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Dive Review of Pacific Coast Dive Center/Tamarindo Diria Hotel in
Costa Rica/Guanacaste-Catalina Islands

Pacific Coast Dive Center/Tamarindo Diria Hotel : "Catalina Islands boat from Potrero Bay", Nov, 2016,

by Lee Little Haponski , TX, US (Reviewer Reviewer 5 reports with 4 Helpful votes). Report 9298.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 3 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments Nice resort dive day. Modern van for hotel pick-up at 7am, stop at shop outside Flamingo to do release forms, Ccard check and fitted equipment included in the $110 pp price. Returned directly from boat dock to hotel via the vans, back in time for a late lunch!
All the equipment was in good to excellent condition - I took only my mask, computer and gloves as I was traveling with only carry-on luggage.
Dropped at boat launch in Potrero Bay, ferried out to dive boat where staff set-up tanks on the ½ hour trip out to eastern side of Catalina Islands.
Water was ~72F with some noticibly colder layers. I opted for the 3 mil full wetsuit because I usually don't get cold but the 5 mil would have been fine.
Green water viz ~30-40ft.
45-50 minutes total, win 3 minute safety stop hanging below guide's safety sausage waiting for boat pick-up (several shop's boats were in the area).
Volcanic rock with very small amounts of new coral growth - saw both hard orange and white whip varieties emerging.
NO sharks or Mantas but a few different types of stingrays, moderate amounts of tropical fish including parrots and morays. Live shells, lobster.
I'll go again next time I'm in the area but I wouldn't plan an entire week of diving, at least not in Nov.
Websites Pacific Coast Dive Center   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Pacific, Caribbean, Indonesia, GBR,
Closest Airport LIR Getting There Multiple flts with all major US carriers from southern USA hubs.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 70-75°F / 21-24°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 30-40 Ft/ 9-12 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Stuck with guide as this was my first time in Costa Rica.
Spots we dove - sandy shallows and Sombrero averaged 40-60 ft.
Asked for air checks a couple times, nothing too annoying.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 1 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments I'm no a photographer but, except for a freshwater bucket, there were no facilities - it's a day boat.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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