Long known for its eco-friendly tourism and as a surfing mecca, Costa Rica is gaining a reputation for undersea adventure as well. Scuba diving Costa Rica is attracting a whole new group of pura vida explorers seeking to experience the treasures of the deep.

Scuba Diving in Costa Rica

Scuba Diving Costa Rica – A New and Thriving Dive Destination

Life in Costa Rica has long been geared toward an eco-friendly and sustainable culture. In 2007, the government declared that it wanted to be carbon-neutral by 2021. This has led to increased interest in ocean life, both above and below the surface.

Scuba enthusiasts have recently discovered the great potential for underwater adventures that exist in Costa Rica. As infrastructure improvements have made access to the Southern Pacific region that much easier, experienced and novice divers are making their way to prime dive locations.

The Best Locations for Scuba Diving in Costa Rica

The Pacific Coast of Costa Rica has become a vibrant and exciting scuba diving playground. From the resort areas of Guanacaste to the rustic and untouched beaches of the Southern Pacific zone, divers are enjoying the sites and adventures that await beneath the surface.

Scuba Diving in Costa Rica

Here, in no particular order, is a list of the best dive spots in the land of Pura Vida:

Playas Del Coco: Home to the first PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) five star location in Costa Rica, this resort community has become a major hub for diving expeditions in the Gulf of Papagayo.

Cabo Blanco/Montezuma: In addition to being the first natural reserve established in Costa Rica, the Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve includes 18 hectares of ocean. With the abundance and diversity of the marine life in the area, divers will find plenty to see and experience in the course of their diving adventures.

Tortuga Island: A 40 minute boat ride from Herradura Bay will bring divers to this haven of underwater canyons and caves. Average depths of 30-50 feet make this a great location for less experienced individuals who still want to view the unique and diverse underwater habitat.

Bat Islands: During the months of May to November, divers flock to the Bat Islands area to experience some of the most exciting scuba experiences in Costa Rica.  In an area known as “Big Scare”, divers can get up close and personal with bull sharks – some as large as six to seven meters long. This is the only spot in Costa Rica to dive with these ocean predators.

Another unique feature of the Bat Islands area are the Giant Pacific Mantas. These ocean-going “bats” and the smaller, devil rays, can provide divers with a once in a lifetime experience.

Catalina Islands: Like the Bat Islands, the Catalina Islands are easily accessible and filled with sea life. Since the dives are non-anchored, they are recommended for more experienced and certified individuals.

Cano Island: Thirteen miles from Drake Bay lies Cano Island. This largely undeveloped location has some of the best diving in the entire country. Being a protected marine park makes for a wonderful opportunity to see reef sharks, eels, and a wide variety of undersea life.

Cocos Island: Believed to be the home of the largest schools of hammerhead sharks on the planet, Cocos Island National Park is one of the premier scuba diving locations in the world. Located 300 miles off the Costa Rican mainland, this remote diver’s paradise is accessible by fully equipped dive boats that schedule week-and-a-half tours.

Aside from the natural treasures lying beneath the waves, legend holds that the island may contain three of the world’s largest caches of riches. The entire horde of Lima’s riches are said to be buried there to escape Bolivar and his men in 1821.

Martin van Gestel

Wreck Diving in Costa Rica

For those divers who like the thrill of exploring the remains of sunken vessels, Costa Rica has a number of wreck diving locations. With dates that range from the 170os through modern times, these wrecks offer a unique undersea experience.

Tortuga Island/Montezuma Wreck Sites: The only location in Costa Rica with three wrecks that are available for diving. The Caroline Star is a great wreck for advanced divers; the Franklin Chan Diaz, a former Costa Rican Coast Guard vessel is 95 feet in length and rests at 75 feet. Another Coast Guard ship, the Coronel Alfonso Monge is in about 50 feet of water.

Cahuita Wrecks: Within the nearly 600 acres in the national park are two shipwrecks. The premier attraction is the Spanish galleon from the 1700s, a scant six meters below the water’s surface.  Cahuita is also the location of Costa Rica’s best coral reef.

Limon/Isla Uvita: This is the resting place of the Fenix, a cargo ship that sank off the island. This is one of the few wreck sites on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica.

Playas Del Coco: There are two small wrecks, one a fishing boat, the other a sail boat off the coast from Playas del Coco. The dive sites, known as Meros and Tortuga, are both in fairly shallow (40-60 feet) water.

53Flickr

Scuba Diving in Costa Rica Isn’t Just for Experienced Divers

If you are interested in a scuba diving adventure but have little or no experience, Costa Rica’s growing diving population may be your doorway to adventure. With the number of PADI locations growing throughout the country, finding a beginner’s instruction course is easier than one might think.

Courses can be as basic as a one day, non-certification class that can provide an introduction to the adventurous world of scuba diving. Additionally, most centers offer certification/recertification options for more experienced individuals.

The thrill of seeing life undersea can add a perspective not gained elsewhere. Costa Rica is making the world of scuba diving a true pura vida experience.