Costa Rica is an equally rich country above the ground as it is below the water! The very name of our country suggests it, our coasts are rich and abundant places! With destinations, islands and coasts such as Isla del Coco, Isla del Caño and Las Catalinas, the diving experience in Costa Rica becomes unforgettable memories and experiences, with abundant fauna unique to our coasts. Throughout the year you will see different types of animals that are truly magnificent, such as whale sharks, blacktip sharks, whitetip sharks, Manta rays, dolphins, schools of hammerhead sharks, tuna, and hundreds more!
In the next blog, we will give you more detail about these destinations and why you should consider them in your diving experience.
Coco Island
The only way to see Cocos Island is on a dive boat that you can board from the port city of Puntarenas in Costa Rica, 1 hour from San Jose. These trips usually last at least 8 to 10 days and it takes up to 36 hours to get to Isla del Coco from Puntarenas. A trip more than worth it!
Due to its strong currents and swells, as well as for its wide variety of sea life, Isla del Coco is recommended only for advanced divers or high-intermediate level divers. The dive sites consist of rocks, pinnacles, and seamounts that rise from the depths. It is a unique diving landscape and marine life of world calibre.
Isla del Coco was not only qualifying in the ranking of one of the 7 wonders of the world, but its crystal clear waters offer world-class sightings of the famous hammerhead shark, which migrate in the hundreds during seasons to Isla del Coco. A sight to never forget. Similarly, depending on the season, you can see Humpback whales, dolphins, Mantas, Rays, turtles, black and white tip sharks, schools of tuna, Hammerhead sharks, and much more! It is an experience that will surprise even the most advanced of divers!
Isla del Caño
Caño Island, located in the Osa Peninsula, is a truly virgin biological reserve. You can see Humpback Whales, Dolphins, Sharks, Turtles, abundant Coral, hundreds of fish species among much more! This island is considered an important archaeological, historical, natural and maritime area. Being located on the Osa Peninsula and being a natural reserve of great importance, the amount of wildlife both on land and underwater is incredibly abundant and rich.
Diving on this Island is for divers of intermediate to advanced level, due to the currents and the underwater landscape.
Las Catalinas
These islands provide a wild and unique diving experience, offering up to 12 different diving spots and animal sightings depending on the seasons, all throughout the year. Between the months of August and September, the Humpback Whales enter the shallower water. Almost every day this season, the divers are accompanied by the singing of the whales under the water and frequent sightings from the boat.
Las Catalinas is also famous for its sighting of the Giant Mantas of the Pacific, from December to May.