I just arrived from costa rica (ocotal in guanacaste). Nice country, nce people but diving...so so!!!
It was probably my fault, as I had the expectation too high.
The purpose was to see big animals. I saw some sharks (white tip, mostly) and some rays its true, but no mantas and whale sharks.
The general quality of the dives was relatively poor.
First, visibility is terrible. From 2 metres to max 10 metres, but most of the time was 3-5 metres, with a really green water. it's not fantastic.
Secondly the relitively poor abundance of life. I did not see a great deal of life on the reefs, as I was expecting.
Thirdly, the surge in Catalina and Bat Islands are really anoying and not comfortable at all. Diving these places is, in fact, very phisical.
These famous Catalina and Bat Islands were also a disapointment. In Catalina, I didn't see nothing special. In Bat Islands we did twice the "great scare" dive, just to see for 3 seconds a furtive look to two or three bull sharks.
Local dives were by far the best (argentina point and virador).
Beside that, the diving center is good with good professionals. Dive masters are competent and the Ocotal Resort is correct. Nothing to say from that part.
With the dollar so cheap, is actually very good priced for us Europeans, and I got a very good deal from Europe, for seven days and 10 dives package.
It is too far away from europe, and when compared with a destination like the red sea that is only 4 hrs distance from Paris, where diving is 1000 times better, I think I did the wrong choice.
Anyway, the people is friendly and the country and the region has some very nice places to visit.
If it's just for the diving, I will definetively not be coming back
It was probably my fault, as I had the expectation too high.
The purpose was to see big animals. I saw some sharks (white tip, mostly) and some rays its true, but no mantas and whale sharks.
The general quality of the dives was relatively poor.
First, visibility is terrible. From 2 metres to max 10 metres, but most of the time was 3-5 metres, with a really green water. it's not fantastic.
Secondly the relitively poor abundance of life. I did not see a great deal of life on the reefs, as I was expecting.
Thirdly, the surge in Catalina and Bat Islands are really anoying and not comfortable at all. Diving these places is, in fact, very phisical.
These famous Catalina and Bat Islands were also a disapointment. In Catalina, I didn't see nothing special. In Bat Islands we did twice the "great scare" dive, just to see for 3 seconds a furtive look to two or three bull sharks.
Local dives were by far the best (argentina point and virador).
Beside that, the diving center is good with good professionals. Dive masters are competent and the Ocotal Resort is correct. Nothing to say from that part.
With the dollar so cheap, is actually very good priced for us Europeans, and I got a very good deal from Europe, for seven days and 10 dives package.
It is too far away from europe, and when compared with a destination like the red sea that is only 4 hrs distance from Paris, where diving is 1000 times better, I think I did the wrong choice.
Anyway, the people is friendly and the country and the region has some very nice places to visit.
If it's just for the diving, I will definetively not be coming back
