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Try Scuba Diving / Basic Diver

Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Great choice
10+ bookings last month.
  • 7 hours (approx.)
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

5.0
·
· Tammy_B ·
Sep 2025
Excellent opportunity to scuba dive again after more than 15 years. Things were definitely different but got a great review and instruction. It was a great time and beautiful day to scuba dive. Great instructors and boat captain.
· Stevan_H ·
Jul 2025
Incredible experience… so grateful for their team’s expertise, professionalism, and guidance to make this an awesome first dive. Highly recommended

Overview

Learn the basics of scuba diving under the watchful eye of your guide on this introductory course departing from Tamarindo. Enjoy two dives at different sites with a break in between, using the scuba equipment that's provided for you so you don't have to worry about a thing. Hotel pickup is available from select Tamarindo locations for even more convenience.
  • No certification needed for this introductory scuba course
  • Two dives at different sites with a break for a relaxed experience
  • Snacks and beverages are provided to keep your energy up
  • An ideal Tamarindo experience for adventure lovers

What's Included

  • Snacks
  • Bottled water
  • Soda/Pop
  • Use of Scuba equipment
    Use of SCUBA equipment
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Scuba instructor
  • Tips
  • Sun protection (hats, sun screen etc.)

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

We can pick you up at your place for free as long as it is in Tamarindo or Langosta. We will always contact you the day before the activity about pick up.

or

Meeting point

  • TamaDive Tamarindo - Diving Center
    Avenida central. 80 metros al este del banco nacional Guanacaste Tamarindo, Provincia de Guanacaste, Tamarindo, 50309, Costa Rica

    Meeting time is 6.30am

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.6:30 am

What To Expect

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 12 hours of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • Travelers will have to fill out a medical questionnaire prior to the experience
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Carl_B
This was my very first experience diving and I absolutely loved it. My instructor was Gonzalo who was patient and very informative. This experience made me want to pursue more diving experience and maybe certification. I recommend this school/activity for anyone who is just curious and wanted to try diving or for just a fun activity.

Reviews

5.0
based on 231 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Sort by: Most insightful

World is your oyster !

Usman_J, Jun 2026
This is was the best highlight of my trip specially my guide Franko what a gem of a guy very careful and aware underwater for his divers and professional and extremely experienced highly recommend booking scuba with him . His the real aquaman. !

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that your trip was made even more special with Franko as your guide. His professionalism, experience, and care for divers truly make him stand out. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you back for more underwater adventures.

Staff is kind, friendly,...

Amos_H, May 2026
Staff is kind, friendly, professional, and patient. I personally struggled with a class due to my nerves and anxiety. However, the staff was very patient with me even with extra time to help me get comfortable enough to dive. Personally, I was unable to do the activity, but I would recommend this to anyone that wants to try scuba. This is a great place to learn mainly because of how patient thorough and understanding the staff is. Big thanks to Ramon for spending extra time in the water with me trying to help me get comfortable with the activity and equipment!

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! We’re truly glad to hear that our staff’s patience and professionalism helped you feel supported, even when the activity felt challenging. Diving can be a big step, and your kind words about our team mean a lot. We’ll be sure to pass along your special thanks to Remo—he’ll be delighted to know his extra time and care made a difference. Even though you weren’t able to complete the dive this time, your recommendation and recognition of our staff’s dedication are deeply appreciated. We hope you’ll visit us again whenever you feel ready, and we’ll be here to make the experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

What an unforgettable...

Andrea_U, Apr 2026
What an unforgettable experience! Gonzo was an incredible dive guide — patient, knowledgeable, and made us feel completely at ease throughout the entire dive. Thanks to his expertise, we were treated to an absolutely breathtaking underwater world. We saw manta rays, stingrays, and sharks, plus a stunning variety of colorful fish and beautiful starfish. It was like swimming through a nature documentary! Costa Rica’s underwater scenery truly blew us away. If you’re looking for a world-class diving experience with a guide who genuinely cares about your comfort and enjoyment, look no further. We cannot recommend Gonzo and this dive enough — already dreaming of our next trip back!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for such a heartfelt review! We’re thrilled to hear that Gonza made your dive so special with his patience, knowledge, and care — he’ll be delighted to know his guidance helped you feel completely at ease. It sounds like you had an extraordinary experience exploring Costa Rica’s underwater world, from manta rays and stingrays to sharks, colorful fish, and starfish. We love that it felt like swimming through a nature documentary! Your kind words mean so much, and we can’t wait to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure.

First Time Dive

Donna_W, Mar 2026
We were looking for one adventure for our short trip to Costa Rica. My daughter chose this dive experience. I had been certified way back in college. I had not dove in at least a decade. This was perfect for both of us. Remo was our dive master. He was great patient with a touch of teasing!!

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you so much for choosing us for your Costa Rica adventure, and for sharing your experience! We’re delighted to hear that the dive was a great fit for both you and your daughter. It’s always special to welcome divers back into the water after a long break, and you did fantastic. We’ll definitely pass your kind words on to Remo — patience with a little teasing is very much his style! We’re glad he helped make your dive both comfortable and fun. We hope the experience rekindled your love for diving, and it would be a pleasure to welcome you both back for more underwater adventures the next time you visit Costa Rica.

Terrific

Carl_B, Dec 2025
This was my very first experience diving and I absolutely loved it. My instructor was Gonzalo who was patient and very informative. This experience made me want to pursue more diving experience and maybe certification. I recommend this school/activity for anyone who is just curious and wanted to try diving or for just a fun activity.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you so much for your review. We’re very happy to hear that you loved your first diving experience and that Gonzalo made you feel supported with his patience and clear explanations. It’s great to know this experience inspired you to continue diving, maybe even toward certification. We appreciate your recommendation and would be delighted to welcome you back whenever you’re ready for your next step underwater.

Fantastic Crew, Communication and Experience

Velinda_H, Nov 2025
Wow!!! This was excellent. The crew and the other divers were such a delight. We were inexperienced divers who felt incredibly safe and taken care of throughout, even when we had some seasickness (bring dramamine, if you're prone to that, which we were). It didn't ruin our trip at all. We left saying this was the best tour/experience of our entire trip on the beach. It's amazing to see tropical fish and eel in their own environment, as a guest to their world! I recommend to anyone wanting a cool adventure, even with limited experience.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had an excellent time with us. Our crew loved having you onboard, and it’s great to know you felt safe and well taken care of throughout the dives — even with a bit of seasickness. (Great tip on the Dramamine!) Experiencing tropical fish and eels in their natural environment truly is something special, and we’re so glad this became the highlight of your trip. Thank you for recommending us, and we'd be honored to dive with you again anytime — whether you're gaining more experience or just looking for another beautiful underwater adventure. All the best from the whole TamaDive team!

Excellent experience after 15 years

Tammy_B, Sep 2025
Excellent opportunity to scuba dive again after more than 15 years. Things were definitely different but got a great review and instruction. It was a great time and beautiful day to scuba dive. Great instructors and boat captain.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you so much for diving with us and for sharing your experience! After 15 years away, it’s amazing that you chose to get back underwater with us. We’re glad you felt comfortable with the review and instruction, and that you enjoyed the day out on the boat with our crew. It was a pleasure having you onboard, and we hope it won’t be another 15 years before your next dive!

Incredible experience… so...

Stevan_H, Jul 2025
Incredible experience… so grateful for their team’s expertise, professionalism, and guidance to make this an awesome first dive. Highly recommended

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you so much, Stevan! 😊 We’re so glad to hear that your first dive was such an incredible experience 🤿💙 It was a pleasure having both you and your wife dive with us on different days — and we’re happy we could help make it easy for you to take turns and still enjoy the underwater world while caring for your little one 👶❤️ Thanks for trusting us for your first dive — and for the kind words about our team. We hope to see you again one day, maybe for your Open Water course? 😉 — The TamaDive team 🌴☀️ #PuraVida

Stella was absolutely...

Sancia_B, May 2025
Stella was absolutely amazing!!!! We saw so much marine life and was incredible!! Thanks again!! ♥️♥️

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thank you so much for your enthusiastic feedback! We’re so happy to hear Stella made your dive incredible and that you got to see so much marine life. We’ll be sure to pass on your thanks to her. Hope to dive with you again soon!

We could not have asked...

Elijah_W, Apr 2025
We could not have asked for a better first diving experience! Our guide/instructor Remo was knowledgeable, patient and attentive. We were lucky enough to see a manta ray, sea turtle, and a couple of reef sharks. Would highly recommend!

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re delighted that Remo made your first diving experience so memorable with his knowledge and care. Seeing manta rays, sea turtles, and reef sharks on your very first dive is truly special! We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to dive with you again soon.

Amazing Scuba Dive experience

Nadine_K, Jan 2025
We had an amazing time and highly recommend TamaDive. It was our first time diving and we have been really nervous. Remo was very kind and calm and we felt safe diving with him. We enjoyed it a lot and saw so many different fishes including sharks. On top of it we got amazing photos and videos. Thanks TamaDive team for this wonderful experience.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with us! 🐠💙 We're thrilled to hear that your first diving adventure was amazing and that Remo was able to make you feel safe and comfortable. Seeing sharks and so many beautiful fish is always an unforgettable experience, and we're so glad you enjoyed it. 😊 It's great to know you loved the photos and videos—we hope they keep the memories alive for years to come! Thank you for choosing and recommending us. We hope to dive with you again in the future! 🌊🤿

Awesome Dive Experience!!

Susan_L, Apr 2024
Miguel helped navigate the whole on line process, and he was so patient!! Franco was an amazing dive partner for my son who is certified, and Ignacio was super attentive and gentle with me, a 62 year old virgin diver. I can’t say enough about their professionalism, humor and, customer service!!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

It's fantastic to read that our staff provided such outstanding support and guidance throughout your diving experience! From navigating the online process to ensuring both you and your son had memorable dives, their professionalism and care shine through. We're delighted that they made your first diving experience at 62 years old such a positive and enjoyable one. Thank you for highlighting their excellent customer service, humor, and attention to detail. We hope to welcome you back for more underwater adventures soon!

Safe, fun, friendly

Kristi_R, Apr 2024
Ignacio was fantastic! Both dive instructors were very professional and protective. When I got seasick, they did everything they could to help. We loved our experience with them. Would recommend!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

We're so pleased to hear that our dive instructors provided such exceptional care and professionalism during your experience with us. It's never easy dealing with seasickness, but we're glad they were there to support you every step of the way. Your recommendation means the world to us, and we're grateful for the opportunity to have shared this memorable diving experience with you. Thank you for your kind words!

Great first dive experience

Beth_B, Mar 2024
I had so much fun on my dive day! Miguel was an excellent dive instructor - very patient and focused on safety. The whole program was organized and well done. My first time diving and I loved being underwater and seeing all the fish and creatures. We saw sharks, eels, spotted eagle rays and many different types of fish. Would recommend and would dive again with TamaDive. Thank you for a great experience!

Response from Host, Mar 2024

We are thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic time on your dive day with us! It sounds like Miguel did an outstanding job as your dive instructor, ensuring both your enjoyment and safety throughout the experience. Exploring the underwater world for the first time must have been exhilarating, especially with such a diverse array of marine life to encounter, from sharks and eels to spotted eagle rays and various fish species.

Amazing first time!

Jasmine_V, Mar 2024
My friend and I opted to go for our first try with TamaDive and we were very pleasantly surprised about the whole experience. Franko was in contact with me beforehand to explain things, give us access to the diving app, theory information, and answer any questions. Once we got to the center, they had coffee for us, made sure we each had equipment that fit us, and gave us a very detailed description/teaching of how to actually scuba safely. Our guide was incredibly patient. We were both a little nervous even though we had read the theory and had a thorough demonstration at the center. But our guide was so calm, he brought each of us down a few feet below the surface one at a time to make sure we felt comfortable with all the different maneuvers. At any point if I got panicked even the slightest, he would make sure I knew that he was in control. Being underwater and unable to talk, he still made me feel completely safe and was able to calm me down and get me to focus on my breathing. Once we went under, he was still able to guide us through, making sure he took pictures of everything, showing us all varieties of the sea life (sharks, eels, SO many different kinds of fish, starfish, etc), and he still maintained visual contact with us the entire time, and checked in with us every couple of minutes to make sure we were still okay and had no issues. The entire team was so great and I am so grateful that they worked so hard to make sure we had an amazing experience and most of all, that we felt 100% safe the entire time. Would absolutely recommend for a first timer or anyone who wants to dive

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. We're absolutely thrilled to hear that your first diving experience with us exceeded your expectations. Thank you once again for choosing us, and we truly appreciate your recommendation. We look forward to welcoming you back for more underwater adventures in the future!

Awesome scuba trip

Scott_S, Dec 2023
Excellent scuba trip. Miguel was awesome. Very patient and understanding for first timer. We got within 3 feet of sharks. Great views.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Thank you so much for taking your time to leave us this great review. Certification is the next step ;)

It was on my husbands...

Paula_T, Sep 2023
It was on my husbands bucket list, we enjoyed ourselves on our 20th anniversary. Would recommend it.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thank you for joining us on the dives and happy anniversary. Remember, you should get certified 😉

Amazing dive with great guides

Jason_T, Aug 2023
My wife and I booked the non-certified dive experience during mid-August. We were picked up at a nearby hotel and brought to their office location where we were walked through the requirements and waivers. Luis patiently talked through the what we would be doing and what to expect on the dive while we were fitted with equipment that looked and worked great. Afterwords we were driven with a small group of certified divers up to Playa Hermosa. After a few minutes there was a small boat that took us (5 guests, 3 guides and the captain) out to another boat that had all of our equipment set up and ready to go. The trip out to the 1st dive site took about 20 minutes and was fairly calm. Along the way we stopped for a few minutes to watch a pair of sea turtles, and enjoy the beauty of the area. My wife and I were then instructed on how to get the gear on again, and were able to dive in with our guide Luis. The first dive was amazing as Luis very patiently walked us through all of the skills for the dive and helped calm nerves for our first dive. The are was very beautiful with so many different types of life to see. After the first dive of around 45 minutes we loaded back onto the boat and picked up the other diving group. They had some cookies and fresh pineapple for everyone while we relaxed and took our time going to the second dive site. My wife decided to sit out the second dive so it was just Luis touring me around. Again, the experience was incredible! So many fish types (scorpion, clown, trigger, tang, angel, damsel) and also octopus, shark, eel, and coral. Luis also stopped point out that we could hear faint whale song in the background. At the end of the dive, we all gathered again on the boat where more pineapple and drinks were handed out while we all headed back to shore. The whole process felt very safe with them clearly identifying what we could and could not do, and helping guide us along every step of the way.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Thank you so much for sharing your detailed review of your dive experience with us! One small correction, we are not leaving from Playa Hermosa but from Playa Potrero. We're thrilled to hear that you and your wife had such a positive and memorable time during your adventure. Safety is our top priority, and we're glad to hear that you felt secure throughout the entire process. Our team's commitment to providing clear instructions and expert guidance is something we take pride in.

Great experience!

Camron_N, Jul 2023
We had an awesome experience scuba diving. We loved that we were able to go for two different dives at two different locations. Franco was very knowledgeable and helpful throughout the whole process. We highly recommend!

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you for diving with us and leaving us this review. We always strive to provide our customers with diverse and exciting experiences, and we're glad you appreciated the variety. We hope to welcome you back for more underwater adventures in the future.

Great scuba experience

Mason_E, Jul 2023
One of our favorite experiences of the entire trip. We had no scuba experience and in no time we were in the water. Franco was our instructor and he was fantastic. We saw so many fish, shark, octopus, eel, lobster. Worth every penny.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you for leaving us this great review. It's very much appreciated. We hope we see you again in the future.

Get your feet wet with these guys!

Victor_H, May 2023
We had an amazing time with this tour operator - and a special shoutout to Jose who was an incredibly patient and attentive instructor (and prepped our gear and drove us to and from the dive spot). You meet at the tour operator's dive shop in Tamarindo and then head on over to a nearby beach to dive near the Catalina Islands. I would definitely recommend this for anyone who wants to explore SCUBA diving and its scared to take a certification course. The tour is intentionally kept small so that is safe. Attached photos are from the GoPro our dive instructor was operating.

Such a great experience!

Courtney_H, Oct 2022
This was such a great experience! Pur guides were so kind and patient. They really made it easy to learn and understand everything. We would definitely book with them again!

amazing first dive

Maike_J, Sep 2022
We had such an amazing experience! It was our first time diving and it couldn’t have been better. Chris is a very kind person and your going to have a lot of fun:) The underwater world of Costa Rica is so pretty, definitely worth seeing!

Journée magique

Charlotte_P, Mar 2025
Que dire c est tellement beau, le site est vraiment incroyable, l équipe au top, j ai adoré, c était magique 🥰🥰🥰

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Merci beaucoup pour votre retour! Nous sommes ravis que vous ayez trouvé le site incroyable et vécu une expérience magique. L’équipe met tout en œuvre pour offrir des plongées inoubliables. Au plaisir de vous revoir sous l’eau!

Merveilleux

Valerie_L, Jan 2024
Un super moment..une incroyable initiation avec Franco au petit soins et à l écoute de ses clients.. il nous a super bien mis en confiance et du coup la plongée s'est merveilleusement bien passé.... je recommande ce centre et n hesiterai pas à faire appel à eux si je reviens au Costa Rica

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Un immense merci pour votre élogieux commentaire! Nous sommes ravis d'apprendre que votre initiation à la plongée s'est déroulée de manière aussi fantastique. Nous nous efforçons constamment de fournir un service exceptionnel et de créer une expérience inoubliable pour nos clients. Nous serions ravis de vous accueillir à nouveau lors de votre prochain séjour au Costa Rica. Bonnes explorations et à bientôt !

Mémorable !

Sofia_G, Feb 2020
TamaDive est sans doute l'organisme de plongée à choisir les yeux fermés. Anxieuse d'effectuer mon baptême de plongée, mon moniteur Franco fût patient, pédagogue, consciencieux et à su me détendre avec sa touche d'humour... Au programme une bonne humeur du staff sur le bateau, une prise en charge et retour à l'hôtel mais surtout une large diversité de poissons, un poulpe, des raies... et des requins à pointe blanche! J'ai tellement adoré que je suis repartie en plongée avec TamaDive 3 jours plus tard. Merci pour cette expérience inoubliable ;)

From $195.00

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up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

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On average, this is booked 27 days in advance.

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