Diving in the colorful underwater world of Costa Rica

No matter if you are already an experienced diver or if you want to try the sport for the first time, Costa Rica has an opportunity. Year-round warm water temperatures in both the Pacific and Caribbean seas as well as often excellent visibility allow for an unclouded diving experience. A dream for almost every underwater fan is to dive once at the Isla del Coco. Liveaboard boats to Cocos Island are offered all year round. The island, which belongs to Costa Rica, can be reached in about 36 hours from the port city of Puntarenas. During this journey you may see sea turtles, rays, and large fish such as sharks, especially the hammerhead sharks. A multi-day liveaboard is recommended for more experienced divers.

But you don’t always have to travel that far for spectacular underwater worlds in Costa Rica. The South Pacific coast with the towns of Uvita and Drake Bay are ideal starting points for diving trips to Isla del Caño, which can be reached by boat in about 1 hour. The island is often called the “little Cocos Island” and often offers especially perfect diving conditions, clear water, white tip reef sharks, rays and especially colorful fish on the coral reefs. If you are in the region between July and October or between December and March, you have a good chance of spotting humpback whales around the island. If you are really lucky you can even see whale sharks here. Other popular dive sites are located on the northern Pacific coast where experienced divers particularly rave about the Islas Catalinas and Islas Muercielago. Ideal starting points for diving excursions on the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica are Playas del Coco as well as Flamingo. Less well known is the southern Caribbean coast but colorful reefs off Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo also offer great snorkeling and diving.