What Our Guests Say About Rich Coast Diving: 33 Years of Diving in Costa Rica
After more than 33 years in the diving industry, there is one thing we never take for granted: the trust people place in us when they enter the water with our team.
Over the years, thousands of divers, snorkelers, families, travelers and professional divers have joined us to explore the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Today, we are incredibly proud and humbled to have close to 800 Google reviews from people who have taken the time to share their experiences with Rich Coast Diving.
We could tell you that we are professional, safety-focused, experienced and passionate about diving. But those are things every dive center can say.
What matters much more is what our guests say after they have actually spent a day with us.
And when you read through our reviews, a few themes appear again and again: people feel safe, people feel welcome, and people genuinely enjoy spending time with our team.
It starts with the people
Our guests regularly mention our instructors and guides or captains by name: Meg, Dani, Phil, Phillip, Toby, Alex, Karla, Sophie, Dario, Daniel, Jeff, Stefanie and our captains Carlos, Oldemar, Jaime.
Sometimes they praise their technical knowledge. Sometimes it is their patience or ability to explain things clearly. And often, it is simply their personality.
One guest described Meg as a "one in a million person." Another first-time diver began their review with an enthusiastic "MEG MEG MEG!" Others have told us that our team became people they trusted with their lives.
These comments mean a lot to us because being a good dive instructor or guide is about much more than knowing the dive site or teaching a skill. Every diver is different.
A first-time diver may need reassurance. Someone returning to diving after several years may need time to rebuild confidence. An experienced diver may want more independence and detailed information about the dive site.
Our job is to understand the person in front of us and make sure they get the experience they need.
First dives that become lifelong memories
Some of our favorite reviews come from people who had never scuba dived before.
For a first-time diver, breathing underwater can be both exciting and intimidating. There is new equipment, new skills and an entirely unfamiliar environment.
One guest told us about being nervous about encountering sharks and manta rays. After training with Meg and gradually building confidence, they found themselves at 18 meters, calmly enjoying those very animals they had been worried about.
Another new diver told us they couldn't believe how comfortable they felt during their first scuba experience.
That transformation is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching diving. An Open Water certification isn't simply a card. For many people, it is the beginning of a completely new relationship with the ocean.
Returning to diving with confidence
Not everyone who visits us is a beginner. Many guests are experienced divers who simply haven't been underwater for a while. Several reviews mention our refresher courses and, in particular, the patience of our instructors when helping divers regain their confidence.
One family came to us with the parents needing a refresher while their two sons completed their Open Water certifications. We were able to organize the training so that everyone could eventually enjoy diving together as a family.
Another guest described their refresher with Meg as one of the best experiences they had had with an instructor.
A good refresher isn't about making someone feel like they have forgotten everything. It's about reviewing important skills, addressing any concerns and giving the diver the confidence to enjoy the ocean again.
Families discovering the ocean together
Family diving is another theme that appears throughout our reviews.
We've had families where parents and children were at completely different experience levels, families combining scuba diving and snorkeling from the same boat, and families completing multiple dives together.
One family told us that watching their two sons complete their checkout dives while they refreshed their own skills was something they would never forget.
Another family had two people scuba diving while the other two snorkeled from the same boat, allowing everyone to experience the ocean together.
That's one of the things we love about Costa Rica. A day on the water doesn't have to look the same for everyone. You can scuba dive, snorkel, explore the coastline or simply enjoy being together.
And then there is the marine life
Of course, the reason we're all here is what's underneath the surface.
Our guests regularly tell us about encounters with white-tip reef sharks, bull sharks, turtles, eagle rays, manta rays, moray eels, octopus, lobsters, seahorses, guitarfish, leopard rays and huge schools of fish.
One experienced Divemaster described a local diving day that included turtles, eagle rays, reef sharks, moray eels and an incredible variety of fish. The following day, they headed to the Bat Islands to dive with bull sharks, an experience they described as one of their most exhilarating dives ever.
That's one of the great things about diving from Playas del Coco. Local diving and the Bat Islands offer very different experiences, and together they showcase the incredible diversity of Costa Rica's Pacific waters. Of course, the ocean always has the final say about what you will see. That's part of the adventure.
Professionalism without losing the fun
One of the most consistent comments in our reviews is about safety and professionalism.
Guests mention clear briefings, well-organized dives, good equipment and instructors who pay attention to how everyone is doing.
One experienced Divemaster summed it up particularly well: they appreciated an operation that prioritizes safety without sacrificing the fun. That's exactly the balance we aim for.
Diving is serious. Equipment needs to be prepared correctly, conditions need to be assessed and divers need to be looked after. But the day should still be fun. There should be laughter on the boat, excitement when someone spots a turtle and plenty of stories between dives.
Professional, safe and fun don't have to be separate things.
Our partnership with SSI has also played an important role in helping us continuously improve the way we teach and develop divers.
The SSI training system gives our instructors and professional team access to modern digital learning tools, structured educational materials and a clear pathway for development from beginner diver all the way to professional level.
For us, the partnership goes beyond simply delivering certifications. It allows us to combine SSI’s global training standards and resources with our own 33 years of local experience, creating courses that are structured, practical and highly personalized.
This is particularly important in professional training. Whether someone is working toward Divemaster, preparing for an Instructor Training Course or continuing their development as an active dive professional, we want them to leave with more than a certification.
We want them to have the knowledge, confidence, practical experience and professional mindset to succeed wherever their diving career takes them.
SSI gives us the framework and tools. Our experience, our instructors and our personalized approach bring that training to life.
The experience starts before the dive
Several guests have also commented on everything that happens before and between the dives.
They mention how easy it was to organize their trip through WhatsApp, transportation from their hotel, equipment fitting and the friendly welcome at the shop.
And then there are the small details: fresh coffee in the morning, water and tea on the boat, fruit and snacks between dives, and a crew that is happy to help. None of these things individually makes a great dive trip.
Together, however, they make the experience feel easy and personal.
One Spanish-speaking guest even described the laughter and atmosphere on the boat as a major part of their experience, including an ongoing search for the mysterious "pezpo." We still don't know exactly what happened with the pezpo, but apparently it was a very important part of the trip!
Snorkeling is part of the adventure too
Rich Coast Diving isn't only about scuba diving.We also welcome families and travelers who want to explore the ocean through snorkeling.
One family from Quebec joined us with their two teenagers and described feeling welcomed "like friends." Their guide was praised for his patience and kindness, while the family enjoyed turtles, leopard rays and an incredible variety of fish.
Other guests have simply rented snorkeling equipment from us and headed out to explore on their own.
You don't need a scuba certification to experience the incredible marine life of Costa Rica's Pacific coast.
From recreational diver to professional
Our reviews also reflect the wide range of training we offer. Some people arrive for their first Open Water certification. Others continue with Advanced, Rescue, Nitrox and specialty courses. Some eventually decide to take the next step toward Divemaster or instructor level.
One diver completed Advanced training with Meg and Phillip during the quieter season and particularly appreciated having one-on-one time with their instructors.
Another completed Rescue with Dani and told us how much they learned while still enjoying some incredible dives.
That's how we believe training should work. Courses should not simply be a checklist of skills. They should help you become a more confident, capable and knowledgeable diver.
And when someone decides to pursue diving professionally, that personalized approach becomes even more important.
33 years later, we still care about the details
Under the ownership of Celine Monfort and Niels Prinssen, Rich Coast Diving has taken personalized service and guest experiences to the next level. Their philosophy is simple: every guest is different, and every experience should be tailored to the person, not simply to the activity.
Whether you come to Costa Rica to dive, snorkel, kayak, explore, learn or develop professionally, the goal is the same. To create meaningful experiences, lasting memories and a level of personal attention that goes far beyond the standard dive center experience.
Celine and Niels continue to combine professionalism, safety and expertise with something equally important: making people feel genuinely welcome and creating experiences they will remember long after they leave Costa Rica.
We've seen equipment and technology change. We've seen training systems evolve. We've watched Playas del Coco grow and welcomed divers from all over the world.
But one thing hasn't changed.
People want to feel that they are in good hands. They want experienced people around them. They want good equipment and clear communication. They want to feel safe. And they want to have fun.
Our goal is to continue providing all of that while never losing the personal side of the experience.
Because nearly 800 reviews aren't simply 800 five-star ratings. They are hundreds of individual stories.
A nervous first dive. A family adventure. A birthday celebration. A refresher course. An Advanced or Rescue certification. A bull shark encounter. A manta ray appearing out of nowhere. A snorkeling trip with the kids. A professional diver taking their next step. And lots and lots of laughter.
Thank you for being part of our story
To everyone who has taken the time to leave us a review, thank you. Thank you for trusting us with your first dive, returning to the water with us, bringing your families, choosing us for your training and recommending us to your friends. After 33 years, we are incredibly proud of Rich Coast Diving, but even more grateful for the people who make it worthwhile.
The reviews remind us that a successful dive center isn't simply about how many dives you do.
It is about how people feel while they are doing them. If our guests feel safe, welcome, well looked after and excited to come back for another dive, then we know we're doing something right.
Whether you're planning your first scuba experience, returning to diving after a break, looking for your next certification, traveling with your family, joining a snorkeling adventure or considering taking your diving to a professional level, we'd love to welcome you to Rich Coast Diving.
33 years of experience. Nearly 800 reviews. And still treating every guest as an individual.
We hope that one day, you'll add your own story to the collection. See you underwater in Playas del Coco.
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