I just returned from Playa Ocotal in Costa Rica. This was a unique experience that you have to see to believe. The visibility was between 50 and 80 feet but the wildlife was awesome.
On a trip to the Catalina Islands we went to Catalina Point. The first two minutes were the only ones that there weren't Manta Rays visible. The next dive at The Wall was just as spectacular, Manta Rays everywhere. The biggest was close to 20 ft across. There were also large turtles, white tip sharks, sea horses, Moray and Spotted eels, rock fish, large jelly fish, large starfish and schools of rainbow fish and others in the thousands.
The local dives were also excellent. The visibility was a little worse but the wildlife was still incredible. Lots of sea horses, white tips, rock fish, starfish, rock and corals etc.
The water temps were in the 80s with a thermalcline around 45-50 feet.
The dive operator Rich Coast Diving has great people working there, however bring your own equipment as the rental equipment is well used. My rented BC sprung a hole on one of my local dives and a dive master had to come up with me to keep me afloat and get back to the boat. Other dive operators in the area are El Ocotal, Deep Blue Diving, Bill Beards Diving Safaris and Resort Divers.
If you are going to the Playa Del Coco area I would reccomend staying at Villa Casa Blanca at Ocotal. The view and the staff are awesome. Unless you just want a cheap place to stay I wouldn't reccomend Coco. It is a little dirty and theft can be a problem.
I stayed for a week and I can't wait to get back.
On a trip to the Catalina Islands we went to Catalina Point. The first two minutes were the only ones that there weren't Manta Rays visible. The next dive at The Wall was just as spectacular, Manta Rays everywhere. The biggest was close to 20 ft across. There were also large turtles, white tip sharks, sea horses, Moray and Spotted eels, rock fish, large jelly fish, large starfish and schools of rainbow fish and others in the thousands.
The local dives were also excellent. The visibility was a little worse but the wildlife was still incredible. Lots of sea horses, white tips, rock fish, starfish, rock and corals etc.
The water temps were in the 80s with a thermalcline around 45-50 feet.
The dive operator Rich Coast Diving has great people working there, however bring your own equipment as the rental equipment is well used. My rented BC sprung a hole on one of my local dives and a dive master had to come up with me to keep me afloat and get back to the boat. Other dive operators in the area are El Ocotal, Deep Blue Diving, Bill Beards Diving Safaris and Resort Divers.
If you are going to the Playa Del Coco area I would reccomend staying at Villa Casa Blanca at Ocotal. The view and the staff are awesome. Unless you just want a cheap place to stay I wouldn't reccomend Coco. It is a little dirty and theft can be a problem.
I stayed for a week and I can't wait to get back.
