The Catalina Islands
Twenty volcanic islets, one incredible concentration of marine life
Rising from the Pacific about 40 minutes off Tamarindo, the Catalina Islands are our main dive destination, and one of the richest stretches of water in Costa Rica. Strong currents feed an unusually dense concentration of marine life across more than twenty volcanic islets and pinnacles.
Giant manta rays, tracked by name
From December to May, the Catalinas are a commonly reported sighting location for giant oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris), the largest ray in the world, with a wingspan of up to 8 metres. Their movements here are tracked by the Mantas Costa Rica research project, part of the international Manta Trust / MigraMar network, using acoustic telemetry and photo identification. Like any wild encounter, a sighting is never guaranteed, but this is the season to be in the water for it.
Good to know
Getting there
About 40 minutes by boat from Tamarindo, weather and sea conditions permitting. Every trip leaves directly from town.
Depth & level
Dive sites vary in depth and current, suiting a range of levels from supervised beginners to advanced divers, without the demands of a site like the Bat Islands.
Protected status
Not a formally protected marine area, unlike the Bat Islands: a naturally rich site rather than a classified reserve.
Always private
Every dive is privately guided: just you or your group and your instructor, never folded into a large group tour.
A few more faces of the Catalinas
Frequently asked questions
By boat, about 40 minutes from Tamarindo depending on sea conditions. Every trip with Salty Horizon leaves directly from town, so there's no separate transfer to arrange.
Not formally. Unlike the Bat Islands, which fall within the Marine Sector of the SINAC-managed Área de Conservación Guanacaste (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Catalinas don't carry that same protected-area designation. They're a naturally rich dive site rather than a classified reserve.
Most sites suit a range of levels, from supervised beginners on a Discover Scuba dive to certified Open Water and Advanced divers, without the depth and current demands of a site like the Bat Islands.
Giant manta ray sightings are most commonly reported from December to May. As with any wild animal, a sighting is never guaranteed on a given dive.
No. Every dive with Salty Horizon is privately guided: just you or your group and your instructor, never folded into a larger boat tour.
Dive the Catalinas
Two privately guided dives, from $140 per person. Looking for something more advanced? See the Bat Islands.