Dive Review of
Rich Coast Diving/Villas del Sol (hotel) in
Costa Rica/Playas Del Coco

Carribean, California, Mexico (Pacific), Hawaii, Philippines

Dive Conditions

500 PSI  

[None]  

Overall Rating

I chose Rich Coast Diving based on positive reader reports.  Unfortunately,
I found the operation has apparently changed since the new owners took over
in December of 2005.  Martin is a Dutch fellow who seems to be very
concerned with all things PADI. As far as being a shop that caters to
serious divers, well I don't think so.  On my first day diving we went to
the famed Catalinas.  The overflow charter boat they put us on (Salty Dog)
was a joke.  Nauseating levels of diesel smoke and so slow I'm sure I could
have swam faster (one hour and 15 minutes each way).  The head was
"closed to men".  Divemaster Edward is a diamond in the rough. 
Fantastic attitude, but he had only been in Costa Rica for a couple of
weeks.  I'm sure he will be great in the near future.  Catalina Island was
a bit disappointing as well.  Typical Eastern Pacific diving with few hard
corals and so-so visability.  The other group on our boat had the expert
divemaster Julian who found a school of 13 whitetips and 3 mantas.  We saw
none.  We did see a couple of eagle rays, free swimming morays and a fair
selection of tropicals.  The next day we went to Tortuga Point and Punta
Argentina.  These sites were only fifteen minutes away on Rich Coast's own
trimaran boat (it had a laughable engine configuration of one small
outboard and one medium size outboard).  Both sites had more hard corals
then Catalina and more tropicals. I saw one whitetip that was a very
cooperative photo subject and one turtle. No babysitting with both DM's. 
Villas del Sol was adequate and with the all inclusive rate, a good deal. 
Would I go again?  Maybe, if I could get to the Bat Islands with another
operator.   

Questions?
Send an email to the author of this report

What others have to say about Undercurrent
And get immediate access to ALL 93 dive reviews of Costa Rica
and all other dive destinations immediately!