 Diving Partners
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Diving Costa RicaCosta Rican water temperature ranges from 21 to 29 oC (70 to 85 oF); a 2-3 mm (1/8") wetsuit is may be sufficient for the hardy but at least a 5 mm is needed in the cooler temperatures for thinner divers. The dry season runs from November to May but can be very windy. From June to November is the rainy season when hammerhead sharks are more frequent but the vis is often poor. May is a good time to go as it shouldn't be too windy or wet. Costa Rica sits between the Pacific and the Caribbean. The best diving is on the Pacific coast, particularly in the Northwest. Cocos Island, 300 miles off the mainland, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is world class diving destination, featuring in our top 100 dives list. Diving • Dive Operators • Accommodation • Books to Take • Your Comments
The DivingCatalina Islands Dive Sites • Cocos Islands Dive Sites • Gulf of Papagayo Dive Sites • Santa Elena Peninsula Dive Sites • Cano Island Dive Sites
The Catalina Islands are often visited because they are only 19 nautical mile/ 25 minutes from Tamarindo. It is very common to see white tip sharks, giant mantas, manta rays, fish such as buffoon, giant grouper, morays, and a great variety of many other species of different sizes and colours. It is best to descend to a depth of 18 m to encounter more species. At this depth the visibility is also better (horizontal visibility is approximately between 5 and 35 m). There are 6 dive sites regularly dived here.
"Lots of fish, not too deep, current was moderate, visibility fairly good, about 20-30 ft. Awesome for beginners but experienced divers will enjoy the multitude of sea life."
"More dramatic, with a drop straight dow 60 ft alongside a huge rock. Giant reefs and loads of fish. Good visibility."
This is a place recommended by locals. You may observe fish typical to the North Pacific and the most special part of Cabo Velas is the reef that looks like a garden under the water.
Located in Santa Elena Peninsula, two and a half hours from Tamarindo. This point offers the largest variety of species and a major attraction are the Bull Sharks. The depth fluctuates between 9 and 28 m. Besides marine life, these islands offer beautiful rock formations. The islands also offer a refuge of parks where you may camp overnight.
There are over 40 dive sites in the Gulf Of Papagayo. Some of the more popular ones are Aqarium, Surprise, Virador, Monkey Head, Punta Gorda, Baja Tiburones for normal diving and Los Meros and Escorpiones for shallow dives. All are volcanic rock formations with lots of marine life such as spotted eagle rays, whitetip sharks, schooling fish, mobule and cow nosed rays, frog fish and sea horses.
The Cocos Islands are reached by a 10 day liveaboard trip. All of the islands have large schools of fish, rays and sharks.
"Hundreds and hundreds of white tip sharks swarming in crystal clear ebony coloured water weaving gracefully through the nooks and crannies of the coral below searching for a meal. Little fish hiding behind rocks and even divers, hoping not to be spied. Then - CRACK!!!! - a shark finds a morsel and send the hundreds of other shark into a frenzy of movement. Thirty seconds later, the slow graceful ballet of movement resumes as if nothing had happened. What a rush!! "
Great pelagic dive site. Biggest school of rays i have ever seen....Hundreds. "Huge schools of jacks, schooling hammerheads (up to 100 per
school). Galapagos Sharks, turtles..... WOW" "Dirty Rock is unbelieveable - we dove it 5 times on our liveaboard trip, and not once did it disappoint - schooling hammerheads, silkies, eagle rays, swarming white tips, and even a friendly dolphin. Definitely a top 20 dive, not a top 50."
"Hammerheads, lots of them and very close up."
"I just came back from Costa Rica and dived in the Cano Island near Drake bay, on the South Pacific coast. It was very interesting, lots of Sting-ray, white-tip-reef shark, etc. " Dive OperatorsRecommend a dive operator or list your diving company on this page.
Hotel Los Almendros de Ocotal
Puerto Viejo
Located on the Pacific Ocean at Playa Hermosa, a large beach on a paved road with trams to take you around the hotel, resort and villas. Offer packages for individuals, families and groups with special programs for children, mature travellers, honeymoon couples and non-divers. Privately escorted tours to volcanoes, hot springs, river rafting, tree top canopy, jungles, rain forests, horseback riding, wildlife refuges and national parks. Any of their scuba diving packages and land tours may be combined. Organise accommodation as well as diving. Playa Hermosa
Two miles from Playas del Coco. "I dived Playa del Coco in August. Terrible visibility, terrible service by local diving operations - lack of professionalism and causing anxiety. Great service at the dive centre in Ocotal."
"Do not come in rainy season. It has rained my whole vacation with only a few hours of sunlight until the rain storms commence. The operators at Ocotal beach resort were nice but didn't even want us to get into the water because of low vis., high current and they were not very enthusiastic about anything. In my opinon go during March-May that is when the locals say everything is nice. Costa Rica is really beautiful but plase don't be me and go during the rainy season.
" "Excellent, maybe the best service I have ever received! and lots to see!"
Deep Blue Diving Adventures "Deep Blue Diving Adventures are a Padi Gold Palm Resort. We’ll be happy to dive with you and to make all arrangements for you.
Rich Coast Diving " We are a PADI 5* IDC Centre with a staff of 12 divers and several boats including a specially outfitted trimaran.
Complete dive center, including a dive shop and offer all PADI Certificates. Located in the province of Puntarenas, Central Pacific. PO Box 242-6350
700 metros del cruce al Oueste
Centro Comercial Diria "Not certified? No problem, our staff of Padi and SSI dive professionals are committed to quality dive instruction & services. If you do not want to take the full certification we will train you the day before the scuba tour; you will watch some videos and practice in the pool with an Instructor."
Quepos "We are PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Resort offering a wide range of courses and a wide range of dives local to Quepos, offshore trips and to nearby Cano Island."
Costa Rica Adventure Divers "The diver centre of Jinetes de Osa were very helpful. Cost $130 for 2 dives, Cano island-1 hour boat ride and good lunch. Very helpful staff, they get all your gear ready for you!!!! A treat!"
Play Flamingo "Andrea was our dive master from the Aqua Center at the Playa Flamingo Resort. He was very nice and professional. I felt very comfortable during our 2-tank dive. We have gone with them for two years now. They also offer refresher courses and snorkeling trips, and offer dive sites for all levels of experience. Highly reccomended. "Beware the boat staff! I had about 40,000 colones taken from my wallet while diving. I was daft for taking all my cash, but I had just been to the bank, and you expect to not get robbed on a dive boat.
Costa Rica Outward Bound do 10 trips a year that involve diving, all of which students aged 18-24 years get college credits back in the US and Canada.
CRROBS
PADI Dive Operator.
Tel: (+506) 670-0308 Accommodation
Hotel & Villas Cala Luna A luxury hotel in Guanacaste, located in waters renowned for diving. E-mail: reservations@calaluna.com Bahia De los Delfines, Playa Tambor, Costa Rica Resort that offers diving. E-mail: info@bahiadelfines.com Our thanks to Bill Beard and Hotel & Villas Cala Luna for their contributions to this page. Books to Take
Your CommentsPlease send us your comments on Costa Rica. Do you want to recommend a diving centre or dive site? Let us know. Have a question - try our Diving Board. |
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