Finish Your Open Water Certification Where the Pacific Opens Up: A Referral Course in Coco, Costa Rica

COCO WATER ACTIVITIES FIELD GUIDE

Finish Your Open Water Certification Where the Pacific Opens Up: A Referral Course in Coco, Costa Rica

An Open Water Diver referral course with Rich Coast Diving that completes your certification via an afternoon pool session and two morning, two-tank dives—this guide explains what to expect and how to plan.

Finish Your Open Water Certification Where the Pacific Opens Up: A Referral Course in Coco, Costa Rica.

Duration
Contact operator
Location
Coco
Operator
Rich Coast Diving
Category
Water Activities
Robert Eric Crews
Founder & Editor, The Adventure Collective
Published Verified

On the Pacific shore of Guanacaste, the Open Water Referral Course with Rich Coast Diving compresses the final, hands-on portion of your certification into a short, focused schedule—an afternoon pool session followed by two morning two-tank dives—so you spend less time studying on vacation and more time beneath a vibrant tropical surface.

Highlights

Outing Highlights

Complete Your Open Water Referral in Two Days
THE CERTIFICATION

Complete Your Open Water Referral in Two Days

Instead of four to five days of classroom and pool work on holiday, this referral option lets you finish the practical skills and open-water dives in Costa Rica after completing the online theory and pool sessions at home.

Afternoon Pool, Two Morning Ocean Dives
THE DAILY RHYTHM

Afternoon Pool, Two Morning Ocean Dives

The course schedule is compact: one afternoon devoted to confined‑water skills in the pool, then two morning, two‑tank dives to complete your certification, maximizing time on the water when conditions are calm and visibility is at its best.

Pacific Coast Dive Sites for New and Seasoned Divers
THE SETTING

Pacific Coast Dive Sites for New and Seasoned Divers

Coco and the surrounding Pacific coast of Costa Rica offer dive sites suited to both beginners and experienced divers, making it an ideal place to finish your open-water training and explore local marine life.

What the day feels like

What the short, practical course feels like

This referral course feels like a concentrated finishing line: you arrive having completed the bulk of the theory and confined-water work online and with your home shop, spend one focused afternoon polishing confined-water skills, then rise early for two morning ocean dives where the instructor signs off on your open-water certification amid Costa Rica’s Pacific dive sites.

Complete Your Open Water Referral in Two Days

THE CERTIFICATION

Complete Your Open Water Referral in Two Days

Instead of four to five days of classroom and pool work on holiday, this referral option lets you finish the practical skills and open-water dives in Costa Rica after completing the online theory and pool sessions at home.

Afternoon Pool, Two Morning Ocean Dives

THE DAILY RHYTHM

Afternoon Pool, Two Morning Ocean Dives

The course schedule is compact: one afternoon devoted to confined‑water skills in the pool, then two morning, two‑tank dives to complete your certification, maximizing time on the water when conditions are calm and visibility is at its best.

Pacific Coast Dive Sites for New and Seasoned Divers

THE SETTING

Pacific Coast Dive Sites for New and Seasoned Divers

Coco and the surrounding Pacific coast of Costa Rica offer dive sites suited to both beginners and experienced divers, making it an ideal place to finish your open-water training and explore local marine life.

Suitability

Who it's for

Who this referral course suits—and who should consider another route.

1
Divers who completed online theoryIdeal: students who have finished the online theory and confined‑water/practical sessions at home and want to complete only the open‑water dives while on holiday.
2
New divers seeking efficient certificationWell suited: those who want to minimize study time on vacation and dedicate only a short, practical block to finishing certification in the ocean.
3
Beginners who prefer learning from scratch on vacationLess ideal: travelers who need to do theory or full pool training while traveling should opt for a full local Open Water course rather than a referral.
4
Experienced certified diversCompatible: the Pacific coast sites are appropriate for divers of varying experience, and finishing a referral here places you among the same dive sites enjoyed by seasoned divers.

Practical planner

Details to review before reserving

What to Bring

Complete the online theory and confined‑water sessions before arrival so you can proceed directly to the afternoon pool session and two morning two‑tank dives during your stay.

Booking Notice

Review cancellation policies before reserving.

Frequently asked questions

Planning Your Outing

How long does the Open Water Referral Course take on site?

On site the course consists of one afternoon pool session and two morning two‑tank dives.

How much does the course cost?

The rate is $400 per diver, including 13% VAT.

Do I need to complete anything before arriving?

Yes—this is a referral course: you should complete the online theory and the confined‑water/pool sessions at home before arriving so you can finish the certification dives in Costa Rica.

When are the ocean dives scheduled?

The open‑water portion runs as two morning two‑tank dives following the afternoon pool session.

Who operates the course?

The Open Water Referral Course in Coco is operated by Rich Coast Diving.