If you’re staying in the north part of the Guanacaste province around Flamingo, Conchal, Tamarindo, Grande, Potrero, Las Catalinas or Brasilito, one of our favorite things to do is scuba diving at Catalina Islands (Islas Catalina).
These set of islands are just a 30 minute boat ride from the Flamingo marina and offer an incredible experience to see marine wildlife.
There are several ways to visit these islands whether you want to go snorkeling at Catalina Islands or scuba diving at the Catalina Islands.
Ready to book your scuba diving tour at Catalina Islands? Just click the link to our booking page! Prefer to snorkel? Click to book your Catalina Islands snorkeling tour!
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Location
The Catalina Islands are in the Guanacaste province off the North Pacific coast, about a 30 minute boat ride from the Flamingo marina.
As a collection of volcanic pinnacles, the Catalina Islands are one of the best scuba diving sites in Costa Rica!
Catalina Islands Costa Rica Scuba Diving and Snorkeling Tours
I have been to the Catalinas Islands five times, all for scuba diving in Costa Rica. Each time has been an excellent experience with tons of wildlife.
Catalina Islands scuba diving and snorkeling tours are one of our most recommended things to do in Guanacaste for the ultimate beach vacation.
You do not have to be scuba certified to do the Catalina Islands scuba diving tour. There is an option for a Discovery Scuba Dive, which includes 1 hour of pool instruction before doing 2 open water dives, with a maximum of 12 meters (40 feet).
Below are some photos of my Catalina Island scuba dives.
Best Time to Go Scuba Diving Catalinas Islands, Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s tropical climate allows for year round scuba diving at Catalinas Island.
Water Temperature
The water temperatures at Catalina Islands vary between 16°-30° C (60°-80° F), with the coldest months of January and February.
When I went in August, I was fine with a 3 mm long wet suit. In September, I wore a 2 mm shorty underneath a 3 mm long wet suit as I tend to get cold really easily.
Visibility
Visibility at Catalina Islands ranges from 15 meters (50 feet) to 21 meters (69 feet) year round and can change on a daily basis.
April through July normally has the best visibility.
In August, visibility was not the best, only about 15 meters. Although we saw a lot including a huge school of rays, it was kind of murky. But I did hear humpback whale singing underwater which was magical!
Las Catalinas Islands Marine Wildlife
At the Catalinas Islands, you can see octupuses, nudibranchs, rays, eels, turtles, sea stars, sea urchins, giant clams, puffer fish, angelfish, parrot fish and white tip reef sharks.
The best time to see giant manta rays are December through April, with peak season in February and March.
In August and September during my dives, we saw white tip reef sharks, tons of big schools of fish and a huge school of rays.
Underwater, we could hear the humpback whales singing in August. On the boat ride back to the beach, we saw the humpback whale breaching multiple times!
Whether if you go scuba diving at Catalina Islands or snorkeling at Catalina Islands, please make sure you use only reef safe/friendly sunscreen. We highly recommend Stream2Sea.
Las Catalinas Islands Dive Sites
I dove at the following Catalinas Island dive sites: Punta Norte, Sombrero, Clasico and Punta Sur.
Catalinas Islands, Costa Rica Scuba Diving Video
I made a just for fun short video of my first dive at Catalinas Islands.
We hope that you can experience the magic of Catalinas Islands on a scuba dive or snorkel trip!
Catalina Islands Snorkeling Tour
If you don’t want to scuba dive, you can go snorkeling at Catalina Islands. The same dive shop I went with also offer Catalina Islands snorkeling tours and they do two separate snorkel sessions in different spots.
All the snorkelers and scuba divers go in the same boat, creating a very fun atmosphere and energy as we were all excited to be in the ocean.
Snorkelers can see schools of fish, turtles and rays. Sometimes if the giant manta rays are around and feeling playful, they may go up towards the surface where snorkelers can see them.
How to Book Catalina Islands Scuba Dive or Snorkeling Tour
We work with a dive shop in Flamingo that offers Catalina Islands scuba diving and snorkeling. Just click the links below to book!
kate carlson says
Hello I’m just wondering if snorkelers can go on the same trip as scuba divers? My friend and I are certified divers but our husbands are not and would like to snorkel. Can we boat out together?
Sammi says
Hi Kate, yes everyone actually goes on the same boat (scuba diving and snorkelers) but when you do the actual snorkeling/scuba diving, you’ll go in your respective groups