving experience. We had no scuba or snorkeling experience prior to this but we are hooked. Sammy was attentive to us every moment of our dives and pointed out tons of oceanic life, include a variety of eels and fish, and even white tip sharks. All of the instructors were so friendly and fun to be around, it took the “newbie” nerves away instantly. I cannot recommend Pacific Coast enough for newbies like us, or experienced divers.

The diving experience was beautiful in terms of scenery and visibility. However, I left feeling uncomfortable because of one specific situation: during the dive, the instructor deliberately disturbed an octopus to make it release ink. I found this unnecessary and disrespectful toward marine life. As divers, we expect professionals to promote responsible wildlife interaction and conservation, not to provoke animals for a reaction. I hope the company can reinforce responsible diving practices and prioritize the well-being of the ecosystem.

Sandra was incredible for me and my dad’s first dive, helping make sure we were ok under the water and pointing out wildlife that we might have missed. Very good first dive and recommend them if you have any sort of inclination to dive

Really phenomenal experience. We did two dives with a course instructor, Risky. I can’t say enough good things about him as instructor. He did an incredible job helping us to learn the ropes, keep us comfortable, and ensured we remained totally safe at all times. Obviously nobody can guarantee what you see. But Risky can guarantee you have a good time. His teaching methods were spot on for us to remember that various aspects of scuba. I’d recommend anybody looking into some sort of scuba tour to go with this group, Risky specifically. The crew, equipment, boat was all excellent. Definitely a trip worth taking.

The team at Pacific Coast Dive Center created a great experience. Our instructor, Sandra, was patient and knowledgeable. She was very personable and engaged the entire trip. The entire team created a relaxed atmosphere while insuring everyone’s comfort and safety. I would highly recommend.

Great time with a fantastic crew. You know you are taken care of at Pacific Coast. Friendly guide who helped keep us safe during each dive.

Doing Discover Scuba Diving with Pacific Coast Dive Center was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve ever had. The pool training session was super informative and I felt totally confident getting in the ocean for my first dive. We descended super slowly and our guides checked in on us constantly to make sure we were comfortable and adjusting well to the pressure changes. We saw hundreds of colourful fish, cushion sea stars, Moray eels and 3 beautiful white tip reef sharks! I feel like I really got the full scuba diving experience and I can’t wait to get certified!! This is a fantastic place to try out scuba diving for the first time.

An experience we certainly won’t forget. We were a group of 3, just our family plus guide. We didn’t get the chance to thank our guide Sammy properly, in our opinion the absolute best one there. He seemed like he really loved being there helping us. He noticed if we were a bit unsure and made us feel so safe. Very humorous and funny too. Highly recommend!

Really nice tour and well prepared. We saw sharks, one ray, stone fish, moray eels among a lot of other smaller fishes. We stated in a pool to learn the most important things (or relearn, as I have a diving certificate since many years back, but equally long since I have been diving). Then out by boat to Catalina Islands. Really cool to see my kids 16 and 18 yo diving! They thought it was a really great experience and started to think about geting a certificate for themselves.

Great experience, great tips and skills by the instructor (Sami). Whole crew on board really friendly and professional.

We attended an intro to scuba class in a pool previously and were so excited to actually try scuba in the ocean. We did a quick session in the pool to make sure we understood some basics and then headed out to the ocean. We dove in two different places near some islands. We saw some sharks, puffer fish, an octopus, an eel, and a variety of other fish. Our instructor Sammy was very patient and helpful. We feel like we learned a bunch and are now signed up with our local diving center to get certified.

Great experience and loved all the staff, and especially my instructor Risky. Very surreal experience! Right place with the right people.

My husband and I booked this tour as a trial for him to experience diving! We have done a lot of free diving, and since I have my certification, I was hoping he would love it and get his too! This experience was so wonderful, my husband and I are already looking at our next dive trip as well as getting his certification! We cannot say enough, amazing things about our instructor, Fernando. Fernando was kind, precise, and patient during the entire process. He made everything simple and fun! During our dive with Fernando, we saw sharks, eels, multicolored starfish, puffer, fish, seahorses, and a stingray that was just as big as an adult man! Fernando took his time showing us the way through the volcanic systems and as East Coast divers, the West Coast did not disappoint! The crew in total were just incredibly helpful! They were so much fun to be around, provided fresh fruit, and snacks. The gear was taking care of and everybody always had a hand available to help! 10 out of 10 recommend!

We had a large group that had certified and Discover Scuba Divers. The DSD divers took a 1 hour course earlier that morning to learn the basics since this was their 1st time to ever dive. The certified groups went well. The DSD divers were 4 divers with one instructor. One diver panicked when they went down and the instructor had the other 3 divers wait at the bottom of the ocean while he took the panicked diver back to the surface to get on the boat. I have been diving at resorts for 25 years and can't believe he left those 3 uncertified divers alone. Very dangerous

Very good experience with this company on my first diving! The workers were good to show and taking care of us, Risky had the responsibility for me and he did a excellent job over and under the ocean🤩 I give it 4/5 stars because i would have wanted some more training in the pool before the diving, but everything went well🙌🏼

This was our first time diving and we were very excited to try. Our guide, Jose, did a great job at helping us both overcome anxiety. I had a freak out while we were descending (I wasn’t sinking) and Jose calmed me down great and got me descending. Tons of gorgeous fish and sea life to see. Had to eschew the second dive due to sinuses but excited to try diving again. The crew was wonderful with my seasick spouse. Only complaint is that the van was late picking us up, about 30 minutes.

Had two fantastic dives with Pacific Coast Dive at the Catalina Islands. The trip works well for all skill levels. We saw plenty of wildlife, including pufferfish, starfish, and even reef sharks resting in caves and rock crevices. Bottom time was generous at nearly an hour for both dives. Our guide, Jose, was outstanding. His passion for diving is obvious, but his skill as an instructor is what stood out. He gave my 12-year-old granddaughter, a first-timer, incredible attention and patience, making sure she was safe and confident. Highly recommend this company, especially for new divers. Ask for Jose.

This was such an amazing surreal experience! Our instructor's name was Risky. Even though his name is Risky he was not risky, he was very safe and thorough. He continuely made sure we felt comfortable and he clearly answered all our questions. We did a run through of the equipment and the basic skills in a pool before going into the ocean which was extremely helpful. The experience was so fun and energetic! I highly recommend adding this excursion to your trip!

Great introduction to scuba diving for our teenagers & review for hubby. Everything ran smoothly & everyone felt very safe the whole time. “Risky” the dive instructor was very detailed & experienced with diving and still made the experience light hearted & fun. The boys saw some amazing aquatic life & said it was the best part of their trip to CR. Snacks were yummy & the photos will forever be treasured. We booked through our resort consierge but I’m sure you could book directly through the dive shop too.

Loved the whole experience! Risky was super nice and took the best photos of us while scuba diving! He was an amazing dive instructor and photographer! Thank you Risky!

We had an amazing experience and an amazing dive. It started out with confusion on our booking. But the people here hurried to get us situated and actually got us on a boat even with the missed confusion. Is great customer service and an amazing experience!!! I would highly recommend this company!

Ask for Billy!!! He is the best guide for Scuba! You even get to see several different kinds of sharks! They do 2 tank dives and really deliver an amazing experience!

We couldn’t have asked for a more amazing trip! We are avid snorkelers but this diving experience, for inexperienced and first time divers, opened up a whole new world and we most definitely will use Pacific Coast Dive Center again! Billy, our guide, was exceptional! He was patient, a great teacher, and assisted this 50+ yr old mom with all the heavy equipment and mental blocks (water filling up in mask). Once I got over my fears, my 2 nineteen yr old daughters and I saw sea-life that can only be seen by diving. We saw a beautiful spotted eagle ray, octopus, a nest of baby white tipped sharks, a scorpion fish, several eels, a sea snake, a school of puffer fish, starfish, the list goes on…we will be back as certified scuba divers…something I thought I would NEVER do! This was definitely the highlight of our very full week in Costa Rica!

What a life changing experience!! I was very nervous to scuba dive since it was my first time, but Ivan was the absolute best and made this trip a core memory for me. He was an extremely patient and competent teacher, keeping me calm and guiding me while we dove. We ended up seeing so much wild life: giant manta rays, sharks, sea turtles, and eels. I would recommend this excursion to anyone, and definitely ask for Ivan - I don’t think it would’ve been the same without him.

Amazing day in the water! Our first time doing a scuba adventure. Our guide Ivan was the absolute best. Such a calm presence and great teacher. Never felt worried or scared with him around. The whole crew was awesome and cannot thank them enough for such a memorable day. Highly highly recommend for non certified scuba diving, certified scuba diving and snorkeling. Thank you again Ivan for an incredibly memorable day.

Great experience with Billy! We saw about five reef sharks and four huge eels and numerous other beautiful fish and lots of sea stars. More importantly, I felt safe and well guided for my second time out. Thank you!

Great group of scuba divers with so much knowledge and love for the sport. Dive spots were on point and got to see so much cool marine life. Would recommend to anyone whether they have experience or not.

It was the best, way better than I thought it could be! I love seeing the fish, eel and other critters. Then Ivan said we might see a giant manta, thought “that would cool” but man that was so awesome, and we saw more than one!! Two days ago we went and did the training with Ivan, he fantastic, he was patient with me and wife showing us what we need to know. Then when we got together with the rest of the group, the whole team that he works with made the trip a lot fun. We had, like I said the best time, so much so that we did the same trip again today! And it was even better, the mantas put on a show today!!!! Thank you so much Ivan! And a big thanks to the rest of the team that made it so fun!!!!

A highlight of my trip to Costa Rica! A great and fun activity to do while solo. I was able to hang with everybody on the boat and was partnered with Ivan as my guide who instructed very well and made me feel comfortable and safe on my first ever scuba dive. We saw tons of wildlife and got to swim with the Manta Rays! Insane! I highly recommend! Very friendly staff and great experience overall.

Ivan was a great guide. He gave us an informative and quick training where we learned the necessary skills. He was entertaining and funny too. The whole team was exceptional and we saw fantastic stuff including a giant mante ray. Crazy.

Easy transfer from Villareal, super good crew, lesson, snacks, fun 😁 Ivan was our instructor and he was very good. Thank you!!

Great diving! Specially with Ivan as instructor. The boat was good, the equipment is good too and everything is very well organised. All the staff is very friendly.

Diving with Ivan was amazing! As a beginner, his instructions were clear and reassuring. The sea dive was fantastic, with lots of fish to see. The team was very friendly, professional, and made the whole experience enjoyable. The fresh fruits and drinks were a great touch. Thanks to Ivan and the team!

The pool lessons was very helpful. The instructors are very friendly & kind. They wont hesitate to help you if they need to. They're also very encouraging. Jose & Angie were our instructors.

Great experience getting my PADI Open Water Diver certification from this dive shop. Everyone at Pacific Coast spoke English and communicated well over email to answer my questions and make all necessary arrangements. Ivan Neira was my dive instructor and is a very good and very patient instructor. He taught me all the necessary skills per PADI dive curriculum. The best part of the experience were the four training dives at the Catalina Islands. Not only did we practice the diving skills, but I also saw two Giant Manta Rays! I also saw White-tipped Reef Sharks, Spotted Manta Rays, eels, starfish and tons of different kinds of tropical fish. I did the eLearning portion of the training before arriving in Flamingo, one day of pool work in Flamingo (with Ivan) and two days of open water dives.

This crew was awesome. First dive experience and felt super comfortable. Ivan was our guide during our dives and made for an extremely enjoyable time. We still talk about this day and can’t wait for our next dive thanks to these guys!

It was okay. We went for non-certified. a) It was a long ride and the ROI is small. you basically get 2 45min dives (if you are lucky) and can spend ~5hrs on boats, getting ready, getting some initial lessons etc. Thats ok - maybe thats the price you pay in terms of time required. b) However, what really ticked us of was that the training was hardly anything related to what you really experience in the ocean. For instance, there was no training on how to equalize the ear pressure. Or how to breathe calmly and all the hand signals to be used. They really need to give us more relevant training and not corner cases that don't happen.