BootsnAll Travel Community

Hello, going to be in Tamarindo in about a month. Looking for a recommendation to a reputeable dive shop near Tamarindo. Any clues/suggestions? Thanks

Do you consider the Caribbean 'near' Tamarindo?

Seriously, the visibility on the Pacific side of CR isn't generally very good. I've done a few dives with Salt Dream in Playa del Coco, which is a good operator. Visibility will be about 5 meters, and if you're lucky you'll see some macro stuff. Be ready for a very sharp thermocline about 8-10 meters down, which is why you want a long suit, instead of a shorty. The first time I went, I nearly froze in a shorty.

Hmmmm. Normally I would consider Tamarindo near the Carribean, but for the time being I think I am going to be limited to the Pacific side. We are travelling to a wedding and my girlfriend and her dad (first time divers) want to have a few dives. We will not have time to travel more than a few hours distance from Tamarindo.

Would you recomend the Pacific side for beginners? Is there a strong current? I've heard that there isn't much of a reef on the Pacific side. I'd like her to have an enjoyable outing. Thanks for any more advice you can give me.

I should add that I will be staying for a period of time after my girl leaves, and am considering a trip to the Carribean for diving. If I do, whats the place to be?

There isn't any reef at all on the Pacific side, period. It's not difficult diving over there - a beginner will be perfectly fine. I don't mean to give the impression that it isn't worth it on the Pacific. For someone like me, spoiled by amazing visibility, it's a bit disappointing, but I'd take Pacific diving over no diving.

If you have time to make it to the Caribbean, consider Nicaragua's Corn Islands, or San Andres y Providencia (Colombian islands off Nicaragua's Caribbean coast - you can fly from San Jose). Most of Costa Rica's Caribbean is fairly inaccessible. You can dive from Puerto Viejo, but all the rivers dumping into the sea nearby usually mean poor visibility. Really, the best diving in Central America is in Honduras and Belize.

(By the way, I'm in Minnesota too - Minneapolis.)

Hey a fellow minnesotan. My brother (hisdudeness) posted a couple times last month and you offered to grab a beer with him. Offer still there? He leaves for Guatemala on Thursday, I leave at the end of May. I can't speak for him but I wouldn't mind getting together and hearing about your time there. My email is qualitylocate@yahoo.com, if you're interested/available.