Explore Catalina Islands

Catalina Islands are located 12 kilometres off the coast of Northern Guanacaste in Costa Rica on the Pacific Ocean side. This is one of the most popular diving destinations in Costa Rica and definitely deserves this reputation. The islands are of volcanic and sedimentary nature and this is represented in the underwater topography; this area is not known for its large colourful coral reefs, but for its thrilling, volcanic rock formations and high abundance of marine life, big and small. There are caves, caverns and arches to explore here, and some of these rock formations do have some colourful soft corals on them and large schools of colourful fish which brighten up these dive sites. There are many dive centres and dive resorts on the coast of Guanacaste which operate around Catalina Island due to it being such a popular destination. Some of the spectacle species here include Sea Turtles, Giant Pacific Manta Rays and on the luckiest days, Tiger Sharks.

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Become a Scuba Diver: SSI Open Water Diver Training

Become a Scuba Diver: SSI Open Water Diver Training

The SSI Open Water Diver certification is your passport to adventure! Recognized worldwide, this certification allows you to dive safely with a buddy, without professional supervision, to a maximum depth of 18 meters anywhere in the world.At ChrisDiving, we focus on safety, comfort and fun with a team of experienced professionals and personalized coaching.???? Course Data SheetCertification level: Open Water Diver SSI (Valid for life, internationally recognized).Maximum depth: 18 metres / 60 feet.Duration: 3 to 4 days (flexible according to learning needs).Training languages: French, English, Spanish.Location: Playa Potrero / Guanacaste Region, Costa Rica.Instructor/participant ratio : Limited (maximum 4 students per instructor) to guarantee safe learning, optimum comfort and attention at all times.???? PrerequisitesMinimum age: 10 years (divers from 10 to 14 years get Junior Open Water certification).Physical abilities: Be able to swim and float comfortably. Be in good general physical condition (a standard medical questionnaire must be completed before the start of the course).???? Training Environment and ProgramTraining is divided into 3 main progressive stages:Theory (E-learning at home): You study at your own pace on the SSI application or website before arriving at the center. We'll do a review together to validate your knowledge.Practice in a Protected Environment (Pool / Quiet Bay) : You'll learn to master basic equipment and techniques safely where you have a foothold.Natural Environment Dives (Ocean): 4 ocean dives to discover the Guanacaste seabed, apply your skills in real-life situations and perfect your buoyancy.???? Material & Equipment

ChrisDiving, Christian Demierre, Horizon Lodge, Finca la Marcela, Guanacaste, Santa Cruz, 50304, Playa Potrero, CRI
August 12, 2026 +297 More
$621.50
Fundiving

Fundiving

Our daily dive tours offer divers of all levels the chance to explore the biologically diverse environment of the Catalina Islands, Costa Rica.

TamaDive Dive Center, 80 metros este del Banco Nacional, 50309, Tamarindo, CRI
August 12, 2026 +48 More
$130.00
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Dive Activity

Diving at Catalina Islands

One of the benefits of Catalina Islands being volcanic rocks is the unique topography they create for divers underwater. Some of the formations they create are large pinnacles, labyrinths made out of multiple pinnacles, caves, canyons, caverns and some stunning arches. There are also some fantastic wall dives to be done here. Currents can pick up here, but that does result in some thrilling drift dives. Due to the high chances of spotting large marine species out in the blue, this is a dream location for underwater photographers who want to capture the larger beauties of the ocean. 

Dive Sites

ChrisDiving, Dive Center Costa Rica, 50304 Playa Potrero
Catalinas Island, Clásico (★4.3)

Catalinas Island, Clásico (★4.3)

11 km west of Potrero and Flamingo is the famous site of Clasico. This dive is done on the western side of the islands, from the south towards the north. There are successive ripraps. Several ways to dive possible, depending on certification level. From 10m to more than 30m.
ChrisDiving, Dive Center Costa Rica, 50304 Playa Potrero
Pailas (★4.3)

Pailas (★4.3)

Pailas is located 20 minutes from Potrero Beach. We start the dive on the western part of the island and head south following the rock formations. The average depth is 14m, but can exceed 30m if you deviate a little.
ChrisDiving, Dive Center Costa Rica, 50304 Playa Potrero
Catalinas Island, North (★4.3)

Catalinas Island, North (★4.3)

Catalinas Island, North is the perfect site for beginners, sheltered from the main currents. North is located 11km from Flamingo on the East coast of the island. The dive is from the middle of the Island to the North point.
Mares
Punta Catalina (★4.1)

Punta Catalina (★4.1)

Punta Catalinas is located on the south point of the Catalinas Islands. It’s the main site where Oceanic Manta Rays can be seen in the winter months. The site slopes down to about 30m/100ft if you swim out a bit.
Mares, Janez Kranjc
South Point shallow (★4.2)

South Point shallow (★4.2)

The dive site is on the south east of the Catalina Islands. It’s generally a shallow dive site except at the end it’s possible to dive down to around 25 meters but it’s generally nicer to stay shallow.

The best Months to Dive at Catalina Islands

Due to the Catalina Islands being located so far off the coast, there are fewer factors that affect visibility. Therefore, the visibility is great throughout the year with an average of 20 meters/66 feet. Diving here is possible year-round with pleasant tropical air temperatures and warm water temperatures ranging between 24°C–29°C/75°F–84°F. The rainy season runs from May to November, which means showers in the afternoon but still enough possibility to dive. The dry season from December to April means perfect diving conditions. The best months for seeing a high abundance of different species of rays are January to March.

Top Wildlife Sightings at Catalina Islands

These nutrient rich waters host numerous marine species of all shapes and sizes. Different seasons mean different marine species in higher numbers. January to March is the best time for rays including Giant Manta Rays, Eagle Rays, Bat Rays, Stingray sand Devil Manta Rays. From September to March is the best time to spot Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Whale Sharks, pods of Dolphins and Tiger Sharks. Aside from the many large schools of reef fish, other species here include Sea Turtles, schools of Barracuda, Scorpion Fish, Eels and White Tip Reef Sharks. One of the main spectacles here are the large schools of Manta Rays, it’s not just one that divers spot, but many, all gliding through the water together, this is absolutely a bucket list experience. 

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel

Moray Eel
603 Sightings
J
68
F
52
M
74
A
54
M
30
J
36
J
60
A
53
S
29
O
24
N
61
D
62
iStock/Divepic
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
433 Sightings
J
55
F
54
M
166
A
100
M
24
J
1
J
0
A
1
S
6
O
2
N
14
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray
345 Sightings
J
45
F
26
M
65
A
22
M
17
J
5
J
27
A
23
S
18
O
11
N
28
D
58

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus

Octopus
157 Sightings
J
1
F
9
M
11
A
15
M
5
J
12
J
25
A
14
S
6
O
10
N
14
D
35
Alamy/National Geographic Image Collection
Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Oceanic Whitetip Shark
141 Sightings
J
20
F
13
M
20
A
17
M
0
J
0
J
14
A
15
S
6
O
0
N
19
D
17
iStock-crisod
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray
37 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
18
A
18
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
0
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle

Green Turtle
30 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
8
S
0
O
0
N
10
D
12
AdobeStock-Magnus
Humpback Whale

Humpback Whale
24 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
14
S
9
O
1
N
0
D
0
iStock-June Jacobsen
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark
917 Sightings
J
100
F
73
M
118
A
99
M
52
J
35
J
65
A
64
S
38
O
40
N
91
D
142

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish

Pufferfish
435 Sightings
J
44
F
48
M
65
A
44
M
37
J
24
J
27
A
21
S
21
O
20
N
41
D
43

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish

Angelfish
354 Sightings
J
23
F
29
M
33
A
22
M
23
J
11
J
44
A
49
S
34
O
14
N
37
D
35

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays

Stingrays
319 Sightings
J
38
F
55
M
84
A
27
M
0
J
0
J
8
A
15
S
3
O
18
N
54
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish
250 Sightings
J
26
F
18
M
18
A
18
M
5
J
11
J
36
A
36
S
31
O
8
N
35
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish

Parrotfish
113 Sightings
J
4
F
3
M
11
A
0
M
0
J
8
J
25
A
20
S
19
O
19
N
4
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo
Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish
95 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
27
A
10
M
3
J
5
J
7
A
0
S
12
O
8
N
16
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix
Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts
84 Sightings
J
15
F
0
M
14
A
1
M
0
J
3
J
11
A
17
S
15
O
8
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel
Boxfish

Boxfish
78 Sightings
J
1
F
17
M
23
A
0
M
0
J
5
J
7
A
11
S
2
O
1
N
11
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl
Bannerfish

Bannerfish
75 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
28
A
1
M
4
J
4
J
8
A
10
S
11
O
1
N
0
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

iStock-mirecca
Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish
70 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
13
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
8
A
12
S
14
O
1
N
13
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

iStock-wrangel
Triggerfish

Triggerfish
67 Sightings
J
15
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
11
A
13
S
5
O
9
N
11
D
0
iStock-Lindsey Dougherty
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark
65 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
12
A
21
M
0
J
0
J
13
A
0
S
10
O
9
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

iStock-stephankerkhofs
Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish
64 Sightings
J
15
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
3
J
0
J
11
A
22
S
5
O
7
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal
Damselfish

Damselfish
62 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
13
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
6
A
7
S
8
O
10
N
16
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.
Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish
61 Sightings
J
20
F
4
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
4
J
2
A
17
S
1
O
1
N
6
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk
Goatfish

Goatfish
45 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
12
A
1
M
0
J
3
J
2
A
17
S
1
O
9
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp
Jackfish

Jackfish
36 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
10
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
6
N
17
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Soldierfish

Soldierfish
31 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
10
A
13
S
4
O
4
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

iStock-deraugenzeuge
Snake Eel

Snake Eel
27 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
5
A
11
S
11
O
0
N
0
D
0

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Mares