Scuba Diving Gap Year Programs in Costa Rica

I was in Quepos for 6 weeks did Spanish classes, surf classes and two volunteer projects (working with kids and teaching english). I made a lot of new friends, got more independent and experienced an amazing country like a local.

Everything is part of the experience. Learning how to go with the flow is an essential part of staying here. I’ve made so many new friends, locally and from around the world. The workers are fantastic and super accommodating, as long as you’re reachable and communicating. I’ve enjoyed working with kids and every new day brings about something new to learn. I love my Spanish classes and we’ve been correcting things I learned in school and building off of it. I’m really excited for the rest of my time here. ¡Pura vida!

This trip was the best it gave me so much travel confidence while still being in a secure and safe environment met so many new people and have made freinds which I can visit all over the world as well as in quepose

I stayed in Costa Rica for 4 months and for my Gap Year with Maximo and it was the best choice I could’ve made. I did the customized path with Spanish Immersion and Volunteering with Children. They were extremely accommodating to my needs and made sure I had the best experience. From the close proximity to many beaches to my classes to my host family. This program was everything I could’ve dreamed of and more. So much so that I already planned my next journey back for the New Year!

I loved being in Costa Rica, it honestly was the best experience I met so many people from all over and we made so many fun memories. I would definitely come back to Costa Rica I loved my host family they were truly amazing and so kind I will definitely recommend doing this.

My time in Costa Rica with Maximo Nivel was definitely one that I will cherish and hold near and dear to my heart for forever. There were so many amazing people to meet and so many amazing experiences to be had. My host mom, Marisol was an amazing host and made us all feel very comfortable and happy, all while keeping a fun and lighthearted atmosphere in the house. The campus in Quepos, Costa Rica is very comfortable and well made and I enjoyed spending time there as well!

I had a very nice time here in Costa Rica, my family was very nice and ever was welcoming to me. Both of my projects were fun and I have learned a lot since being here! I am exciting for my trips to Guatemala and Peru

I have made so many friends for life and found a new passion! Diving out of Quepos and working closely with the Marine conservation team is an incredibly special experience and well worth it! Thank you to all the team

I have been in Costa Rica for just over a year and I can honestly say that the past 10 weeks with oceans unlimited have been the best time I’ve had here. Doing my eco dive master was really fun, especially having a roommate who was doing the same thing, so we could do things together. The whole community is so nice and inviting whether it is going out at night or doing a weekend trip, no one gets left out. Going from no diving experience to dive master in a short amount of time has been challenging but I have loved every day of it. All of the staff and instructors made me feel comfortable and are so caring. Some of the relationships I have made here I will never forget.

I had the best time volunteering at Maximo Nivel, I like that they put a very thoughtful approach to my trip! I felt safe throughout my entire stay, I really appreciate the careful thought that the staff put in not only for my experience but everything else involved.

2 years ago I did a the Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica trip with pacific discovery and it was amazing. The organisation itself is really good and made the group feel like a family. All the activities were not only absolutely fantastic but also inspiring.

Máximo Nivel is a program that offers fantastic Spanish courses and flexibility to travel around Costa Rica. The Spanish instruction was fantastic and it was the perfect place to improve my fluency! Highly recommend

I was able to meet friends from all over the U.S. and a few from the Netherlands. We all shared love for trying new things and got to help each other to get out of our comfort zones a little. It wasn't always easy, everyone comes from different backgrounds and experiences and things didn't always go as you expected. We all grew so much during those 3months and our instructors Tari and Jack were inspiring. This experience made me start to work my way into the outdoor education field after seeing the impact it had on me. Now im starting to work with kids and taking them on hikes and getting to share fun stories of the things i experienced with Pacific Discovery and how it's made me even more curious and determined to find my next travel opportunity.

This program made me grow a lot mentally and was a journey of self discovery as well as an outer journey of learning about new interesting cultures and ways of life. I would definitely recommend if you want to make friends and gain an eye opening view of the world.

The person that started this program and the person who has left are 2 very different minded people. I have come to learn much about myself and what I like by spending time reflecting and challenging both my mental and physical states. This trip provided the space and time away to focus on this part of myself and I am forever grateful for this experience.

When I first heard about that program I thought that it sounds too good to be true. But it turned out that it has been exactly what was promised. Together with the experienced and flexible crew of the DiveShop Oceans Unlimited I feel like I became a professional and confident Divemaster. Thanks to the theoretical and practical teaching I could feel an improvement everyday during diving which motivated me to keep studying to become more and more professional. Their ability to adapt to every individual skill-level or handicap allowed all of my friends that I got to know during the program to become a Divemaster as well. Beyond my personal improvements in Scuba diving I made much experiences in teamwork, teaching but most of all sustainability and marine conservation. At first I was skeptical whether they could teach us all the specialities they where promising in only two and a half months. But the passionated members of the Marine conservation Costa Rica non profit organization, that works hand in hand with the dive shop, were able to teach us everything they promised and beyond. Special thanks to John Reinbott, a marine Biologist that worked in the Florida Keys and became a member of the non profit. He introduced me into the fascinating life and role of Corals, Nudibranch, Octopus, Sponges etc. It taught me so much and I definitely see the oceans with different eyes now, which has been one of many things that I wanted to achieve with this program. My homestay was really close to the Diveshop. The lovely local mom spread nothing but good vibes, love and good, fresh food. It always felt like coming home rather than coming back to just a homestay. She put a lot of effort in keeping the house clean and making me feel comfortable. Quepos, the little town where you will live is rather local than touristy. It gives you an interesting perspective on the culture and the local way of living. It feels safe and offers everything you need. ATMs, Coffeeshops, supermarkets, Sodas and a nice food market every weekend. A good contrast to Manuel Antonio, a touristy town 20min with the bus. It has an amazing beach just as the beautiful little national park. In conclusion I will say that my time in Costa Rica was a once in a lifetime experience that expanded my horizons and expanded my knowledge about the marine life and its conservation. Furthermore I became a good Divemaster and met many interesting people that I became friends with.

I really enjoyed getting to know the instructors more personally. As for the activities, I had a lot of fun doing the waterfall rappel. A very eye opening experience in terms of experiencing culture and learning to respect and understand people who are different. I learnt how people live different lives and believe different things but we all have similarities.

My favorite part of this course was the ending. It is bittersweet to know that it has come to an end, but now is the time that I look back on how much I have changed and also bonded with my troop/guides. This course changed me. in our generation, it is very common that we don't look around and explore. This course gave me the opportunity to experience challenges, accomplishments and pure joy in life.

I'd been planning for this trip for many years and everything in Costa Rica was even better and more exciting than I imagined. I always felt safe, but I was out of my comfort zone almost always. Even when it was hard, we had fun and got to see so many different parts of the country, We learned so much, saw so many new things, pushed ourselves, and got so much closer.

Outward Bound is really great for people mentally and physically. It is very healthy and life-changing. I learned that I could do anything if I just push myself more than usual. It has changed my outlook on life and people and I overcame my fear of heights.