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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    • SSI Instructor Training Course (ITC) - ChrisDiving, Costa Rica

    SSI Instructor Training Course (ITC) - ChrisDiving, Costa Rica

    Program descriptionTake your diving career to the next level and become an SSI Open Water Instructor with comprehensive, immersive, field-oriented training.At ChrisDiving, we offer you much more than just a course: real professional experience in a busy dive center, supervised by an experienced SSI Instructor Trainer.Our Instructor Training Course (ITC) takes place over 1 full month on site, with total immersion in the life of a dive center.You will be trained directly by Chris, Instructor Trainer, and integrated into the team to develop concrete, operational skills.The program includes :Pool and open water teaching techniquesAcademic and educational presentationsOrganizing and conducting SSI training coursesCustomer briefing presentationsPerfecting skills demonstrationsInstructing beginners and advanced diversActive participation in real-life trainingMaintenance and care of equipmentCylinder inflationComplete understanding of diving center operationsYou'll learn not only how to teach, but also how to live the daily life of a professional instructor.Conditions of participationBe a certified SSI Divemaster (or recognized equivalent)Active statusValid medical certificate (minimum 6 months remaining)Valid First Aid, AED and Oxygen Therapy certifications (renewed every 2 years, with at least 6 months remaining)Duration & organizationDuration: 1 month immersive trainingAccommodation included for the first month1 day off per weekTraining can be extended if necessary, with personalized coaching.Accommodation included (1st month)Double room (shared)Single bedSimple, functional room with fanShared bathroom and kitchen❌ Meals not included ✅ Snacks, fruit, water, coffee and tea included during training days.Accommodation supplement: 350 USD / month (if extended)Price3'250 USDPrice includes :The complete ITC training courseE-learning SSISupervision by an Instructor TrainerTeam integrationAccommodation for the first monthChrisDiving SSI PRO Instructor PoloIE registration feesApplicable to candidates :Up to date with Divemaster skillsIn active statusWith all valid prerequisitesWhy choose ChrisDiving?Center SSI Diamond Training CenterUnique immersive training (not just theory)Real-life experience under professional conditionsOver 6000 dives of local experienceExceptional sites in the Catalina IslandsA family atmosphere, serious and safeReady to become an instructor?Turn your passion into a profession, with practical, human and professional training in Costa Rica.Contact us for upcoming dates and availability.+506 6178-6362divecenter@chrisdiving.com

    ChrisDiving, Christian Demierre, Horizon Lodge, Finca la Marcela, Guanacaste, Santa Cruz, 50304, Playa Potrero, CRI
    August 20, 2026
    $3,600.00
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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 <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.3)</span>

    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 <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.3)</span>

    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 <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.3)</span>

    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 <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.1)</span>

    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 <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.2)</span>

    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
    588 Sightings
    J
    68
    F
    52
    M
    72
    A
    54
    M
    29
    J
    34
    J
    54
    A
    49
    S
    29
    O
    24
    N
    61
    D
    62
    iStock/Divepic
    Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

    Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
    426 Sightings
    J
    54
    F
    54
    M
    163
    A
    98
    M
    24
    J
    1
    J
    0
    A
    0
    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
    332 Sightings
    J
    45
    F
    26
    M
    63
    A
    21
    M
    17
    J
    3
    J
    20
    A
    22
    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
    155 Sightings
    J
    1
    F
    9
    M
    10
    A
    15
    M
    5
    J
    13
    J
    23
    A
    14
    S
    6
    O
    10
    N
    14
    D
    35
    Alamy/National Geographic Image Collection
    Oceanic Whitetip Shark

    Oceanic Whitetip Shark
    152 Sightings
    J
    20
    F
    13
    M
    20
    A
    18
    M
    0
    J
    10
    J
    13
    A
    17
    S
    5
    O
    0
    N
    19
    D
    17
    Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
    Green Turtle

    Green Turtle
    42 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    0
    M
    0
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    3
    J
    3
    A
    8
    S
    2
    O
    3
    N
    10
    D
    13
    iStock-crisod
    Reef Manta Ray

    Reef Manta Ray
    40 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    0
    M
    19
    A
    18
    M
    0
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    0
    S
    0
    O
    2
    N
    0
    D
    1
    AdobeStock-Magnus
    Humpback Whale

    Humpback Whale
    25 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    0
    M
    0
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    14
    S
    9
    O
    2
    N
    0
    D
    0
    iStock-June Jacobsen
    Whitetip Reef Shark

    Whitetip Reef Shark
    894 Sightings
    J
    100
    F
    73
    M
    117
    A
    95
    M
    50
    J
    34
    J
    56
    A
    60
    S
    37
    O
    40
    N
    91
    D
    141

    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
    420 Sightings
    J
    44
    F
    48
    M
    63
    A
    44
    M
    35
    J
    23
    J
    22
    A
    18
    S
    19
    O
    20
    N
    41
    D
    43
    Show More

    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
    341 Sightings
    J
    23
    F
    29
    M
    31
    A
    22
    M
    22
    J
    10
    J
    40
    A
    44
    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
    315 Sightings
    J
    38
    F
    55
    M
    82
    A
    27
    M
    0
    J
    0
    J
    8
    A
    13
    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
    248 Sightings
    J
    26
    F
    18
    M
    18
    A
    18
    M
    5
    J
    11
    J
    37
    A
    33
    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
    112 Sightings
    J
    4
    F
    3
    M
    11
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    11
    J
    25
    A
    16
    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
    96 Sightings
    J
    1
    F
    1
    M
    27
    A
    10
    M
    3
    J
    5
    J
    10
    A
    0
    S
    10
    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
    90 Sightings
    J
    15
    F
    0
    M
    14
    A
    1
    M
    0
    J
    3
    J
    18
    A
    16
    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.: 8

    Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl
    Bannerfish

    Bannerfish
    79 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    1
    M
    28
    A
    1
    M
    4
    J
    4
    J
    13
    A
    9
    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.: 20

    iStock-stephankerkhofs
    Porcupinefish

    Porcupinefish
    72 Sightings
    J
    15
    F
    0
    M
    0
    A
    1
    M
    3
    J
    3
    J
    19
    A
    19
    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.: 25

    AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel
    Boxfish

    Boxfish
    68 Sightings
    J
    1
    F
    17
    M
    23
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    5
    J
    7
    A
    1
    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.: 250

    iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.
    Scorpionfish

    Scorpionfish
    67 Sightings
    J
    20
    F
    4
    M
    0
    A
    0
    M
    1
    J
    7
    J
    5
    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.: 85

    iStock-mirecca
    Surgeonfish

    Surgeonfish
    67 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    0
    M
    13
    A
    1
    M
    0
    J
    3
    J
    3
    A
    12
    S
    15
    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
    66 Sightings
    J
    15
    F
    0
    M
    0
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    6
    J
    8
    A
    12
    S
    5
    O
    9
    N
    11
    D
    0
    iStock-Lindsey Dougherty
    Silvertip Shark

    Silvertip Shark
    63 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    0
    M
    12
    A
    21
    M
    0
    J
    0
    J
    11
    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.: 350

    Alamy-Andre Seal
    Damselfish

    Damselfish
    55 Sightings
    J
    1
    F
    0
    M
    13
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    3
    J
    4
    A
    0
    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.: 40

    iStock-Hoatzinexp
    Jackfish

    Jackfish
    40 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    0
    M
    11
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    4
    J
    0
    A
    1
    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.: 90

    Shutterstock-Levent Konuk
    Goatfish

    Goatfish
    34 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    0
    M
    12
    A
    1
    M
    0
    J
    3
    J
    2
    A
    6
    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.: 300

    iStock-deraugenzeuge
    Snake Eel

    Snake Eel
    29 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    0
    M
    0
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    0
    J
    5
    A
    11
    S
    12
    O
    1
    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.: 60

    iStock-Global_Pics
    Soldierfish

    Soldierfish
    27 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    0
    M
    0
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    0
    J
    16
    A
    3
    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.: 15

    Shutterstock-Hans Gert Broeder
    Garfish

    Garfish
    27 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    0
    M
    0
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    2
    J
    15
    A
    10
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    0
    D
    0