Costa Rica: Best hotel for easy diving

[lumberjake]

Hey first-time poster here. My wife and I are looking to do 2 days of diving while in Costa Rica (July), and wanted to find a hotel where we can just wake up and get on the boat without having to drive, etc. We want to try to hit the Catalina Islands and Playa Del Coco.

I was about to book Ocotal Dive Resort since they have a shop/boats right on site, but now I'm put off by some poor reviews of the place on TripAdvisor. One guy said he checked in and they cancelled some of the dive trips while he was there since they couldn't always get the minimum people signed up for a boat.


Anyone have any experience with this place? Thanks!

 

[DeputyDan]

You might want to check the websites of the dive operators there to see their tie ins with lodging...

Put your dive vacation in our hands. Rich Coast Diving can make you a nice all inclusive dive package.

The above is one example of several....

 

[fisheater]

I had a great time at Ocotal Beach Resort.


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[fisheater]

Update from my last week diving at Ocotal:

The Ocota Beach Resort is a mere shadow of what it was last year. It's running VERY low occupancy and the lack of maintenance and support is really showing. "Word on the street" is that the current owner is suing the owner before and that he's unwilling to invest any more effort or money into the place. Its best feature, the swim-up bar near the beach, is closed.

This time, my family and I stayed at a condo (through VRBO) at Los Almendros de Ocotal, which is the same condo complex that houses Rocket Frog Divers, a wonderful dive operation. With the Father Rooster restaurant across the street providing great food and drink right on the beach, it's a great place to stay. A trip into Playa de Coco for "more action," is only a short cab ride away.

 

[Troy G.]

I just went on Trip Advisor, Ocota Beach Resort was given 4 of 5 on the review with 233 reviews from average to excellent and only 82 rating poor or below. You will always find naysayers, bottom line, the comforts aren't the same in tropical areas as they are in middle America.

I say go for it and have fun. What do you have to lose?

 

[DeputyDan]

82/315 = 26% of guests thinks the place sucks.
That's way on the high side....