Costa
Rica Scuba Diving and Snorkeling
Scuba diving in Costa Rica begins by gliding over living
coral reefs and leads deeper for the stunning sight of Manta
Rays swimming by like a formation of underwater hang gliders.
As the political situation worsens around Indonesia and
other parts of Asia, more people visit Costa Rica for scuba
diving, which is some of the best on the planet.
For the finest in Costa Rica, Guanacaste is highly recommended.
Divers may take PADI-certified scuba courses here, including
beginner lessons and open water diving certification. Playas
del Coco and Playa Ocotal are among the top places for having
fun under the waves.
World-class beach resorts and hotels endow the Pacific coast
with a variety of luxury accommodations. And in 2007, many
more flights from the US now go directly into the Liberia
airport, 20 minutes away from Playa Coco.
Prime Areas for Scuba Diving
The top spots are off Guanacaste on the northwest Pacific
coast, the southern Caribbean coast around Cahuita, Canos
Island off Drake Bay on the south Pacific, and Cocos Island,
eight hours away by boat.
Visibility off Guanacaste is superb virtually all year 'round,
and the assortment of marine life amazes even longtime scuba
veterans.
Other parts of the country offer excellent scuba diving
and snorkeling opportunities, including Manuel Antonio,
Nicoya, Drake Bay and Golfito, but visibility can be erratic,
particularly during rainy season. Manuel Antonio Scuba Diving
is our pick for the Central Pacific area.
The Gold Coast of Guanacaste features more dive shops than
any other area, and rightfully so. Boats head out regularly
for the Catalina Islands and the Bat Islands, where visibility
is from 40-80 feet.
Clouds of Eagle Rays, sharks, schools of dolphins and billfish,
even the occasional whale can be seen among the rock pinnacles
and canyons encircling these islands.
Playa Ocotal, Playas de Coco, Flamingo and Tamarindo are
some of the most popular beach towns with certified facilities,
many of which offer nitrox Isla del Cano.
On the southern Pacific coast, Canos Island presents a picture
perfect view of exotic fish, with visibility from 60-80
feet on most days.
From a hotel or resort in nearby Drake Bay, you can go scuba
diving at Isla Canos to explore its friendly waters via
a small boat. Snorkeling is also great here, as the plateaus
and canyons are not as steep as the islands to the north
Isla del Coco.
For the ultimate in Costa Rican scuba diving, however, Coco
Island remains the top choice for serious underwater adventurers.
Live-aboard boats make the eight-ten hour trip from Guanacaste
to Cocos, whose steep rock walls and canyons give shelter
to an overwhelming variety of sea life. Currents are heavy,
visibility usually 60-100 feet.
Cahuita
On the balmy east coast of Costa Rica, Cahuita
offers the best beach dives, and with a small boat you can
reach the giant barriers reefs of Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
and Cahuita National Park for scuba diving in the warm waters
of the Caribbean Sea. Expect visibility up to 150 feet here,
and the warm water off the Caribbean side is nearly always
over 80 degrees.
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