![\"Scuba](\"https:\/\/scuba.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Scuba-Diving-with-Sea-Turtle.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Situated in between the Pacific Ocean<\/a> and the Caribbean Sea<\/a>, Costa Rica is bounded by a vast body of water where you can relax and enjoy in this nature-bounty paradise wherein one of the ecotourism activities you can do is scuba diving<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are different program levels of scuba certification that will equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills allowing you to explore certain dive environments in Costa Rica while maintaining safety and precaution.<\/p>\n These certification programs are being conducted by Certified Instructors and Dive Professionals following international training standards and procedures of Certification Agencies like SSI<\/a>, CMAS<\/a>, BSAC<\/a>, NAUI<\/a> and PADI<\/a> being the biggest of them all.<\/p>\n Price Range:<\/strong> USD$ 400 – 500 With regards to the certification fee, it already includes lecture materials, manuals, printed hand-outs, rental of equipment, pool fees, boat and certification card which will come from your certification agency. You must take note though that most dive shops do not include food and accommodation in the package.<\/p>\n After your certification and now being a certified Open Water Scuba Diver, you will have the freedom to explore the beauty of Costa Rica\u2019s underwater environment. But this does not permit you to dive alone and you can only dive within your limitations set forth by your certification level. With this, you can book for a guided tour offered by dive shops and dive companies<\/a> where experienced dive guides can take you to the popular dive sites in Costa Rica<\/a>. If you want to indulge yourself in an ultimate relaxing experience, consider signing-up for a dive safari<\/a> or as they call it a liveaboard cruise. This trip allows you to live onboard for three to five days where you can cover up a bucket full of dive sites and even take you to some of the remote offshore areas in Central America.<\/p>\n Price Range:<\/strong> USD$ 300 – 400![\"Scuba](\"https:\/\/scuba.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Scuba-Diving-a-Reef-in-Costa-Rica.jpg\")
With a bucket-full of dive sites, you will surely be amazed with Costa Rica\u2019s marine resources<\/a>. For example, the volcanic island of Virador is a haven for large marine life where you can interact with sharks<\/a>, large stingrays and other fishes like grunts<\/a>, angelfish and snappers<\/a>. The colorful reef life of Cocos island<\/a> should also be equally appealing to you where you can see a pod of whales<\/a> and a vibrant reef system that has been considered a national marine park. But wait, in order for you to explore this underwater paradise, you must be a certified scuba diver equipped with all the knowledge and skills to safely discover and enjoy the underwater beauty of Costa Rica.<\/p>\nLevels of Scuba Certification<\/h2>\n
Open Water Scuba Diver<\/h3>\n
\nDays to Complete:<\/strong> 3 to 4 days
\nRequirements:<\/strong> at least 15 years old, physically fit and comfortable in the water.<\/p>\n![\"Open](\"https:\/\/scuba.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Open-Water-Diver-Scuba-Certification.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
If it’s your first time to go scuba diving, getting certified should be your first step. You can sign-up for the Open Water Scuba Diver Certification Course where you will undergo a three-phase program. First, you will take the knowledge development program by attending lecture and classroom session where you will learn all the principles, theories and scuba diving rules and regulations. The next step is to immerse yourself in a swimming pool through the Confined Water Session where you will practice your underwater skills. Then finally, you will venture out to the sea and perform an Open Water Dive where you can personally see all the descriptions I mentioned earlier.<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n
Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver<\/h3>\n
\nDays to Complete:<\/strong> 2 to 3 days
\nRequirements:<\/strong> Must be a certified Open Water Scuba Diver<\/p>\n![\"Advanced](\"https:\/\/scuba.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Advanced-Open-Water-Diver-Scuba-Certification.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
While some dive sites in Costa Rica requires an advance level of training, you may consider going to the Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver Certification Course. Taking up this course earns you the skill to go deep diving up to 100 feet (30 meters) as compared to 60 feet (20 meters) maximum depth for Open Water Divers. You can also go night diving where you will be amazed by active nocturnal critters like squids and octopus<\/a> or the sleeping fishes that rest on cracks and coral crevices. Other skills that will be taught in the course are search and recovery, natural navigation and multi-level diving.<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"Rescue](\"https:\/\/scuba.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Rescue-Diver-Certification.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Dive](\"https:\/\/scuba.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Dive-Master-Scuba-Certification.jpg\")
If you have fallen in love with Costa Rica and want to live and work in this wonderful place, you might consider becoming yourself a dive professional. Divemaster is your first step of becoming a professional diver where you can be a dive guide, assistant in diver certification courses or as a staff of a dive shop.<\/p>\n![\"Dive](\"https:\/\/scuba.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Dive-Instructor-Certification-Program.jpg\")
<\/p>\n