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Costa Rica Diving
and Scuba
Costa Rica is definitely becoming a world-class scuba diving
destination, as 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.
Diving Tours to Caño Island
If you have read about scuba diving in Costa Rica you know that Isla
del Coco is one of the premier diving destinations in the world. If
money is no object you can have a wild and wonderful dive trip for
about $4,000.00. For the rest of us we can have a great time diving
Caño Island for a lot less money!
Did you know you can see many of the same species at Caño Island?
You will encounter both pelagic (open ocean) and reef fish. If you
like to see large schools of jacks and barracudas, sting rays and
manta rays, and if you like sharks, you will enjoy your dives here.
Dive sites range from 10 meters (30 feet) to 40 meters (120 feet),
and current ranges from mild to fairly strong
If you have to pick only one area, going to Isla del Caño would
probably be your most varied experience. 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.
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