The PADI Discover Scuba Dive in Guanacaste is for those who are eager to know what it is like to scuba dive but have not yet taken the PADI certification course, which is mandatory for most diving tours. This tour provides a great introduction to scuba diving and allows you to go for an ocean dive on the same day.
The tour will begin when you are picked up from your hotel and driven to the dive center near Playa Flamingo. You will meet your bilingual instructor who is a certified scuba diver with many years of experience. You’ll be shown a short video that describes diving fundamentals including techniques, safety instructions and theory. This is very important for first-timers since diving involves using oxygen tanks and swimming at different pressures underwater. Your instructor will then give you a brief lecture on the most important aspects of the sport and answer any questions that you may have.
Soon after, you will get into your bathing suits and begin practicing in a swimming pool. Your instructor will provide oxygen tanks, masks and flippers and show you how to use the equipment, swimming with you while you get comfortable breathing through the oxygen mask. You will also learn basic hand signals to ensure you will be able to communicate underwater.
After spending time in the pool learning the technique and building your confidence, you’ll head to the beach, board a dive boat and be taken to an ideal location for beginner divers. You’ll be starting your dive from a boat that is fully equipped with emergency equipment, radios, extra oxygen and fresh drinking water. If the weather is cooperative, you may go to more than one dive location along the coast to see different types of underwater scenery, possibly including the Catalinas Islands. On your boat ride you may encounter dolphins and even see whales depending on whether it is during the time of their migration.
After your boat is anchored and you have put on your dive gear, you’ll jump into the ocean for your first dive. As you descend towards the ocean floor, you might be blown away at the colorful underwater landscape found in the Pacific Ocean. You’ll likely see schools of beautiful tropical fish, various species of rays, and star fish. Your guide will be with you at all times and point out interesting aquatic life throughout your dive.
After completing your first beginner dive, you’ll head back to shore with another opportunity to watch for dolphins. This is a sample scuba diving introduction where you can learn to scuba dive while visiting Guanacaste. You will not receive a PADI certification as a result of this tour but it may leave you hungry for more and even influence you to become PADI certified so that you can go on longer dives. Once on land you’ll change into your dry clothes before being driven back to your hotel.
This tour includes a professional licensed scuba instructor, scuba equipment, bottled water and transportation from Flamingo, Tamarindo and the Papagayo area. One way transportation from Flamingo is about 15 minutes to the dive center but can be over an hour from the other listed locations depending on where you are staying. Combined time of the scuba diving tour and round trip transportation can take between 4 and 6 hours. Please bring your bathing suit, towel, sun block, and dry clothes to change into. You do NOT need to have a PADI certification to take this tour. Come on down!
The Scuba Diving PADI Discover Scuba is available from Central Guanacaste, and Tamarindo
10 and up
Latitude: N 10° 30' 35.42"
Longitude: W 85° 49' 12.46"
09/02/2018
My partner had a great time. I was not able to scuba doe to allergies, i sat on the boat and did swim a little. No refund or reduced fare offered.
09/26/2016
Everything about this experience was fantastic. The conditions were not great but what can you do? We are still waiting to receive or pictures however, this is my only complaint.