Snorkeling & Diving

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Snorkeling and Diving:

Costa Rica is home to an incredible 3.5% of the planet’s total marine life. Nearly 7,000 ocean species inhabit its warm Pacific and Atlantic waters. With such impressive marine biodiversity, it’s no wonder that the country’s islands, offshore rocks, underwater caves, and coral reefs are loved by snorkelers and divers alike.

Visibility varies by season, and underwater adventurers are best rewarded during dry season explorations (December-April) in certain parts of the country. During the wetter months of May through November, heavy rains may cause rivers to swell, and runoff can make ocean waters murky. However, the water temperatures are typically higher and divers enjoy calmer waters than in the dry season. Scuba divers are almost always rewarded with dynamite views – diving tours will take guests out into the deep blue sea, far away from cloudy water and river runoff.
  
Snorkeling is fine off both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, and dive shops can provide visitors with equipment and a ride out to the area’s best snorkeling destinations. While snorkeling, you will likely see angelfish, butterfly fish, parrot fish, damselfish and needle fish. Schools of sergeant majors and the occasional spotted drum fish can also be found.  Octopus and lobster hide in caverns farther down, and eels poke their heads out from openings in the rocks. Coral of all shapes, sizes and colors grow in winding reefs, some residing just inches below the surface and others lurking more than 10 feet below.  Hundreds of algae species grow among the coral reefs.

Though snorkeling is a perennial favorite, scuba diving is arguably Costa Rica’s most popular aquatic activity. The country boasts spectacular marine life with incredible tropical colors in temperate waters throughout the year, making it a top destination for diving adventures. In addition to the small fish and marine species that snorkelers so frequently view, scuba divers are often greeted by powerful sharks, gliding manta rays and even the occasional whale.

Regional Info: 

Southern Caribbean
Famous for its expansive acres of coral, the South Caribbean coast offers some of the best snorkeling in all of Costa Rica. The prime months are usually March through May and September through mid-November.  Early morning is ideal because the ocean is calm.

The Southern Caribbean’s living reef supports more than 35 types of coral, 11 species of sponge, 27 species of algae and 34 species of mollusk.  Angelfish, blue parrot fish, anemones, crabs, starfish, sea fans and sea cucumbers are some of the wildlife encountered on the reefs.  Sea turtles and Atlantic tarpon may also be spotted.

One of the best places for snorkeling along the southern Caribbean coast is Cahuita National Park, where more than 35 coral species reside in the town’s 600 acres of shallow reef. Though it had suffered damage, the coral in Cahuita has made a remarkable recovery – in 1991 living coral made up less than 40% of the reef.  Today, there are certain areas where the coral has made a full recovery and flourishes, healthy and safe, due to recent protective measures.

Northern Pacific
The Northern Pacific’s gentle, clear waters are ideal for snorkelers and beginning scuba divers where dive shops cater to both. Introduction scuba courses are offered, as are full PADI certifications.

Water enthusiasts are treated well on Costa Rica’s Northern Pacific coast, and Playa del Coco is one of the region’s most celebrated diving and snorkeling areas. Sailboat snorkeling cruises, color-filled open water dives and scuba courses are given daily, and serious divers will be pleased by the Pacific Coast offerings. Tropical favorites like puffer fish, eels, stingrays and dolphins swim these waters, and many people say that Coco Beach is home to some of the best diving in Costa Rica.

For beginning snorkelers, the North Pacific is an also ideal area to begin – shallow water, beginner tours and gentle waves all contribute to a smooth, enjoyable first snorkeling experience.

Central Pacific

The Central Pacific underwater world is known more for its diverse marine life and volcanic formations than its coral, especially in the shallower waters.  Millions of fish and other marine life live among the reefs in Manuel Antonio, including white tip sharks, sea turtles, eagle rays and sting rays, seahorse, puffers, jacks, parrot fish, grunts, shrimp and lobster. Living coral reefs are commonly found at diving depths. Shallow depths reveal interesting volcanic formations, schools of fish and reefs covered in diverse plant life.

Water temperatures average between 80-82 degrees Fahrenheit, and visibility ranges from 15 to 30 feet, depending on the weather and season. The best time of year for snorkeling and diving is during the dry season, from mid-November through April. The rest of the year is weather dependent.

Southern Pacific (Osa Peninsula)
Like the Central Pacific, the Southern Pacific is best known for its marine life. Water temperatures are warm year-round (78-82 degrees Fahrenheit) and visibility ranges from decent to very good (15-60+ feet). Visibility is at its best from December through April.

Cano Island, long recognized as one of Costa Rica’s hottest snorkeling and scuba diving spots, has recently moved into the spotlight as one of the world’s best diving locations.  Just 12 miles offshore from Drake Bay on the northern tip of the Osa Peninsula, Cano Island is both a biological and archaeological reserve.  The island protects the remains of its Pre-Columbian inhabitants. Mysterious granite spheres, ranging in size from a few inches to a few feet in diameter, mark an ancient cemetery.  Native American remains dating back to 220-800 A.D. have also been found.

A variety of underwater attractions have helped to make Cano Island an even more popular destination.  Most formations are volcanic in origin, though there are some sedimentary rock formations closer to Corcovado National Park.  Volcanic mounds and canyons, long reefs and eighty-foot walls offer habitat for a wide array of marine life, including both open water and reef fish. Dive opportunities in the area range from 15 to 80-foot wall dives. Snorkeling off Cano Island’s shores reveals an abundance of wildlife easily viewed in the warm, crystal clear waters. Cup corals, head corals and sea fans are the most common types of coral, while damsel fish, puffer fish, king angel fish, parrot fish, triggers and eels lurk in and among the rock formations.  White tip reef sharks, stingrays, sea turtles and grouper are also found near some of the best dive sites.

Coco Island

Billed as one of the top ten scuba destinations in the world, the spectacular Coco Island is filled with amazing colors, unique sea life and incredible diving opportunities rarely experienced elsewhere. The lush, uninhabited island is located about 310 miles off Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast and, while difficult to reach, is worth every effort.

Undisturbed waters hiding rocky pinnacles around Coco’s shores attract large sea animals and schools of fish. Because of its rich environment, divers at Coco Island are treated to some of the most diverse and concentrated views in their diving careers; in one dive, expect to see hammerhead, white tip reef shark, 100+ pound brown and blue-spotted jacks, crevalle, greater amberjacks, mobula rays, wahoo, Galapagos sharks, bull sharks and many other marine species.

Trips to Isla del Coco can only be arranged through approved tour companies, and usually last between one and two weeks.

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