Name: Catalina Islands
Rating: 3.75

Guanacaste Province

Costa Rica

Catalina Islands is a 3.75-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Costa Rica, Pacific, Catalina Islands which is accessible from shore based on 4 ratings.

Las Catalinas

Catalina Islands

Many good spots around the Island.  Manta and Eagle Ray sightings common during season.



Los Sombreros is also known as Sombreros.

Los Sombreros

Varied bottom with rocks and sandpatches. Good marinelife.



Playa Conchal

Visibility can change by the hour with mild to moderate current at times.  Thermoclines are common but I wouldn't say they are drastic.

Commonly seen:
- White tip sharks
- Spotted Ray
-Sting Ray
-Trigger Fish
-Green Moral Eel 
- Box Fish



Monkey Head

Sunken fishing boat near a shark cave. It is a 45 ft. long metal commercial fishing shipwreck.
Marine species: snappers, grunts, groupers, eels, frog fish, etc.

By boat near Playas del Coco.

Tortuga shipwreck

Volcanic rock reef with great marine life from seahorses to rays, turtles and even sharks. Depth max 90ft.



Punta Argentina

Patrick's Point

My dive buddy and I were the only ones on the dive skiff, which was awesome! Our dive guide was great. We went with Diving Safaries out of Playa Hermosa and we stayed at the La Finisterra with a view of the entire town. The food was great  at the hotel and in town.

A couple things about diving Playa Hermosa. (1) There's no need to pay extra for Nitrox. My dive buddy and I felt dooped as we thought we'd be diving deeper than 60ft which was not the case. (2) The Cabeza de Mono and the other outer islands are where the good diving is. Our second dive (inshore) was cold, green, boring and the viz was bad (granted we dove this in November 2010). 

Cabeza de Mono is also known as Monkey Head.

Cabeza de Mono

Volcanic rock reef and round swim. Great site for sharks and stingrays



Virador

Dove this site mid November 2009. Very disappointing dive site. Green water, viz was 5-10ft, swift current and not much marine life. However, the underwater geology was interesting. If you are going to dive Costa Rica, I suggest skipping the "local" dive spots and go straight to Catalina or Bat Islands.

Accessible by boat. Set up the dive through Diving Safaris located in Playa Hermosa. Good group, went mid-week so there was only the boat captain, dive master, my buddy and I. 

Punta Ballena

Pinnacles approx a mile from shore.

Approx 45 min by boat.

La Flor is also known as The Flower.

Catalina Islands

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Catalina Islands