The Most Beautiful Dive Sites in Costa Rica
What to See and Where to Go on a Costa Rica Diving Vacation
Nov 13, 2009
Brilliantly colored corals, lazy sharks and giant turtles are just a few of the wonders to be experienced in the waters off of Costa Rica. However, this small country has a lot of coastline so it helps to know where the best dive sites in Costa Rica are before hopping in the water. Flanked by the Caribbean to the East and the Pacific Ocean to the West there are plenty of options for a Scuba diver to explore. Consider these dive sites when planning a Costa Rica diving vacation.
Experience the Best Dive Sites of Caño Island
Perhaps one of the most talked about dive sites in Costa Rica is Caño Island just 12 miles west of Drake Bay on the country’s Southwest coast. In the heart of a biological reserve the main attraction around this island are the large pelagic species swimming about. These include white tip reef sharks, bull sharks, over five species of dolphin, various rays, and turtles according to the dive operators Costa Rica Adventure Divers. Corals are also common although less abundant than in the Caribbean.
The island is surrounded by six dive sites with interesting rock formations creating stone pinnacles rising from the sea bed. The average dive depth is about 15-20 meters. The best dives occur from February to June.
Take a Scuba Diving Vacation to Gunacaste
Guanacaste province on the Northwest coast of Costa Rica is a launching pad to a few of Costa Rica’s best diving sites – the Catalina Islands and the Bat Islands. The town of Tamarindo on the mainland is only about 25 minutes from the Catalina Islands, an archipelago of about 20 rocks. The islands are well known for its sharks, sea turtles, and large schools of manta rays. The currents here can sometimes be strong, so the dives are generally recommended for more advanced divers. According to the tour operators Tierra Verde the best time to see schools of mantas are from December through May.
Meanwhile, the best time to dive the Bat Islands or Islas Murcielagos, is from March through November. Look for large bull sharks and eagle rays as well as plenty of corals. Caverns and bridges dot these dive sites which are slightly north of the Catalina Islands.
The Best Costa Rica Dive Sites in the Caribbean
Most Scuba divers spend the bulk of their Costa Rica dive time in the Pacific, however the reefs of the Caribbean should not be ignored. On the Southeast coast lies Cahuita National Park, just south of Cahuita town and about 43 kilometers south of Limón according to the Costa Rica Tourism and Travel Bureau website. The dive sites within the park are rich in coral gardens surrounded by multitudes of tropical reef fish. Look for brain corals, sea fans, angelfish, barracudas, and stingrays. Also look for the cannons on the sunken 18th century slave ship north of the river Perezoso.
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