Scuba Diving in Costa Rica?

[ErnestC]

I am planning to go diving this year and one of the places I am potentially interested in is Costa Rica. I have read what is available on the forum (probably not everything) however, I have a question that maybe someone can answer.

I would like to dive on some good spot where you can see some animals and the visibility will not be very bad. But I'm also thinking of doing an advanced course while I'm in Costa Rica. Do you have any advice on a dive site, dive school or instructor?

 

[turtlegurl]

Did my rescue certification with Rocket Frog in Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. I was impressed with them as a whole and our dive sights had sharks, large schools of fish, lots of turtles--all in all really nice dives.

 

[davecampbell]

I'm in Costa Rica right now, diving with Rocket Frog. We've done the Catalinas, and Bat Island, and had what was probably my best dive day ever, including dozens of Bull sharks, a pod of dolphins, 3 humpback whales 10' from us, and a bunch of jumping rays. With that said, the visibility is NOT great. Think like 20-30 feet... and the currents have been pretty strong.

 

[Pedroo]

Hello Ernest,

In Costa Rica you actually have 3 dive sites that can compete to be the best. (Excluding Isla del Coco as it is a different cost and organization).

1. Isla del Caño

2. Islas Santa Catalina
3. Islas Murciélagos - Bat Islands

Starting from behind - The Bat Islands and Catalina are very interesting locations where, as previous commenters have mentioned, you can meet bull sharks, which is a cool attraction in itself. Unfortunately, conditions can be problematic, which are usually considered quite challenging - not the best visibility and a moderate to strong current. Especially during the rainy season.

Isla del Cano, on the other hand, is considered Isla del Coco's smaller sister. Conditions, of course, are also variable, but due to its remoteness from the mainland, rainfall and numerous rivers on the mainland do not significantly affect conditions around the island. However, what you need to know, Isla del Cano is a biological reserve where the daily number of tourists (including divers) is strictly limited. Diving is allowed only when accompanied by a licensed guide, and the number of dive points is limited due to island conservation.

Dive training location
As for your training, Isla del Cano would probably be the best choice for several reasons. First, conditions are usually favorable, even during the rainy season. Various dive sites with different characteristics are offered at the island, which will be helpful for your dives on the advanced course. Navigation, deep, search and recovery, etc. - there are cool dive sites for all this.

You can get to the island actually from three places - Uvita, Sierpe, Drake. And here Uvita has the best location and is well connected to the capital or other parts of the country. Getting to Sierpe requires passing through Uvita and an additional hour of travel. Drake is even more remote and requires getting to Sierpe and then by boat to Drake Bay. Alternatively by land if you have a 4x4 vehicle.

A larger study of diving in Costa Rica can be found here: Scuba Diving in Costa Rica | The Best Places for Divers

Dive schools
As for dive schools, there are more than a dozen in the area, but most focus on serving certified divers, and if I were looking for training I would choose those with 5-star status, because that means they have experience in training. It's also always a good idea to ask at the dive center who your instructor will be and take a look at their training experience.

---
I should also add that I may be considered biased because I personally work not only in the diving industry but also in this very area, but let me add here some photos from our Instagram (@costaricadivers) and from Isla del Cano:



If you have any questions I will try to help. Pura Vida​

 

[jonnierowe]

Im going to second the talk about Rocket Frog Divers. It's a great company in a great location. As the previous post mentioned you can dive in three areas. The local diving is great and its called Gulf de Papagayo. You can see all kinds of things locally but if you want to increase your chances of seeing big things, they also travel to the Bat Islands which has the bull shark dive, and you can also see mantas, and huge schools of fish. As well as the Catalinas which is where you are most likely to see the mantas.

 

[Catito]

Hello Ernest,

In Costa Rica you actually have 3 dive sites that can compete to be the best. (Excluding Isla del Coco as it is a different cost and organization).

1. Isla del Caño

2. Islas Santa Catalina
3. Islas Murciélagos - Bat Islands

Starting from behind - The Bat Islands and Catalina are very interesting locations where, as previous commenters have mentioned, you can meet bull sharks, which is a cool attraction in itself. Unfortunately, conditions can be problematic, which are usually considered quite challenging - not the best visibility and a moderate to strong current. Especially during the rainy season.

Isla del Cano, on the other hand, is considered Isla del Coco's smaller sister. Conditions, of course, are also variable, but due to its remoteness from the mainland, rainfall and numerous rivers on the mainland do not significantly affect conditions around the island. However, what you need to know, Isla del Cano is a biological reserve where the daily number of tourists (including divers) is strictly limited. Diving is allowed only when accompanied by a licensed guide, and the number of dive points is limited due to island conservation.

Dive training location
As for your training, Isla del Cano would probably be the best choice for several reasons. First, conditions are usually favorable, even during the rainy season. Various dive sites with different characteristics are offered at the island, which will be helpful for your dives on the advanced course. Navigation, deep, search and recovery, etc. - there are cool dive sites for all this.

You can get to the island actually from three places - Uvita, Sierpe, Drake. And here Uvita has the best location and is well connected to the capital or other parts of the country. Getting to Sierpe requires passing through Uvita and an additional hour of travel. Drake is even more remote and requires getting to Sierpe and then by boat to Drake Bay. Alternatively by land if you have a 4x4 vehicle.

View attachment 854549

A larger study of diving in Costa Rica can be found here: Scuba Diving in Costa Rica | The Best Places for Divers

Dive schools
As for dive schools, there are more than a dozen in the area, but most focus on serving certified divers, and if I were looking for training I would choose those with 5-star status, because that means they have experience in training. It's also always a good idea to ask at the dive center who your instructor will be and take a look at their training experience.

---
I should also add that I may be considered biased because I personally work not only in the diving industry but also in this very area, but let me add here some photos from our Instagram (@costaricadivers) and from Isla del Cano:

View attachment 854542View attachment 854543View attachment 854544View attachment 854547

If you have any questions I will try to help. Pura Vida​

Thank you for your info. We are going to Costa Rica (Liberia area) for birding and hiking around Jan 1. We are divers (experienced and used to currents and drift diving) but have always heard that the viz is bad on the Pacific side. Any recommendations for diving without a long boat ride, near a nice beach hotel, in that same general area for easy return to the airport?

Thank you for any words of wisdom.

 

[ibj40]

Thank you for your info. We are going to Costa Rica (Liberia area) for birding and hiking around Jan 1. We are divers (experienced and used to currents and drift diving) but have always heard that the viz is bad on the Pacific side. Any recommendations for diving without a long boat ride, near a nice beach hotel, in that same general area for easy return to the airport?

Thank you for any words of wisdom.

We've been to the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica twice to dive, once in May 2005 and then next in May 2014 (so, yes, it has been ten years).

Both times we have stayed at what is now the Secrets Papagayo. First time we dove with the on-site (no long in business), and the second time with Rocket Frog.

Each visit included a dive trip out to Bat Island. The only dive we went on, for both trips, was on our second visit and we were told, in advance, that the visibility would be low, but there was the potential to see sharks. Every other dive we went on, we had great visibility, maybe not Caribbean quality, but acceptable.

 

[Steve the Baker]

Hi,
I'm a Rich Coast Diving fan. They are located in Coco Beach. Dive sites are close. That time of year the Diving is hit or miss. It is a well run and safe operator. Town has lots of restaurants. I stay at the Palms or Toro Blanco. Both Clean and well run and a 5 min walk to pick up the Dive boat on the beach.

 

[EcmoRT69##]

Hi,
I'm a Rich Coast Diving fan. They are located in Coco Beach. Dive sites are close. That time of year the Diving is hit or miss. It is a well run and safe operator. Town has lots of restaurants. I stay at the Palms or Toro Blanco. Both Clean and well run and a 5 min walk to pick up the Dive boat on the beach.

I'm heading there Friday and diving for a week with Rich Coast Diving. I am super excited.

 

[Steve the Baker]

I'm heading there Friday and diving for a week with Rich Coast Diving. I am super excited.

Have a Great Time!!