Costa Rica Scuba Diving

NORTH PACIFIC REGION

 
This is one of the most frequented areas by divers from around the World. Just 30 minutes away from the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, you will be near a great concentration of diving operators in the beaches of Hermosa, Coco, and Ocotal. Other places like the Bolaños and Negritos Islands also have conditions for diving, as well as of admiring a great marine diversity; they are located at approximately one hour and 45 minutes from this airport.

The temperature in this area ranges from 80ºF (24ºC) and 85ºF (27ºC), although these may vary depending on the season of the year, the currents, and the thermoclines.

Don't miss the awesome arches and coral formations of Santa Elena Bay, Blanca Beach Range, and Bajo Meros (ravine), a perfect place for beginners. You may also dive in Gorda Point, Bajo Tiburones, Negritos Island, Cabros Island, and Murciélago Islands, where you might find the bull sharks which measure up to 12 feet (Carcharhinus leucas) in their natural habitat. The best time to visit this site is from March through November. Despensa Island and Catalinas Islands are also a perfect spot for observing the abundant sea life, which is difficult to find anywhere else.

 

All these places are great for watching different species of sharks such as the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), dolphins, morays, and rayfish, among which noteworthy is the Golden ray (Rhinoptera steindachneri) or Pacific cownose ray, of the many existing Pellagic species.

 
PUNTARENAS AND THE GULF ISLANDS

 
An area with the convenience of a quick access, with good conditions (depending on the tides and marine currents) for snorkeling in the Curu National Wildlife Refuge and close to the tourist complexes found in the Tambor and Montezuma beaches. Also the islands located in the Gulf of Nicoya as the captivating Tortuga Island.

  
COCOS ISLAND

 
This world-famous National Park was established in 1978. In 1997, UNESCO declared it a World Natural Heritage Site.

Located in the Pacific side of Costa Rica, 543 km of Cabo Blanco, Coco’s Island is a real treasure that has been safeguarded, where you can dive deep into the sea and discover such unforgettable natural richness. To visit the Coco's Island you should contact a tour operator in order to organize your trip. The journey lasts approximately one day and a half, and when arriving to the Island, you will find anchoring services, lectures, walks, trails, and potable water.

Coco’s Island counts with a great diversity of natural environments, owing to conditions related to its geological origins, geographical location, and of being an oceanic island. Its flora and fauna, marine as well as terrestrial, are exceptional; even though they are known to some extent, recent studies have determined that the island houses approximately 600 species of marine mollusks, 300 species of fish and 32 species of coral, 9 of them belonging to the deep waters.

 

The large number of white tip sharks (Triaenodon obesus and Carcharinus albimarginatus), schools of hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) during migration at the cleaning stations, tuna fish (Thunnus sp), parrot fish (Scaridae), mollusks, and other coral species, make this island one of the most marvelous places on earth to explore.

 
CENTRAL PACIFIC

 
Only a few hours away from San José, this is an ideal diving zone during the Summer, because of the great variety of fish, lobster, and white tip sharks (Triaenodon obesus) that can be spotted in the area.

Your senses will be overwhelmed when observing the impressive rock formations and the underwater cave of the Manuel Antonio National Park, where you may explore the waters at Cathedral Point, Puerto Escondido, and the Mogote and Olocuita Islands.

Access to the area can be by the road going to Orotina, trip lasting almost 90 minutes, from San José. You can also reach there with the local flights to runways located in Hermosa Beach, Garabito canton, and in Quepos, Aguirre canton. Access to Hermosa Beach by sea is possible thanks to a marina located in Herradura Beach, while the access to Quepos is through Puerto Quepos.

  
SOUTH PACIFIC REGION

 
Plunge into a whole submarine garden full of coral formations and an impressive colouring.

The best diving spot in this zone is found in the Caño's Island Biological Reserve, 45 minutes away from Drake Bay-Osa Peninsula, where you will find a marine ecosystem beyond compare. In this beautiful place, you may observe hammerheaded sharks (Sphyrna lewini) , white finned sharks (Triaenodon obesus), whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), and ray fish. Your trip will be done in the pleasant company of dolphins and the migration of the humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) or finback whales, as they are also known. These may be seen almost any month of the year, but their best season is when it is Winter on the Northern Hemisphere of the American Continent. A special attraction is that this area is the only place in the world where these whales come to, both from the North and the South, at different times of the year.

You will be able to explore the Tres Hermanas small Islands and the protected marine area of the Ballena Marine National Park, which possesses a huge number of coral species. This park is complemented with the abundance of existing marine life, among which we may mention the humpback whales’ (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrations.

 
SOUTH CARIBBEAN REGION

 
In the company of an exuberant vegetation and the exotic Caribbean culture, these fantastic and mystical waters that just a few have explored, are characterized by a coral reef ecosystem protected by the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, and the Cahuita National Park.

Approximately 4 hours from San Jose, the beautiful marine landscapes will attract visitors to Cahuita.

The depth of coral formations varies from very few meters to those up to 11 vertical meters high. These coral formations have a biodiversity composed of over 123 species of multicolored fish, like angelfish, queen angelfish (Holacanthus sp.), parrot fish (Scaridae), three-spined stickleback fish (Diodontidae), among many others. There are also over 35 coral species, which include Moose Horn (Acropora palmata) and Brain corals (Diploria sp.).