Drake Divers Costa Rica

We had a beautiful snorkeling tour with Drake Divers at Cano Island. They were so organized with the right size fins for 20 people! We had two excellent divers as our guides - Andre (spelling?) and Ashley. No one could believe they could go under for the length of time they did! It seemed like 5 minutes! And they pointed out beautiful fish, sea turtles and more! If you’re in the Drake Bay Area on the Osa Peninsula, make sure to contact them for an unforgettable experience!

Great dive spots and great guides (Angello & Wilson). Nice lunch at a beautiful crystal clear water beach (Playa Josecito) after the second dive. Huge devil rays (4-5 m wingspan) at Bajo del Diablo passing by in only 1-2 m distance, amazing! Many green sea turtles and whitetip reef sharks. Before the start of the first dive some equipment was missing but as per Costa Ricanian „Pura Vida!“ another scuba diving operator helped out and everything was OK again.

I am writing this review to help future students make an informed decision. I chose Drake Divers for my first Open Water course during a birthday trip to Costa Rica. I arrived excited and trusting that I would be guided carefully through my first real ocean dives. Unfortunately, the experience was deeply disappointing. Communication before and during the course was minimal and lacked essential information. When I asked questions while preparing for the trip, responses were short and incomplete. In hindsight, this should have been a warning sign. The equipment I received was not in good condition. On the first day I was given broken fins and a leaking regulator. The regulator was replaced the following day, but the replacement made unusual noises while inhaling and felt difficult to breathe from. Gear checks were done quickly on a boat full of snorkeling tourists, and I was simply told everything was “fine.” We had a three-hour confined water (pool) session on the first day. That same evening, I experienced trapped water in my ear. I informed them via WhatsApp and shared my concern about diving in the ocean the next day. The only response I received was “ok.” There was no guidance, no recommendation to wait, and no safety follow-up. The following day was my first open water dive in the ocean. We descended directly to 12 meters. There was no proper explanation beforehand about equalization techniques or what to expect during descent. I struggled significantly with ear pressure and breathing comfort. The descent felt rushed and was done using a rope. When I surfaced slightly due to discomfort, the instructor appeared frustrated rather than supportive. Eventually we reached the bottom, and just as I began to feel more stable, we were immediately signaled to ascend. Once back on the boat, I realized my training dive had been adjusted to fit the schedule of a snorkeling tour group that was waiting for us. That realization completely broke my trust in the process. The instructor advised me not to continue and to see a doctor. The next day I was diagnosed with an ear infection. After returning home, I spoke with experienced instructors who were surprised that a first open water student was taken directly to 12 meters under those conditions. In addition, more than a month later, I am still waiting to receive the official documentation confirming the portion of the course I completed. I have followed up multiple times and have been told repeatedly that it will be sent “soon” or that the instructor is unavailable. As of today, I still cannot continue my training because I do not have the required paperwork. A first diving experience should feel structured, patient, and student-focused. Mine felt rushed, poorly supported, and secondary to a tour schedule. I am grateful that I did not suffer a serious injury. But this experience turned what should have been a meaningful milestone into something stressful and disappointing. I hope this review helps others make a careful decision.