Diving

Divers come to Costa Rica for the incredible variety of tropical marine life and the thrill of swimming with big schools of big fish. Imagine being surrounded by a school of 200 hammerhead shark or 50 manta rays, Docile white-tip, nuerse and bull shark. Many divers have been treated to the sight of a magnificent whale shark, often while diving close to shore.

Most of Costa Rica's dive shops are found on the Pacific side of the country. While the Caribbean coast offers some beautiful reefs that have not been fully explored, water visibility is highly variable.

On the Pacific coast, visibility ranges from 20 to 80 feet, and is usually around 60 feet. Water temperature ranges from 78-86 F from April to November and from 68-74 F from December to March.

Pacific hot spots include Cocos Islands, 300 miles offshore, Catalina and Bat Islands in the Papagayo Gulf of the north Pacific, and Caņo Islands just off the south Pacific coast. Cocos Island, one of the world's top-rated dive boats. A typical Cocos trip lasts about 10 days, with divers living aboard the boat and spending seen full days diving. The protected waters around de islands are home to large schools of hammerhead shark, the principle attraction. All of the fish around Cocos seem to grow bigger and school in larger numbers than anywhere else in the world.

In the Papagayo gulf, divers will find a fine selection of dive sites. In the rocky outcroppings near shore, they'll see an incredible diversity of marine life, including white-tip shark,  shrimp, sawhorses lots of eels, turtles, dolphins, manta rays, and spotted eagle rays.

About two hours off shore, at Bat Islands they'll find bull shark. These island are best visited from April to November, before the famed Papagayo winds star to blow. Closer in, at Catalina Island, divers will see lots of rays, including bat, eagle, enormous manta rays, and school of up to 10,000 cowponies rays.

Caņo Islands, just 10 miles off the southern pacific coast, boasts a beautiful reef and fantastic number of marine species. Expect to see white-tips, mantas, large school of jacks, sea snakes and an occasional whale shark here.

Costa Rica has well-equipped dive shops and dive boats, most offering Nixtrox as well as compressed air, and many of them have reb reathers.

With a fantastic diversity of tropical marine life, lots of big fish. Warm water, excellent visibility, first rate dive outfitters and luxurious accommodations, it's no wonder that Costa Rica is a world leader in dive vacations.