Punta Uva Dive Center

Punta Uva Dive Center sits right on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, a beach-front dive shop just a few barefoot steps from the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. Set in a two-story house amid green rainforest, it's a place where the only sounds are the sea, the birds and the howler monkeys — with sloths, monkeys, toucans, morpho butterflies and green iguanas easy to spot along the way.

Courses and diving

Whether you join a PADI scuba diving course, head out on exploring dives, or try a snorkeling adventure, the day is built to be unforgettable. The PADI training facility was designed as a relaxed learning space, with a lounge area for audiovisual material and a hammock corner to chill out and read — ideal for first-timers starting their scuba lessons.

The diving happens at Punta Uva Beach, in the heart of the Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, only 4 minutes from the shop. This fringing reef teems with living coral and marine life — sea fans, elk horn and brain coral, parrot fish, angel fish, barracuda, spotted eagle ray, green moray, and even the elusive nurse shark and black tip shark. A perfect fit for underwater and nature lovers alike.