Costa Rica or Honduras (Utila/Roatan)

[digdug87]

There were no no-see-ums at Clark's Cay.

 

[scubacoiba]

I’m casually planning a possible dive trip to either Costa Rica or Honduras for approximately 10 days. I don’t have a ton of dives under my belt but have some good experience especially with large shark dives (tiger beach, South Africa shark diving/great white cage diving) and some drift and cave diving in Cozumel and PDC. Plan to get advanced open water as well I think prior to this trip especially if needed.

I’ve been to Tamarindo for one of my first dives that had me fall in love I believe it was in Catalina Isles. I really love seeing an abundance of wildlife especially large animals. But also a passion for really colorful coral/wildlife. I also am looking to do some above water activities (my last trip to Costa Rica I did not get to experience the jungle much). I’m leaning towards Costa Rica just bc I loved it there but would love to hear the arguments for Utila/Roatan since I’ve never been.

Budget isn’t must of a problem but would rather keep it budget friendly but not having to nickel and dime either.

Also swimming with whale sharks and seeing large manta rays are one of my bucket list items. I know both can be seen in either location just don’t know where my Better chances would be. I plan to go anywhere between April-August depending on the best time it would be for what I’m looking to experience.

I just remember that first dive in Catalina isles seeing all the colorful fish, Manya rays (saw 1 lol) and coral like I’m diving i. an aquarium. I’ve done many dives after, all amazing in their own right but nothing was better visually than my dive in Costa Rica

Also are there bull sharks or other shark species in Costa Rica to dive with without a live aboard ship to Coco island?

I’m open to other suggestions in the Caribbean or elsewhere as well. I’m traveling from NY and the Caribbean seems to be the cheapest flights to get to but again open to any suggestions to “scratch my itch” thanks in advance everyone!

Hi, I know....Panama is not very well known for diving, but Coiba National Park is one of the pillars of The Troprical Eastern Pacific Corridor "The Shark Triangle" (Galapagos, Cocos, Malpelo, Gorgona) AND it is budget friendlt as you do not need live-a-board safaris. You can reach it from land, from the beach/surf village Santa Catalina in day trips. Santa Catalina has a variety of hotels and other activities than diving. If you want to dive several days to explore more remote sites you can join one of our Multi Day trips, staying a stone throw from the park. Whitetip reef sharks and turtles, as well as huge schools of silvery fish (jacks, barracudas, snappers, spade fish....) will be with you most of the dives. Bull sharks are frequent, hammerheads, whalesharks, mantas, pelagic stingrays, devil rays, humpback whales....a lot to check off your bucket list at certain times of the year.