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 ABOUT US |
Costa Rica Dive & Panama Dive - Founded in 1980, we have dedicated ourselves to providing the most up to date and accurate information on all aspects of Costa Rican travel.
Costa Rica Dive & Panama Dive - Is a Costa Rica Dive Travel Specialist and Costa Rica Tour Operator , with a Costa Rica Tourist Board License, incorporated in both, Florida , United States of America and Costa Rica .
Being licensed with the Costa Rica Tourism Board means to be part of the Costa Rica official Tourist Board Business Community who is committed to ethical and honest business practices. To the public, it is synonymous with credibility.
The Costa Rica Tourist Board is the official organization for tourist companies, and is constantly providing Travel Agent Education Training. It is the only organization that regulates travel business services. The license demonstrates to customers a dedication to good business.
The Costa Rica Tourist Board (ICT) is the governmental institution in charge of the tourism in Costa Rica . It was created in 1955 by law No. 1917.
We maintain an office and employee living facility in Costa Rica in order to keep our staff in constant contact with the latest trends, Costa Rica tours and Costa Rica hotels in Costa Rica .
Our staff constantly dedicates 100% of their time to traveling throughout Costa Rica and the region reviewing and revising all of our packages 365 days a year.
Costa Rica Dive -office is staffed from 5:30 AM to 10:00 PM, 365 days a year.
In addition, unlike most travel sites on the web, Costa Rica Dive is an actual travel operator. We are a licensed, bonded, and insured wholesale Costa Rica travel provider with a home office in Costa Rica . Tourism License No. 919
Providing total service, Costa Rica Dive offers everything from an airport transfer to off-the-beaten track expeditions.
All lodges and Costa Rica hotels-Panama hotels we choose, work with a High Environmental Conscious with a CST (Certification Sustainable Tourism) program by ICT.
Costa Rica Dive & Panama Dive -We are a full service Costa Rica tour operator . Our Costa Rica tours are escorted in a private vehicle by English-speaking guides. We do not group you with others and we travel at your pace.
Costa Rica Dive & Panama Dive is not just a website but a full licensed, bonded and insured Wholesaler Dive Travel Specialist and Travel Company .
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Gratuities and Tips
BY Rolando Arburola
President and CEO, Costa Rica and Panama Dive Inc.
Tipping is entirely up to you. Level of service, whether or not you feel comfortable giving tips, and your budget are all important factors.
Personally, I love to tip (or not tip), depending on service. When I worked as a guide I loved to receive tips. I've tipped toll takers for giving me particularly careful, detailed directions. I've also left a penny in a full water glass after suffering through particularly surly service at a restaurant. I think of a tip as a statement.
Restaurants are required by law to add 15% tax and 10% tip to the bill. As a general rule, Costa Ricans do not tip. I tip up to 10% depending on service.
Taxi cab drivers are not usually tipped unless extra service is provided.
Bellboys are often tipped a minimum of US $1.00 up to US $1.50 per bag, at check-in and check-out. Remember that the people that carry luggage at out-of-town places are bellboys too, even if they are not sporting the normal bellboy attire.
Chamber maids: are so often overlooked. I think they are among the most important people to tip. You may want to consider US$0.50 - $1.00 per night.
Transfer Guides, Service Guides, average tip: US $3.00 per person per day. This tends to go up if the group size is less than 4 persons.
Naturalist Guides: average tip: US $10.00 per person per day. This tends to go up if the group size is less than 10 persons.
River Guides: average tip: US $5.00 per person per day. This tends to go up if there are less than 4 persons in the raft.
Drivers: Average tip: US $5.00 per person per day. This tends to go up if the group size is less than 4 persons.
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Rolando Arburola
President and CEO,
Costa rica & panama; Panama Dive .
Our philosophy
Panama Dive's philosophy is simple - Preservation. Being aware of the fragility and beauty of Costa Rica's environment plays an integral role in every excursion we plan. Adept consciousness for both the environment and indigenous people sets us apart. We value the importance of environmental and cultural preservation and hope to convey this belief to our customers. At Panama Dive we believe it is everyone's responsibility to recognize the importance of our surroundings and take an active role in preserving it"
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About the guides
Panama Dive,INC is a full-service tour operator. We are not dive shop or a hotel farming out an occasional tour. This is our 23rd year scuba diving in Costa Rica and adventure land tour. We were licensed and insured. All our tour guides are English-speaking and many are graduate biologist, naturalist or ornithologists. Our tours are privately escorted in a private vehicle and go with a few as two persons.
Invariably, when we ask our clients what one thing stands out most about their vacation, the reply is “the guide”. Guides take the hassle out of travel. They provide education, insight into the host culture, and in many cases a lifetime friendship. Over the years we have had thousands of clients visit Costa Rica and most of them have remained our friends and many of them have return several times. This is what makes this the most enjoyable business we could ever imagine.
We always recommend our meet-and-greet transfer service. If you have ever been in a foreign country and lost your luggage, passport, money, had an emergency, or any one of a multititue of unpleasant situations, then you know the value of having a bilingual guide meeting at the airport.
Panama Dive is here to serve you by offering the best of Costa Rica scuba diving and adventure tours.
Please allow us to arrange your vacation, maximize your trip and allow you to enjoy a stress free vacation.
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Find Trips
Children & Panama Dive