Diving in Costa Rica!
SCUBA Diving on the Pacific Ocean Side
Skin Diving in the Carabbean / Atlantic

SCUBA DIVING IN COSTA RICA

Is Costa Rica becoming a world-class scuba diving destination? One notable master diver, Jacques Cousteau, said that Coco Island, which is far offshore, offered the best diving in the world! Little discovered, and still uncrowded, SCUBA divers travel here from all parts of the world to see thousands of hammerhead sharks and enormous schools of innumerable fish in our tropical, plankton rich water.

Just as terrestrial Costa Rica is home to an incredibly wide diversity of animal and plant species, the waters offshore also teem with marine life. You can dive in calm transparent waters on the Caribbean coast or opt for the wilder and more spectacular Pacific side. Whatever option you choose you will encounter a lot more fish and a lot fewer divers than you are accustomed to in most Caribbean tourist destinations.

Most good diving is on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. The Caribbean reefs were decimated some years ago due to pesticide runoff from the banana plantations although the last two or three years have seen a definite return of life to the region. Dive operations are not very sophisticated but if you happen to be on that side of the country a day of diving can be fun. The best months are in September-November.

There are three main areas for diving on the Pacific Ocean side. The first area is Isla del Caño, located on the Osa Peninsula in southern Costa Rica. The other two lie in the northern province of Guanacaste.

If you have to pick only one area, going to Isla del Caño would probably be your most varied experinece. This area is more private and isolated, and the island is located only about 12 miles offshore and the short trip quite worth it! You can see both Pacific reef and pelagic (open ocean) species. The island generally has good visibility year round, and you will encounter extensive marine life. Many large schools move in and out and you are guaranteed to see sharks and other large animals. Even the trip to the island is exciting, as you often see dolphins and migrating whales. Click for more diving information at Cano Island, equipment, tours and PADI resort accommodations.


In the Northern Pacific region, check out the experienced professionals at the Ocotal PADI Diving Resort and you'll see massive schools of fish, giant mantas, sea turtles, rays, jack's, whale sharks, dolphins, bull sharks, and white tip sharks! Dive off the Bat and Murcielago Islands in the / Guanacaste / Papagayo Region. They have their own comfortable dive boats






and offer many dive packages, courses and PADI certification. They have their own resort hotel and you will be just steps away from the dive shop.



The Catalina and Murcielago Islands are located near Flamingo beach, a popular sportfishing area. Click here for scuba diving information in the Flamingo Beach area. You can see large mantas and bull sharks and when conditions are good, the diving is truly wonderful. Winds and visibility can be a problem in January-March, which is also when diving is at its best in Costa Rica.

ISLA DEL COCO National Park, made famous by "Jurassic Park" was granted World Heritage status for the abundance sea life and marine animals that surrounds this pristine dive spot. The island itself has waterfalls, rich flora, fauna and verdant forest, and it may be, weather permitting, that you can go ashore. Diving at Cocos Islands, about 300 miles offshore, mentioned by master diver Jacques Cousteau, is accessable by the Undersea Hunter and the Sea Hunter- the two leading providers of luxury live-aboard scuba diving to the Cocos Island.

Costa Rica - not just parrots and monkeys, but now,
some of the richest SCUBA diving in the world. Enjoy!