Pacific Coast Dive Center
Pacific Coast Dive Center was the first shop we tried in Playa Flamingo, and honestly, they do a great job overall. After diving with them a dozen times now, we can confidently say they combine he perfect blend of professionalism, fun, and safety. It’s a great shop for divers of all levels. Our guide will touch on what to expect from a day of diving with Pacific Coast Dive Center.
Ready to dive deeper? Lets’ go! 👌👎🤙
Location & Atmosphere
Pacific Coast Dive Center is located on the main highway in Playa Flamingo, making it easy to reach if you’re staying in Las Catalinas, Potrero, Playa Flamingo, or Brasilito. It’s easier to go through a Tamarindo based dive shop if you’re staying in that area. If you haven’t arranged a pickup from your accommodations, there’s a large parking lot at the plaza where their shop is located.
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Check in with them once you park. You’ll be sized for gear, get suited up, and then be shuttled to the boat launch area with their staff. The shop is minimal but well organized, and the staging area is out front. Coffee and tea are offered while the groups get set up, and you can’t ask for much more.
Staff & Service
The shop’s energy just radiates good vibes. Everyone working there is super helpful. A major shout out to Jose, Riski, Angie, Marco, and everyone else who’s helped us so far.
The Dive Boat
The Golden Venture is their 54-foot dive boat. It has the capacity for 50 passengers and 4 crew. We’ve experienced diving with Pacific Coast Dive Center when the boat was nearly empty and also when the boat was at capacity. This boat also takes out snorkel groups, which haven’t affected our enjoyment, but it can become a bit chaotic when space is tight.
The front of the boat has a dry area for storing valuables. We recommend bringing as little as possible. We’ve had our stuff soaked in the “dry area” when it was a full boat, and another group put their wet bags on ours. We use this waterproof dry bag to keep our stuff salt free.
The boat features a standard marine toilet. Do your business and pump ocean water in to flush everything out.
The top deck is partially covered and offers a beautiful view on the way to the Catalinas Islands. We’ve spotted Humpback Whales on multiple occasions, so keep your eyes out!
Diving Experience
Once you’ve arrived at the boat launch area outside of the marina, you’ll take a quick ride out to the dive boat. The crew will proceed with introductions and a safety briefing, and start on the 40 minute ride out to the Las Catalinas Islands where they will chose 2 dive sites.
The only downside we’ve experienced with Pacific Coast Dive Center is in the variety of sites offered. The boat also caters to snorkeling so they have to chose sites that are suitable for both snorkeling and scuba diving. This shouldn’t affect your trip if you’re diving 1-2 days with them, but for 3+ dive days you may want to mix in another company to try other dive sites.
Equipment & Safety
After numerous dives with Pacific Coast Dive Center, we give their operation a thumbs up for their equipment and safety. We’ve used their rental gear and everything appeared to be in great condition. The tanks have been consistently filled to 3000PSI / 200BAR, and the guides we’ve had did a great job at monitoring the air levels of their divers. The boat has an emergency O2 kit that’s easily accessible, and we couldn’t ask for much more on this type of boat.
What To Look For
Diving at the Las Catalinas Islands offers so much biodiversity. Keep an eye out for some of our favorite underwater animals.
- Giant Pacific Manta Ray
- Spotted Eagle Ray
- White Tip Reef Shark
- Jewel and Morrey Eeels
- Sea Turtles
- Puffer Fish
- Nudibranch
- And so much more!
The Verdict
Pacific Coast Dive Center is a great choice for divers of any skill level. While the trip may feel a little chaotic for some, their go-to dive sites offer plenty to see, and the staff is amazing. The overall experience should leave lasting memories and we recommend this company.
