Hi Sue-ba lips --
I was in Costa Rica last May on a combo-dive eco-tour package. I really liked it because their were lots of fun things to do underwater and top-side. We spent a day at Arenal Volcano, which was spewing lots of steam while we were there. The Tabacon Hot Springs were spectacularly relaxing, and that was a very nice resort. We also went white water rafting, and did a jungle tour complete with rain forest canopy tour. It was a thrill to zip through the trees at about 100' off the ground, and they had a great waterslide!
For diving, we stayed at El Ocotal resort, which has average rooms but a spectacular view from the top of the hill (although if you stay there and you don't like steep ascents, you may prefer the accomodations at the bottom - the hotel has a shuttle which will drive you up to the top, and although, being fairly young and in shape, I initially scoffed at the idea, after walking it once, I was more than willing to wait a couple of minutes for the shuttle!) They have a restaurant that is not bad and which is inhanced by the great view of the bay.
I enjoyed the diving alot but the viz is not as good as the Caribbean, the water is colder and conditions are a little bit more challenging. I tend to run warm and dove with a skin the whole time, but on the last dive, I could have done with more protection and everyone else on the boat had at least 3mm, and most had 5mm. It was red tide when I was there, and there were quite a few dead puffer fish, but we managed to avoid the tide most of the time. Lots of big things to see, including a wide variety of morays that were the biggest I've ever seen. Lots of rays, too, and a few sharks.
Playa del Coco had some interesting small restaurants, including the Tequila Bar for great Mexican (and the owner took us with him to a local place for karoke after closing)! Father Rooster's on the beach at Ocotal was very good too.
Costa Rica is a great place for divers and non-divers alike, and I especially enjoyed the wild howler monkeys in the trees! Hope this helps, and have fun!
I was in Costa Rica last May on a combo-dive eco-tour package. I really liked it because their were lots of fun things to do underwater and top-side. We spent a day at Arenal Volcano, which was spewing lots of steam while we were there. The Tabacon Hot Springs were spectacularly relaxing, and that was a very nice resort. We also went white water rafting, and did a jungle tour complete with rain forest canopy tour. It was a thrill to zip through the trees at about 100' off the ground, and they had a great waterslide!
For diving, we stayed at El Ocotal resort, which has average rooms but a spectacular view from the top of the hill (although if you stay there and you don't like steep ascents, you may prefer the accomodations at the bottom - the hotel has a shuttle which will drive you up to the top, and although, being fairly young and in shape, I initially scoffed at the idea, after walking it once, I was more than willing to wait a couple of minutes for the shuttle!) They have a restaurant that is not bad and which is inhanced by the great view of the bay.
I enjoyed the diving alot but the viz is not as good as the Caribbean, the water is colder and conditions are a little bit more challenging. I tend to run warm and dove with a skin the whole time, but on the last dive, I could have done with more protection and everyone else on the boat had at least 3mm, and most had 5mm. It was red tide when I was there, and there were quite a few dead puffer fish, but we managed to avoid the tide most of the time. Lots of big things to see, including a wide variety of morays that were the biggest I've ever seen. Lots of rays, too, and a few sharks.
Playa del Coco had some interesting small restaurants, including the Tequila Bar for great Mexican (and the owner took us with him to a local place for karoke after closing)! Father Rooster's on the beach at Ocotal was very good too.
Costa Rica is a great place for divers and non-divers alike, and I especially enjoyed the wild howler monkeys in the trees! Hope this helps, and have fun!
