Costa Rica Dive and Surf is the first and only PADI Dive School in Dominical. With over 25 years of collective experience in the diving industry and decades in the surf community, our team came together out of what can only be considered fate.
Many old friends who had settled in the southern zone of Costa Rica were extremely influential in our decision to open here, and once we were here we knew we had found our home. We are here out of our love for the ´pura vida´ and what we do, and to share the experience of diving and surfing in one of the most spectacular places on earth!
The Costa Rica Dive and Surf team 2008 to present:
Michael Fontaine Shellard, Owner, Padi Staff Instructor 473803
Mike has been diving since 2002 and was hooked from the very beginning. Right from the start of his diving career, Mike had the dream of opening his own dive center. Mike is no stranger to both cold and warm water diving, from his early years in Canada to diving in exotic places such as Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and much of the northern San Juan Islands.
Michael is currently working on the biggest beard costa rica has ever seen, and his reputation as the “Tico Jesus,” thanks to direct orders from his loving wife Alicia!
Richard Krug, Owner, Padi Divemaster
Richard has been diving recreationally for years and more recently he began diving professionally. Richard and Michael met on a snowboarding trip in the mountains of British Columbia, Canada in 2005 and as their friendship developed so did their plans of opening a dive center.
Richard brings to the table years of producing and managing a number of Chicago area musicians and hip hop artists, and helps keep the rest of us in check as the head of operations for CRDS. Just don´t try and get him to work the 9am shift!
Sebastian Nillson, Head Instructor 198059
A Swedish Mexican by nationality Sebby has been diving for close to ten years recreationally and for 7 years as a PADI professional. He is a certified cave guide from Mexico and a PADI Instructor;
Sebby brings a tonne of experience to our business.
He is modest and loves to surf, and if you are lucky he will show you his mastery of the scorpion fish (which he can hold in the palm of his hand)!
Junior Montoya
Born and raised in Costa Rica, Junior has been surfing the breaks near Dominical for his entire 30 years. He is an experienced and patient teacher who loves to teach beginners but is equally comfortable giving intermediate and expert level surf lessons.
He gets deep in the barrel and can catch a crocodile with the best of em! No Joke!
Christian Vargas Marchena
Christian grew up just north of Dominical, and has been with CRDS since day one when there was no running water or electricity.
Our maintenance man, tank technician, marinero and snorkeling guide, Christian will be more than happy to cut
you the best watermelon you have ever seen at Cano Island or in Costa Rica for that matter!
Memin
Our Boat Captain of 5 years now, without Memin none of you would ever see the dives we have or the Islands and reefs we have been exploring together since we met.
His safety record and level of professionalism to this day makes him the best in the business. Without this man no diver would have been so priviledged to dive the famous El Diablo, which Memin needs no GPS to find, high or low tide!!!