What Diving and Snorkeling Trips Does Rich Coast Diving Offer in Playas del Coco?

Rich Coast Diving, an SSI Career Center based in Playas del Coco, runs daily diving and snorkeling trips across Guanacaste, including local Gulf of Papagayo sites and the more famous Catalina and Bat Islands. If you want to dive or snorkel from Playas del Coco, the main options are daily 2-tank dive trips, snorkeling tours, a combined kayak and snorkel tour, and seasonal trips to see manta rays or bull sharks — with a photo package available as an add-on.

Diving Trips

The core offering is daily 2-tank trips in the Gulf of Papagayo, plus dedicated trips to two well-known offshore sites:

The Bat Islands (Murciélago) and Catalina Islands are the two headline destinations. The site describes them as world-class dive sites — Catalina for mantas and Bat Islands for bull sharks — and both are priced as seasonal offers rather than year-round fixed rates.

Snorkeling and Surface Tours

If you don't dive, the center lists:

• Snorkeling tours — a standalone snorkeling option in the local area.
• Kayak & snorkel tour — a combined paddling and snorkeling trip.
• Photo package — available to add to your trip.

These are grouped on the site alongside the diving trips, so snorkelers can book without a certification.

Courses and Professional Training

Beyond trips, Rich Coast Diving is an SSI Career Center, which means it offers the full training ladder rather than just fun dives:

• Beginner certification courses
• Advanced Diver and Rescue Diver
• Specialty courses
• Professional training: Divemaster and Instructor programs

It states it is the first and only Career Center in Costa Rica, with 2 in-house instructor trainers, and delivers courses in English, Spanish, French, Dutch, German, and Italian.

Dive & Stay Packages

For longer visits, the center arranges all-in-one dive and adventure holidays that bundle accommodation with diving and activities. The site says accommodation and activities are arranged for convenience, positioning this as an option if you'd rather not book lodging and dives separately.

Practical Notes

• Try Scuba Diving is listed at $175 USD as a special offer — an entry option if you're not certified.
• The center advertises small, private groups, taxes included, and a 4.9-star rating from 806 Google reviews.
• It was founded in 1993 and describes 33 years of operation.
• Getting there: Costa Rica requires a valid passport and a return ticket; the site points to Juan Santamaría International Airport as an arrival option and provides a Google Maps link for the location.

How to Choose

• Certified and want the big animals: book the seasonal Catalina (mantas) or Bat Islands (bull sharks) 2-tank trips — check which season is running during your dates, since these are listed as seasonal offers.
• Certified, short on time: the daily 2-tank Gulf of Papagayo trip or the 3-day/6-dive package.
• Not certified: Try Scuba Diving ($175 USD) or a snorkeling / kayak & snorkel tour.
• Want to go pro: the Divemaster and Instructor programs through the in-house instructor trainers.
• Staying a while: compare a Dive & Stay package against booking diving and accommodation separately.

Prices shown are the offers listed on the site and may change by season; confirm current rates and availability when booking.