Costa Rica is known for its incredible bio-diversity and array of natural wildlife, which can be seen in their native habitats.

The oceans too are home to an incredible diversity of coral, rock formations and sea creatures for those willing to explore the oceans’ deep-sea treasures. Diving in Costa Rica is an exhilarating experience as the country has access to both the Pacific and Caribbean oceans, and each coast beckons divers for an underwater exploration of the incredible world below the surface.

 

Caño Island Biological Reserve is an uninhabited three-hundred-acre island located thirteen miles off the coast of Drake Bay in the Osa Peninsula. It is a protected area well known for its coral-colored beaches and popular among divers as one of the best mainland dive spots. Visibility is usually between thirty to one hundred feet offering visitors views of whitetip and bull sharks, spotted dolphins, Orcas, Turtles, manta rays and humpback and pilot whales.

There are six dive sites around the island; Bajo del Diablo, Paraiso, Shark Cave, Shipwreck, Coral Gardens and Arches.

Bajo del Diablo is between 20 to 80 feet and looks like an underwater mountain range. Shark Cave is home to several white tip sharks that feed at the mouth of the cave. Entry into the cave is expressly forbidden but they can be spotted at the entrance. Paraiso is a sixty-five to seventy foot dive that is home to thousands of blue and gold snapper, which live in the volcanic lava formations below. It is home to barracuda that swim in large groups too. Coral Gardens is made up of fifteen to forty feet of rock formations that attract tropical fish such as parrot fish, butterfly fish, porcupine fish and the occasional octopus.

Getting there from San Jose to Sierpe is a 4 ½ hours and 280 kilometers on Route 34 to Route 223 to Sierpe.

From Liberia to San Jose to Sierpe is a 5 ½ hours, 367 kilometers On Route 1 and Carr Pacifica Fernandez/Oreamuno/Costanera Sur/ to Route 34 to Route 223 to Sierpe.

Once in Sierpe you can park your car in a secure lot near the dock and take one of the taxi boats into Drake Bay.

In Guanacaste, both Bat Islands and Catalina Islands are must-see destinations. Catalina Islands is a popular diving destination only twenty minutes’ drive from Tamarindo. Marine life inhabits the arches, caves and corals in the area. At this Pacific Coast destination, twenty miles south of Playa del Coco sea turtles, octopus, eagle rays, moray eels, seahorses, whitetip reef sharks are often spotted. The warm year-round temperatures and the Giant Manta Rays which flock to the area between January and March are a big draw.

Dives here are between forty and one hundred and thirty feet and are best for experienced divers as the dives are non-anchored. The diver must be able to make a fast descent and reach a safety spot without a line. There are occasional strong currents, and visibility ranges between fifteen to eighty feet.

Bat Islands, near the Santa Elena Peninsula are 2 ½ hours from Tamarindo. Strong currents can be present, so this site is for advanced divers only. The beautiful rock formations are home to bull sharks which can be up to twelve feet long. Dives are typically between sixty and one hundred and thirty feet with visibility between eighteen and one hundred feet.

From Liberia Airport to Tamarindo take Route 21, then Route 155 for the 1 ½ hour, 70km drive.

From San Jose to Tamarindo.The journey takes 4 ½ to 5 hours and is 259 kilometers. Begin on Route 27, and take Route 1 north until the turning for Route 18. Take Route 21 then Route 152 to Tamarindo.

On the Caribbean Coast, Gandoca Manzanillo offers a dive that beginners can enjoy. The reserve is just south of Puerto Viejo and close to the Panamanian border. Sea turtles nest here and crocodiles, manatees, tarpons, dolphin might also be seen by the lucky diver.

The reserve offers a protected barrier reef where colorful tropical creatures anemones, sea urchins, manta rays, angel queen and blue parrot fish, sea fans, and sponges as well as lobsters, sea cucumbers, and nurse sharks may be observed. Dives are between two to four hours for PADI certified divers.

The largest coral reef in Costa Rica is in Cahuita National Park, which protects over 22, 400 hectares of marine life, including 123 species of fish, 140 species of mollusks, and 35 species of coral. Also to be discovered in this underwater world are sea urchins, angel queen fish, blue parrot fish, eels, barracudas, sea cucumbers, shrimps, lobsters, sponges, manta rays and remoras. Green and Carey turtles can be spotted as well as three species of sharks.

Cahuita National Park has two shipwrecks in its waters to explore. In 1710, two Danish ships Christianus Quintus and Fredericus Quartus sank off the coast, after their crew and slaves mutinied.

Getting there from San Jose: Follow Route 32 for the 4 to 5 hour drive.

Getting there from Liberia: Follow route 1 to San Jose and Route 32 to Limon/Cahuita/Puerto Viejo for the 7hour drive.