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Costa Rica Scuba Diving is something that every person should try. From the Catalina Islands in the north to the coral reefs of Tamarindo to the south, scuba diving is a way to see the hidden treasures of this country.
Guanacaste's (Northwest Province) coastal waters offer a spectacular array of large marine life ranging from a tiny fluorescent damsel to a six foot white tip reef shark to a possible encounter with a giant manta. This area offers a chance to swim side by side with whale sharks, bull sharks and much more. The underwater landscape of cliffs, canyons, and tunnels makes for some of the most adventurous diving in the world.
At the Punta Gorda dive site, 6km west of El Ocotal, thousands of eagle rays have been known to swim in incredibly giant columns, here you can find also whale sharks in the bottom and also marlins in pinnacle rocks.
Also in Cocos Island you can dive, famous for its wonderful wildlife featuring big encounters with whale sharks, hammerheads and mantas, which sometimes appear in groups of 500 at a time.
At Isla Uvita, just offshore of Limon, are tropical fish, sea fans, and a coral reef, plus the wreck of the Fenix, a cargo ship that sank about a mile off the island years ago.
Farther south, at Cahuita, is Costa Rica’s most beautiful coral reef extending 500 meters out from Cahuita point. The fan shaped reef covers 593 hectares and has 35 different species including the giant elkhorn. Here as in Uvita you can find two ship wrecks -with all and cannons- , seven meters down laying on the reef. The best time to visit is during the dry season in February to April, when visibility is at the best for any kind of diving
The Isla del Caño is said to be the best place to scuba dive in the country. Home to 18 species of coral, 3 species of dolphin and 57 different species of crustaceans, this tiny island is the ultimate scuba diving spot.
Recommendations
The best diving months vary widely, depending on your location. The best months to dive Cocos Island, especially if you want to see hammerheads, are June, July and August. November through April are the best months to dive the Osa Peninsula. In May, the windy season begins, and conditions can be rough. The best months to dive off Guanacaste are its rainy season, May through November, as the water conditions are calm. Some diving can be done off Guanacaste during the windy season (December through April).
The best months for scuba diving in Costa Rica at the Bat Islands are March to November, were you might see a 15-foot Bull sharks, Eagle rays, pompanos, Horse-Eye jacks, and Wahoos. Whales migrate here in the winter so you will likely encounter a 35-foot whale shark, Orcas, humpback and pilot whale. Around the dive sites are other types of marine life like Octopus, giant Stingrays, Eel, Sea horses, Angel Fish, and Spinner dolphins.
Some of the hotels where you can practice scuba diving are:
Tamarindo Diria
Melia Playa Conchal
Punta Islita Hotel
Ocotal Beach Resort
Cala Luna Hotel & Villas
Tambor Beach Hotel
Tango Mar Beach Resort Hotel
Black rock bajo negro
A place known for its variety of marine life.
Experience is required on this site due the big swells and strong currents.
Distance from hr our location: 1hr
Dive depths: 25 ft 130 ft / 8 45m
Currents: anything in between 0 3 nuts current.
Swells: 2 20 ft / 1 6m (calm - rough)
Most common marine life: schools of big eye jacks, eagle rays, schools of grunts, nurse sharks, mantas, sea horse, rain bow runners, criole fish etc
Common descents & ascents: free descents & ascents.
Ojaranes
Is a group of peanicles that reach the surface!, full of marine life. The rock formation is full of color with pretty interesting bolder formations.
Experience is required on this site due the big swells and strong currents.
Dive Depths: 35 100 ft/ 10 30m
Currents: Anything from 0 to 3 nuts current.
Swells: 2- 20 ft / 1 6 m (calm - rough).
Most common marine life: schools of big eye jacks, schools of grunts, snapers, pacific chops, eagle rays, southern sting rays, white tip reef sharks and big cleaning stations of king Angel fish!.
Common descents & ascents: free descents & ascents.
Los Arcos
Right at the end of the west point of Santa Elena Peninsula there is a fantastic arch formed by a couple of big rocks. This arch is home to a variety of marine life, especially schools of fish.
Experience is required on this site due the big swells and strong currents.
Distance from our location: 1: 45 minutes.
Dive Depths: 35 100 ft / 10 30 m
Currents: anything from 0 to 3 nuts o current
Swells: 2- 20 ft / 1 6 m (calm - rough).
Most common marine life: schools of big eye jacks, schools of grunts, snapers, pacific chops, eagle rays, southern sting rays, white tip reef sharks.
Common descents & ascents: free descents & ascents.
San Pedrillo
The big scare is a popular dive site where you can see bull sharks, known as the big scare for the incredible interaction that you can have with the biggest shark of the region. It is the furthest west rock formation of the Bat Islands .
Experience is required on this site due the big swells and strong currents.
Distance from our location: 1 1/2 hrs.
Dive depths: 35 ft - 130 ft / 10 45m
Currents: anything from 0 up to 3 nuts of current.
Swells: 2- 20 ft / 1- 6m (calm days / rough days).
Most common marine life: Bull Sharks, Mantas, schools of jacks, yellow fin jacks, yellow fin tuna, rain bow runners, cigarret fish, octopus, eagle rays and nice cleaning stations of butter fly fish.
Common descents & ascents : free descents & descents.
Mangos
This is a sea mountain. A wonderful spot for schools of juveniles of King Angel fish. They make quite big cleaning stations and there is a nice variety of marine life that comes here to get clean.
Distance from our location: 30 mimutes
Dive depths: 10 80 ft / 3 27m
Currents: anything from 0 1 nut current
Swells: 2 10ft / 1 3m
Most common marine life: schools of King Angel fish, grunts, southern sting rays, white tip reef sharks, devil rays, j
Common descents & descents : controlled ascents with a line & free ascents.
Palmares
This is an under water rock formation. Wonderful dive site to spot rays! It is home a all kind of rays. There are a couple of sandy channels that are rest areas for white tip reef sharks.
Distance from our location: 20 minutes
Dive depths: 25 - 80ft / 8 27m
Currents: 0 1 nut
Swells: 1 6 ft / 2m
Most common marine life: schools of grunts, devil rays, cow nose rays, southern sting rays, round rays, mantas, white tip reef sharks, rainbow runners, schools of parrot fish etc
Common descents & ascents: controlled descents with a line & free ascents.
Narizones
This is a deep dive. A sea mountain rock formation that is completely covered by yellow floral coral, fantastic!! Also full of marine life, especially schools of fish.
Distance from our location: 15 minutes
Dive depths: 55 120 ft / 15 40m
Currents: 0 2 nuts current.
Swells: 0
Most common marine life: Schools of grunts, snappers, eagle rays, nurse sharks, white tip reef sharks, southern sting rays, spade fish, cleaning stations of rain bow wrasse and Mexican hug fish.
Common descents & ascents: Controlled descents & ascents with a line.
La islita
Fairly shallow dive site! Used mostly by snorkelers. About two thirds of the dive area is covered by a community of branched hard coral (reds, green and oranges are most common colors to see).
Distance from our location: 15 minutes
Dive depths: max of 30 ft / 10m.
Currents: 0
Swells: 2 10 ft / 1 3m
Most common marine life: Schools of grunts, nurse sharks, coral reef, wrasses, parrot fish, lots of puffer fish etc.
Common descents & ascents: free descents or line descents.
Abismo
This is an underwater rock formation, covered mostly by the snow flake coral. It is a great spot for small and big marine life.
Distance from our location: 25 minutes.
Dive depths: 40 120 ft / 13 40m.
Currents: 0 2 nuts
Swells: 0
Most common marine life: snappers, sea horses, southern stingrays, schools of grunts, eagle rays etc.
Common descents & ascents: controlled descents & ascents.
Meros
Shallow dive over an underwater rock formation. This is a great site to see small stuff.
Distance from our location: 10 minutes
Dive depths: 10 45 ft / 3 15 m
Currents: 0 1 nuts
Swells: 0
Most common marine life: big schools of grunts and snappers, nootty branks, jewl eals, panamic green morays, sea urchins, round rays, red eye gobies, blennies, three banded butter fly fish and lots of scorpion fish.
Common descents & ascents: line descents & line ascents.
Guiriguiri
It is a relative shallow dive, known for its unique coral formation
Distance from our location: 25 minutes.
Dive depths: 25 ft / 8m max.
Currents: 0
Swells: 0
Most common marine life: home of southern sting rays, round rays, tons of cardinal fish, scorpion fish, puffers etc.
Common descents & ascents: controlled descents & ascents.
Punta Ballena
The highlight of this site are the cleaning stations of rainbow wrasse. There is a nice variety of marine life that comes here to get clean. It is a great place to see the spade fish and the schools of grunts in their process of cleaning.
Distance from our location: 10 minutes
Dive depths: 25 90 ft / 8 30m.
Currents: 0 2 nuts
Swells: 0 5 ft / 0 1.5m
Most common marine life: Rainbow wrasee, spade fish, grunts, scorpion fish, green panamic morays, southern sting rays, soldier fish, white tips reef sharks, rainbow runners etc.
Common descents & ascents: line descents & line ascents.
Cabeza de Mono
This is also one the most visited dive sites in our local area. Its diversity is incredible: marine life and coral communities along its rock formation makes this dive site very unique.
Distance from our location: 10 minutes
Dive depths: 25 75 ft / 8 25 m
Currents: 0 2 nuts
Swells: 0 10 ft / 0 3m
Most common marine life: schools of; grunts, snappers, parrots, yellow tail surgeons, big eyes jacks, eagle rays, puffers, spade fish. Sea horses, clown shrimp, green panamic eels, jewel eel, snow flake eel and cleaning stations of butterfly fish.
Common descents & ascents: controlled descent and free ascents.
Virador
This is one of the most visited dive sites in our local area. Its diversity is incredible: marine life and coral communities along its rock formation makes this dive site very unique.
Distance from our location: 10 minutes.
Dive depths: 25 80 ft / 8 27m
Currents: 0 2 nuts
Swells: 0 10 ft / 0 3m (calm rough)
Most common marine life: schools of; grunts, snappers, parrots, yellow tail surgeons, big eyes jacks, eagle rays, puffers. Sea horses, clown shrimp, green panamic eels, jewel eel, snow flake eel and cleaning stations of butterfly fish.
Common descents & ascents: descent and free ascents.
Play Pen
Shallow dive site perfect for beginners, full of schools of grunts and rays.
Distance from our location: 10 minutes.
Dive depths: 10 50 ft / 3 16m.
Currents: : 0 1 nut
Swells: 0
Most common marine life: Schools of grunts, eagle rays, round rays, jewels eels, green panamic morays.
Common descents & ascents: Line descents & ascents
Sorpresa
This is an underwater rock formation. The rocks are covered by snow flake coral and yellow floral coral. There is a nice gathering of juvenile Mexican Hug fish, which attracts a nice variety of marine life.
Distance from our location: 10 minutes.
Dive depths: 50 - 110 ft / 18 35m.
Currents: 0 2 n uts.
Swells: 0
Most common marine life: Juvenile Mexican Hug fish, big eye jacks, spade fish, rainbow runners, southern sting rays, white tip reef sharks, schools of grunts and snappers, spotted eagle rays, big panamic moray eals, spotted green eals etc.
Common descents & ascents: Line descents & ascents.
Estudiantes
Shallow dive, full of sea weed and surrounded by soft sand. Home to round rays and lots of scorpion fish.
Distance from our location: 10 minutes
Dive depths: 10 40 ft / 3 13m
Currents: 0
Swells: 0
Most common marine life: Round rays, electric rays, schools of grunts, flagged grouper, wrasses, scorpion fish.
Common descents & ascents: descents & free descents.
Tortuga
Unique dive site, perhaps the only local site with a ship wreck. 45 ft long metal ship used for commercial fishing. Now home to grunts, snappers, frog fish, groupers and eals. There are a few sandy channels surrounded by branched coral (red and oranges), also perfect for macro or small marine.
Distance from our location: 10 minutes
Dive depths: 10 80ft / 3 25m
Currents: 0 2nuts
Swells: 0 6 ft / 0 2m
Most common marine life: grunts, snappers, scorpion fish, white tip reef sharks, puffers, eagle rays, southern sting rays, parrot fish.
Common descents & ascents: ascents & descents.
Argentina
This is a site with a vast variety of things to see. Cleaning stations are the mayor attraction. There is also a nice community of branched coral reef, home of many different small creatures.
Distance from our location: 10 minutes.
Dive depths: 10 90ft / 3 30m
Currents: 0 2 nuts
Swells: 0 6ft / 0 2m
Most common marine life: Sea hourses, eagle rays, schools of grunts, white tip reef sharks, round rays, southern sting rays, trigger fish, puffers, scorpion fish.
Common descents & ascents: Line descents & free descents.
La bolla
A completely inmerge rock formation, no far from shore. Full of snow flake coral. Known for the encounter of rays and scorpion fish.
Distance from our location: 10 minutes.
Dive depths: 45 100ft / 18 33m
Currents: 0 2
Swells: 0
Most common marine life: grunts, snappers, scorpion fish, white tip reef sharks, puffers, eagle rays, southern sting rays, parrot fish.
Common descents & ascents: controlled descents & ascents
Escorpiones
A small rock formation. The name came after the scorpion fish. Shallow all the way with tons of small stuff to see along the rock formation.
Distance from our location: 10 minutes
Dive depths: 45 ft / 15m
and if you want to go deeper get a shovel.
Currents: 0
Most common marine life: scorpion fish, grunts, white tips reef sharks, spade fish, green panamic eels, southern sting rays etc.
Common descents & ascents: Controlled descents and ascents are commonly done.
Punta Gorda
A fantastic place full of marine life. Its shallow waters and coral formations makes of this site a unique place. Talking about diving in a big box of surprises, well, this is one of those dives
Distance from our location: 15 minutes
Dive depths: 10 85ft / 3 28m
Currents: 0 3 nuts
Most common marine life: grunts, pacific chops, scorpions, white tip reef sharks, southern sting rays, round rays, eagle rays, devil rays, sea hourses etc..
Common descents & ascents: controlled descents and descents are done, but once in a while we get to free descents.
Tranquilo
Nice sandy channels. It is a great side to dive when the northen winds are hitting the cost line. It is home to a nice variety of marine life. Often white tips are seeing on the sandy channels.
Distance from our location: 20 minutes
Dive depths: 20 - 80 ft / 7 - 28m.
Currents: 0 1 nut
Most common marine life: scorpion fish, grunts, white tips reef sharks, spade fish, green panamic eels, southern sting rays, nurse sharks, turtles etc.
Common descents & ascents: Controlled descents and free ascents.
Tiburones
Big rocky formation. Its name is after the big number of white tips reef sharks have been seeing here. The rocks are cover by snow flake coral and not only the small live is good here, but also a good place for big encounters.
Distance from our location: 20 minutes
Dive depths: 25 110ft / 8 40m
Currents: 0 2 nuts
Most common marine life: scorpion fish, grunts, white tips reef sharks, spade fish, green panamic eels, southern sting rays, turtles, devil rays etc.
Common descents & ascents: Controlled descents and ascents are commonly done. Some times depending on the current free ascents take place.
Acuario
Sea mountain formed mainly of two big rocks with a sandy channel in between. It is a deep dive and it is great for encounters with southern sting rays, whale sharks have been seeing here.
Distance from our location: 25 minutes
Dive depths: 50 125ft / 16 45m
Currents: 0 2 nuts
Most common marine life: scorpion fish, grunts, white tips reef sharks, spade fish, green panamic eels, southern sting rays.
Common descents & ascents: Because of its depth, controlled descents and ascents are done here.
Arco Iris
Great spot for eagle rays. It is a round rock formation that sticks a few feet/meters out of the water. Big schools of fish are often seeing here intereacting with the cleaning stations of butter fly fish.
Distance from our location: 10 minutes
Dive depths: 45 ft / 15m
and if you want to go deeper get a shovel.
Currents: 0
Most common marine life: eagle rays, buttler fly fish, scorpion fish, grunts, white tips reef sharks, spade fish, green panamic eels, southern sting rays etc.
Common descents & ascents: Free descents and ascents are commonly done.
La Pared
This is a place for magical encounters with mantas and golden rays. As part of the Catalinas Islands , it is one of the main sites to dive for big pelagics encounters.
Experience is required on this site due the big swells and strong currents.
Distance from our location: 45 minutes
Dive depths: 45 - 110 ft / 12 - 35m
Currents: 0 3nuts
Most common marine life: Mantas, Golden rays, white tips reef sharks, scorpion fish, grunts, spade fish, green panamic eels, southern sting rays etc.
Common descents & ascents: Due the strong swells and currents free descents and ascents are commonly done.
La Punta
This is a place for magical encounters with mantas and golden rays. As part of the Catalinas Islands , it is one of the main sites to dive for big pelagics encounters. The cleaning stations of rainbow wrasse and the Mexican hugfish are the main attraction for mantas to come to this site
Experience is required on this site due the big swells and strong currents.
Distance from our location: 45 minutes
Dive depths: 45 - 110 ft / 12 - 35m
Currents: 0 3nuts
Most common marine life: Mantas, Golden rays, white tips reef sharks, scorpion fish, grunts, spade fish, green panamic eels, southern sting rays etc.
Common descents & ascents: Due the strong swells and currents free descents and ascents are commonly done.
La Viuda
This is a unique place for the cleaning stations of King Angels. They gather here like no other place in the whole Gulf of Papagayo . It is also a great place to see tons of marine life.
Experience is required on this site due the big swells and strong currents.
Distance from our location: 45 minutes
Dive depths: 45 - 110 ft / 12 - 35m
Currents: 0 2nuts
Most common marine life: King Angel fish Mantas, Golden rays, white tips reef sharks, scorpion fish, grunts, spade fish, green panamic eels, southern sting rays etc.
Common descents & ascents: Due the strong swells and currents free descents and ascents are commonly done.
Sombrero
This is a site part of the Catalinas Islands . Great for mantas and rays. It is also full of marine life. It particular rock formations makes nice little caves that get visited by white tips sharks, nurse sharks and lots of soldier fish
Experience is required on this site due the big swells and strong currents.
Distance from our location: 45 minutes
Dive depths: 45 - 110 ft / 12 - 35m
Currents: 0 3nuts
Most common marine life: Mantas, Golden rays, white tips reef sharks, scorpion fish, grunts, spade fish, green panamic eels, southern sting rays etc.
Common descents & ascents: Due the strong swells and currents free descents and ascents are commonly done.
CAÑO ISLAND
DIVING INFORMATION
El Bajo Del Diablo (The Depth of the Devil)
The best site by far in the area and one of the best in the entire country. A huge area with many sub sites. Towering rock pinnacles rise from over 150ft to just under 20 ft. the best visibility, overall fish life and the best place to encounter Giant Mantas. An incredible maze of peaks and valleys. Groupers, snappers and amberjack reaching 70lb, swim along side great schools of tuna, barracuda, reef sharks and a large number of different tropical fishes. More than 4 species of eels can be found as well.
Cueva Del Tiburon ( Shark Cave )
A small cave that is home to you guessed it, sharks! Other inhabitants include angels, butterfly, damsels and parrotfish. Moorish idols, puffers, surgeonfish, and occasional mantas and stingrays. A very exciting dive.
Los Arcos (The Arches)
Unique rock formations formed in the shape of arches. Swim through these towering underwater arches and see fish life similar to the Shark Cave due to its close proximity.
El Barco (The Wreck)
No wreck here, only a variety of rock formations with the areas most plentiful hard corals. Fish life profuse and a great dive to encounter white tip reef sharks, stingrays, and an occasional sea turtle.
Paraiso ( Paradise )
Prolific fish life. Excellent site to view white tip reef sharks. Large schools of big groupers, snappers, tuna, and rooter fish can be found here as well as a number of smaller species mentioned earlier.
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