Scuba Diving at the Catalina Islands, Tamarindo

Explore an underwater world on this diving tour off the Catalina Islands! From a local dive shop in Playa Flamingo, you'll embark on a 40-minute ride to a group of volcanic islands and rock formations that rise above the ocean's surface in front of Flamingo Bay. If you're a beginner, your lesson begins now—find out how to breathe underwater, make communication signals, and more—before attempting two open-water dives. Certified divers can jump right in! Dive below the surface of the indigo waters (to a maximum depth of about 60 feet or 18 meters) to discover a menagerie of exotic wildlife congregating around colorful coral reefs. You'll see quickly why this is a world-famous diving location! You might spot white tip reef sharks, giant manta rays, stingrays, eagle rays, jewel and green morays, butterfly fish, and schools of damsels, jacks, and grunts. In the right season, you can even sometimes hear humpback whales singing.

Wake up early this morning. After a pick-up at your accommodations, you'll transfer to a dive shop in Playa Flamingo, where you'll get outfitted with diving gear and hear an overview of the day's activities. 

Board a boat for a 40-minute ride to the Catalina Islands. At this point, beginners will get into the water with guides, learning the basics of diving, while certified divers can jump in and get started. As a group, you'll stop at several different snorkeling sites, with about 40 minutes to spend at each. Look for sharks, giant manta and devil rays, angelfish, pufferfish, parrotfish, and schools of jacks. If you're lucky, you'll see beautiful starfish or hear the sound of humpback whales singing. 

After several hours of boating and diving, you'll head back to the dive shop, then transfer back to your accommodations.