New diver to Costa Rica

[Diver Danf]

I will be traveling to Costa Rica in Feb. Staying and diving with Ocatal Resort. Will be diving local with one trip to Catalina. Any suggestions or feedback out there?

 

[drbill]

Haven't been there yet, but would definitely be interested in seeing a dive report on Santa Catalina Island down there. It is a minor life goal of mine to dive every Santa Catalina Island on the globe!

 

[Diver Danf]

I'll be sure to post when I return.

 

[Scuba-QC]

Maybe this can help you...

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=94683

Just ask if you need more answers...

Have a great trip!

 

[TeqP]

Scuba-QC - nice trip report! I may be going to Costa Rica in 2006 around the same dates you were there this year. Can you give some prices for the hotel and dive trips? How many days did the 11 dives occur in?

Thanks for the info.

 

[Scuba-QC]

Scuba-QC - nice trip report! I may be going to Costa Rica in 2006 around the same dates you were there this year. Can you give some prices for the hotel and dive trips? How many days did the 11 dives occur in?

Thanks for the info.

Hi TeqP!

I bought a last minute flight-hotel package which cost me $980CAN. For the diving, as far as I can remember, it was around $55(2 tanks)/day for a 5 days package of local diving in Papagayo Bay. Then you would pay the difference for trips to Bat or Catalina Islands.

Resort Divers are located at Fiesta Premier resort, a very nice resort. That would be the hotel I would choose if I had to return. It's more expensive than the Giardini but worth the price. Nice beach, nice pool, very clean and well maintained resort.

My advice for diving: If you go there for diving, according to what's been told to me, the best time to go is in Dec and Jan. That's when big schools of rays, mantas and whale-shark comes to feed. I was there in April and Catalina was pretty much like local diving...just saw a few golden cow nose rays. On the otherside Bat Island is less approchable by boat during those months...Resort Divers will watch the weather and might bring you there. Bat Island's dives are deep and the ride is almost 2-3h...a 3 tanks dive on nitrox would be your best bet.

Beside diving, Shopping is always fun to do. Don't go on a tourist ride to Liberia, you'll be wasting your time..go instead to El Coco ($30 round-trip by taxi). There you'll find stores, restaurants, a very nice beach where Costaricans come to practice surfing.

A volcano that I heard worth the trip is Rincon de la Vieja. I had to cancel this one to go to Bat Island. Their are a lot of organised trips available from your hotel.

Don't forget your 5mm wetsuit+hood and some DEET for those mosquitos..

Have a great trip and just ask if you need more info !