Costa Rica

Located in Central America, Costa Rica is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea to the northeast and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. It shares a border with Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast and Ecuador to the south of Cocos Island. The sovereign nation is one of the most eco-friendly countries. It was recognized by the New Economics Foundations as the greenest country in the world. Costa Rica also has some of the most biologically diverse environments in the world. From volcanoes to rainforests to oceans and abundant marine life, Costa Rica is well-known for its scuba diving vacations.

Scuba Diving in Costa Rica

The Spanish translation of Costa Rica is Rich Coast and the country is true to that name with the underwater wonders that await dive travel enthusiasts. Costa Rica scuba diving encompasses three main areas: the Pacific Ocean side, the Caribbean Sea side and Cocos Island. On the ocean side, the waters are populated with pelagic life, including manta rays, sharks, dolphins and humpback whales. The ocean’s reef systems are home to a wide variety of marine life as well. Swimming about the colorful hard and soft corals are the endangered sea turtles and a rainbow of fish species. On the sea side, vibrant coral reefs in the small bays, islands and inlets attract an abundance of marine life.
Cocos Island is an island in the Pacific Ocean. It is a big dive travel destination year round. Cocos Island diving features sightings of large schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks, whitetip reef sharks, whale sharks, tiger sharks, marbled electric rays, sailfish, manta rays, dolphins and other pelagics that are attracted to this remote island.Costa Rica – Best Shark Diving in the WorldMaking Costa Rica the best scuba diving in the world is its amazing shark diving. The nutrient-rich waters along the coast, and in particular Cocos Island, attract schools of hammerhead sharks, reef sharks and whale sharks. Scuba diving Costa Rica is a fascinating adventure with frequent sightings of numerous shark species, whales and giant rays. A Costa Rica liveaboard has the best access to the remote islands and marine sanctuaries for the best viewings.Cocos Island – The Most Diverse Marine LifeCosta Rica’s Pacific coast is dotted with offshore islands, however, the most popular for scuba diving vacations is Cocos Island. Diving Cocos offers many different dive sites, all with diverse marine life. The southern part is a protected biological reserve, so liveaboards in Costa Rica offer the best access to these dive areas. Each dive is an adventure into a diverse topography of pinnacles, boulders and reefs. The remote Cocos Island National Park is a World Heritage Site for its large pelagic species, including tuna, rays, dolphins and sharks. A Costa Rica liveaboard is the only way to reach the Cocos Island National Park. Often called Little Galapagos, this marine park has some of the most varied marine life. Divers from around the globe rate the marine national park as having the best scuba diving in the world.

Hammerhead sharks are seen in abundance when diving Cocos. There’s plenty of schooling fish, too. Galapagos shark, Oceanic blacktip, tiger sharks, yellowfin tuna, mackerel and marlin. Innumerable white-tip sharks can be spotted at every dive and let’s not forget Red-lipped batfish which are found near Cocos Island off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.From July through September, liveaboard diving in Cocos Island delivers numerous sightings of humpback whales, mothers and calves. Liveaboard diving in Cocos Island also features technical diving for certified divers who want to explore deeper depths. Interesting aquatic species can be spotted swimming around the deep seamounts.Liveaboards Provide All AccessLiveaboards in Costa Rica can access other islands that are known as great dive sites. They include:
Bajo Alcyone – This site is within Cocos Island and is the spot to see numerous scalloped hammerhead sharks. This is the best area in the world for getting a good view of these unique creatures.
Cano Island – This tropical island is off the south Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Different reef sharks visit the area all the time, as well as other fish species.
Bat Islands – Located northwest of Costa Rica,

When to Go

Costa Rica diving is defined by its two seasons: rainy season from May to November and dry season from December to April.
During rainy season, expect a couple of hours of rainfall in mid-afternoon, which is typical of a tropical climate. Live aboard cruises, however, are year round because even the rainy season brings some excellent Costa Rica diving. During the rainy season, the plankton blooms attract huge schools of eagle rays, whale sharks, bull sharks, hammerhead sharks, manta rays and mobula rays. January, February and March bring whale season, with pilot whales and humpback whales announcing their arrival with their haunting whale songs. Giant manta rays, whale sharks and other large animals also arrive during these months.
Costa Rica scuba diving from May to November features the arrival of even more humpback whales, as well as nurse sharks and bull sharks.
During the dry season, the waters feature a wide variety of fish and macro species. Scuba diving Costa Rica on the Caribbean Sea side is best from August to December when the seas are calmer due to less wind. It is also the time when migrating green turtles, including leatherback turtles, arrive. Visibility throughout the year ranges from between 50 and 100 feet, with the best visibility from June through September. Water temperatures range from 26 to 29 degrees C (78 to 84° F),with cooler temperatures around 19° C (66° F) from December through March. The weather varies between the ocean and sea sides, but generally it’s about 27° C (80° F) during the winter months and 33° C (91° F) in the summer months.

Getting There

Most live aboard cruises depart from Puntarenas, which is accessible from San Jose Airport. Transfers are usually arranged for the 90 minute drive from the airport.
Some Cocos Island diving cruises may depart from Daniel Oduber International Airport in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste region.
If entering from a neighboring Central American country, bus transportation is available.

Visas and Passports

U.S. nationals entering Costa Rica do not need an entry visa. However, a valid passport and a return ticket showing departure within 90 days are required.
A valid passport means it does not expire for a minimum of one day from the day of entering Costa Rica. Visa requirements for other nationals depends on nationality. A visas of nationality listing is available from the Embassy of Costa Rica.

Time Zone

Costa Rica has one time zone, which is GMT-06 or 6 hours subtracted from Greenwich Mean Time.
The country does not change to daylight saving time.

Currency

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Electricity

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Language

Spanish is mostly spoken in Costa Rica. However, the country has a well-educated workforce, so most of them speak English fluently.