Diving in Costa Rica--Please Help!

[mark_n_marci]

We just booked our trip to Costa Rica for the end of March. I know Costa Rica isn't known for fantastic diving but we want to do at least one decent dive while we are there. Can anyone suggest dive sites and operators that will be near the places we are staying?
Day 1-2 Arenal--obviously we won't be diving in the volcano!
Day 3-6 Samara (I know there are dive sites north of here but I don't know how far they are)
Day 7-9 Manuel Antonio (again I have seen that there is diving by Drakes Bay but I don't know how far it is)

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Marci

 

[jerryn]

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The dive sites to the North are not too far. Call the operators in Ocotel and other nearby towns and ask if they will pick you up. Manuel Antonio to Drakes Bay is actually quite far due to the roads (or lack thereof). But there is an operator who picks people up in the mid coast called Cabo Blanca and they will take you across to sites at the end of the Nicoya peninsula. The diving is okay, but not great. Expect moderate vis and some nice reef life. The two really good spots, Drakes Bay and the Cocos are too far for what you are doing.

Jerry