Best Diving in Costa Rica?

[bradStyle]

Hello all,

I'm headed down to Costa Rica this weekend for 2-3 weeks. Looking for some good places to dive from Sep 15-28. I'll have a car and be able to travel. Liveaboards are not an option with this late notice. I hear that the Bat Islands are great, and I'm hoping to give them a try, but I'm open to other great spots.

Thanks very much for the advice!

 

[nippurmagnum]

Isla Del Caño is a nice day trip on the Pacific side. Costa Rica Dive & Surf out of Quepos runs a nice operation to that island. It's about an hour's boat ride to the island. Bajo del Diablo is the best site at Isla Del Caño -- and they will try to get you there if there are interested/competent divers, if you ask. Visibility at that site is 50-75 feet, which is quite high for Costa Rica. You will see a lot of white tip reef sharks and the occasional turtle there. On my first trip there, three humpbacks came within 100 yards of our boat while we were underwater. We couldn't see them but definitely heard them. I think you are still going in humpback season.

 

[nippurmagnum]

By the way, if you go to Quepos for the diving, be sure to go to to the nearby Rancho La Merced for horseback riding. $40 gets you a 2 hour ride that includes a rainforest trail and as much galloping on a gorgeous, deserted beach as you can stand. That was the highlight of BOTH of our trips to CR.

 

[flyboy08]

Flamingo area...pacific side just above Tamarindo.

 

[scubadada]

By the way, if you go to Quepos for the diving, be sure to go to to the nearby Rancho La Merced for horseback riding. $40 gets you a 2 hour ride that includes a rainforest trail and as much galloping on a gorgeous, deserted beach as you can stand. That was the highlight of BOTH of our trips to CR.

If you like riding horses, some of us have no interest

 

[JamesBon92007]

Flamingo area...pacific side just above Tamarindo.

Where's the Flamingo area? I can find Tamarindo on a map...

Where do you stay and who do you dive with?

 

[flyboy08]

Where's the Flamingo area? I can find Tamarindo on a map...

Where do you stay and who do you dive with?

We stayed at Bahia Del sol...

We dove with Pacific Coast Divers.

Flamingo is about 1/2 drive north of Tamarindo.

 

[justwannadivenow3]

what is the best time of year to dive CR?

 

[Norwegian Cave Diver]

Following...
Do you recommend January or February diving there?

 

[Snoweman]

+1 for Camo Island. The thermoclines can be breathtaking, though.