Costa Rica is a paradise for scuba divers, with an abundance of colorful coral reefs and marine life. Its warm waters provide ideal conditions for exploring the amazing underwater world. Here are the best places to go scuba diving in Costa Rica.
It is no longer a secret: Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful countries on earth. Even a Costa Rica 10 Day Itinerary wouldn’t be enough to see all the kinds of adventures this magical land has to offer.
From ziplining in rainforests, relaxing in the best hot springs of Costa Rica, to scuba diving in coral gardens, ancient shipwreck sites or amongst colorful pisces, you will create lifelong memories in this unique country.
✔️ Top tip: when visiting this wonderful nature country, you HAVE to sleep in one of the many dreamy treehouse hotels in Costa Rica.
With 800 miles of coastline, bordered on one side by the Pacific Ocean and on the other by the Atlantic Ocean, Costa Rica is home to some of the most vibrant and diverse dive sites in Central America.
We asked Seth from The Wanderlust Dragon to tell us everything there is to know about diving in Costa Rica. Without further ado, here are the 11 best places to snorkel in Costa Rica. Let’s dive right in!
Best Dive Sights in Costa Rica
Scuba diving Guanacaste Costa Rica: where to go in the north pacific side?
Bat Islands
The Bat Islands, also called Islas Murciélagos, are located on the Pacific Ocean side of the country. The islands are part of the Santa Rosa National Park in northwestern Costa Rica. It’s also an amazing place to scuba dive.
The Bat Islands have some truly amazing marine life to see when you dive here. However, you need to be a bit adventurous for these dives. You might encounter sharks!
In fact, the islands are one of the best places in the world to see bull sharks. Yes, you read that correctly, bull sharks. Scientists still aren’t certain why these powerful creatures gather here, but they do.
These waters are also known as being home to Pacific Giant Mantas. This spot is truly amazing, it’s by far the best scuba diving in Costa Rica.
Combined with heavy winds throughout much of the year and the presence of the bull sharks, this dive is most appropriate for more experienced divers.
- Where are the Bat Islands: 30 miles off the northwest coast of Costa Rica
- How to get to the Bat Islands: one-hour boat ride from Playas del Coco
- What to see at the Bat Islands: bull sharks, giant ray mantas, devil rays
- Difficulty level: for advanced divers
- Depth at Bat Islands: 60 ft (18 m) to 130 ft (35 m)
- Visibility at Bat Islands: 18 ft (6 m) to 100 ft (30 m)
Catalina Islands
If you wish to do scuba diving near Tamarindo Costa Rica, escape to paradise and dive in the beautiful archipelago of Catalina. After visiting the stunning Rio Celeste Waterfall in the Guanacaste province, head to the west coast.
You can reach Islas Santa Catalina by boat; it’s a 2-mile journey from Playa Flamingo and a 15-mile journey from Tamarindo.
This archipelago is made up of some twenty smaller islands. It’s a scuba diving paradise. The waters are almost always warm and the visibility is typically more than you can ask for.
Fun fact: Catalina Islands are home to the Giant Kelp – one of nature’s fastest growing plants! It’s a wonderland below waiting for exploration. There is quite the selection of marine flora and fauna to witness here.
One of the most prominent favorites to dive with in the Catalina Islands are rays. The most common kinds you’ll see are the eagle and manta rays.
However, there is much more too. Whales, dolphins, and even sharks are common to these waters. You may see sea turtles as well.
As you can explore the archipelago from the coast as well, it’s also one of the best places to scuba dive in Costa Rica.
- Where are Catalina Islands: north west of Costa Rica, off the coast of Playa Flamingo and north of Tamarindo
- How to get to Catalina Islands: by boat from Tamarindo or Playa Flamingo
- What to see at Catalina Islands: whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles, rays…
- Difficulty level: intermediate, or possible to do a discovery dive for beginners
- Depth at Catalina Islands: up to 95 ft (28 m)
- Visibility at Catalina Islands: 40 to 100 ft (12 m to 30 m)
Scuba diving Jaco Costa Rica: where to go in the central pacific side?
Tortuga Island
You may have heard of this island before… Tortuga, which means turtle in Spanish, is also the name of the pirate island mentioned and shown in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. It’s not necessarily the same one, but it is the same region of the world, namely the Caribbean.
Tortuga Island is actually called such because of the lava formations that look like turtles. It’s technically made up of two islands, both of which are uninhabited but which you can visit.
Tortuga is located on Nicoya Peninsula, right in front of Jaco but on the other side of the water! It’s also close to Santa Teresa, which is one of the best surf beach towns you can stay in Costa Rica. It’s laid back atmosphere is so cool.
The marine wildlife of Tortuga Island includes dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, and tons of tropical fish among more.
While the most common shark to this area is the Caribbean Reef, sightings of whale sharks have also occurred. The waters here are crystal clear with great visibility.
Tortuga Island shipwreck
Tortuga Island also has three awesome shipwrecks to explore. The first two wrecks include a couple of coast guard ships. They are located at depths pretty comfortable for any level of certified divers.
The ships are the Franklin Chang Diaz and the Coronel Lafonso Monge.
The third shipwreck is a bit deeper and may be more appropriate for more experienced and advanced divers. It is called the Caroline Star.
On this dive you can head into the hull of the ship. It’s been known to be haunted quite frequently by the local Caribbean Reef Sharks, among other marine life.
There are a number of other well-known dives off of Tortuga including but not limited to Acuario, La Cueva (The Cave), as well as The Labyrinth.
Tortuga Island FAQs
- Where is Tortuga Island: at the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, on the west coast
- How to get to Tortuga Island: take a boat from Puntarenas
- What to see at Tortuga Island: dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, shipwrecks
- Difficulty level: all levels
- Depth at Tortuga Island: 100 ft (30 m)
- Visibility at Tortuga Island: 30 to 100 ft (10 to 30m)
Scuba diving Uvita Costa Rica: where to go in the south pacific side?
Caño Island Biological Reserve
The Island of Caño is located on the Pacific Ocean side of the south of the country. It’s relatively small in size, but has many dive spots to explore.
The biodiversity of its marine life is impressive. It is varied in both size and shape. Many argue that these are some of the best Costa Rica dive sites for this very same reason.
Marine life that is consistently seen there includes but is not limited to different species of dolphins and whales, manta rays, sea turtles, manatees, reef sharks, eels and octopuses.
The island has a number of particularly well known dives and we’re going to share some of those for your diving pleasure.
Cueva del Tiburon dive
One of the best dives off of the island is the Cueva del Tiburon (Shark Cave). You can expect sharks with a name like this, but sometimes the visibility is lower than you’d like because it’s so close to the shore. However, it is known for white tip reef sharks.
El Bajo del Diablo dive
Another one of the most popular Costa Rica diving spots is El Bajo del Diablo (Devil’s Rock). This is another shark heaven, including nurse sharks along the bottom of the area, bull sharks, and, if you are lucky, whale sharks. Many rays call this area home as well.
Paraiso Costa Rica dive
Paraiso, which means Paradise, is a dive spot off of the island where there are a number of volcanic lava formations. Fish love them. And you will too! Many schools of fish have taken up residence there. There are snappers, jacks and more. It’s quite the sight.
Marenco Rock dive
Beginners might feel more comfortable diving at Marenco Rock, closer to the shore. Home to dolphins, various colorful species of fish and more, this is a gorgeous place to visit and a great place to dive.
- Where is Caño Island: off the south coast of Costa Rica, just above the Parque Nacional Corcovado
- How to get to Caño Island: one hour and a half boat trip from Uvita or a two-hour boat trip from Sierpe
- What to see at Caño Island: sharks, rays, dolphins, turtles, turtles, manatees, eels, octopuses…
- Difficulty level: intermediate divers, except for Marenco Rock which is easier to dive in for beginners
- Depth at Caño Island: 60 ft (18 m) to 115 ft (35 m)
- Visibility at Caño Island: around 50 ft (15 m)
Coral Gardens
Coral Gardens is one of the best dive sites in Costa Rica. It’s located only about 40 minutes away by boat from Caño Island. Beautiful blues waters await. One of the most unique animals you will find exploring these waters alongside you are the humpback whales.
As the name suggests, there is a garden of coral here fit for the curiosity of any scuba diver. Colors galore can be seen here both from the coral and fish.
- Where are the Coral Gardens of Costa Rica: 40-minute boat trip from Caño Island
- What to see at Coral Gardens: humpback whales, beautiful fish swimming in coral gardens
- Difficulty level: intermediate divers
- Depth at Coral Gardens: up to 40 ft (12 m)
Puerto Viejo scuba diving: where to go in the south caribbean coast?
Cahuita National Park
Located on the southern tip of Costa Rica on the Caribbean side, at the exact opposite of the Bat Islands, the Cahuita National Park is both a marine and land park.
This place is famous for being a protected beach where numberless turtles come to lay their eggs in the sand. With so many sea turtles in the area, it’s also a great place to scuba dive.
Diving is a lot like being a turtle. You’re clumsy with all that extra weight on land but when you get into the water, you glide and float like nothing.
These turtle gatherings made Cahuita National Park one of the most famous and best places to snorkel in Costa Rica.
While your chances of seeing sea turtles here is definitely higher than in many other places, there are other spectacular marine creatures you might be able to encounter here… For instance, orcas or killer whales like to visit these coasts!
Cahuita National Park is also famous for its coral reefs, filled with all kinds of marine life. Last but not least, there are a couple of shipwrecks just off of the coral reef. If wreck diving is your passion, Cahuita is for you.
- Where is Cahuita National Park: south east tip of Costa Rica
- How to get to Cahuita National Park: Cahuita is a 3-hour bus ride from San Jose, 500 meters from the beach off Cahuita Point
- What to see at Cahuita National Park: turtles, orcas, killer whales, tropical fish, mollusks, nurse sharks and lobsters…
- Difficulty level: all levels but a guide is mandatory
- Visibility at Cahuita National Park: 20 ft (6 m) to 70 ft (21 m)
Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
Located on the Atlantic coast of the country, this incredible dive spot borders Panama.
The Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is the only place on this list, and in Costa Rica, where you can still dive with manatees. These animals are rare and meeting them during a dive is quite unique.
With its 5km2 of coral reef, mangroves and seagrass, this refuge is home to loads of other marine species. It is perfect for sea turtle nesting, from March to July. A true magical experience to witness!
Last but not least, the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is also home to three species of dolphins.
Divers already encountered Bottlenose and Atlantic dolphins, as well as the more elusive Guiana dolphins in these waters. Locals refer to the Guiana as “tucuxi”, a variation of freshwater dolphin.
- Where is Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge: right below Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
- How to get to Gandoca Manzanillo: 4-hour drive San Jose
- What to see at Gandoca Manzanillo: manatees, turtles, dolphins
- Difficulty level: intermediate divers
Cocos Island
We kept Cocos Island diving last on the list as it is a place like no other. Only advanced and motivated divers can dive in Cocos Island, and you will soon understand why.
Cocos Island is a national park, roughly the shape of a rectangle. It’s located in the Pacific Ocean, 330 miles (530 kilometers) off the mainland of Costa Rica.
You don’t go on a Cocos Island scuba diving adventure if you didn’t plan it, as it takes around 36 hours to get there from Puntarenas. The boats usually stay on Cocos Islands for a few days, and that is where adventurous divers stay at night as there are no hotels on the island.
So in order to get there, you have to book a boat tour and can’t go by yourself. The tour boat also includes a visiting fee for the island.
Yes, getting there is a true adventure in itself, but as you can guess, this island submarine life has pretty unique features.
One of them is the amount and variety of currents in the deep waters off of the island. It has led to a very unique marine life. Divers visit the island particularly to witness the populations of hammerhead sharks. Rays and dolphins also congregate around it.
- Where is Cocos Island: 330 miles off the coast of Columbia, south of Costa Rica, in the Pacific Ocean
- How to get to Cocos Island: book a boat tour from Puntarenas in Costa Rica
- What to see at Cocos Island: all kinds of sharks including hammerhead sharks, rays, dolphins
- Difficulty level: advanced divers
- Depth at Cocos Island: up to 130 ft (40 m)
- Visibility at Cocos Island: 30 ft to 100 ft (10 to 30 m)
Costa Rica diving FAQs
What are the best months for diving in Costa Rica?
The best time to dive in Costa Rica for experienced divers is from May to November. This period is ideal for Costa Rica scuba vacations because you will have the most marine life and small crowds.
This is quite surprising as it is the opposite of the dry season. The rainy season in Costa Rica usually starts in May and ends in November. This is not an issue as most dives happen in the morning, before the rain starts.
Both fauna and flora come alive when it rains for a few hours every day. For instance, you have many more chances to see the bull shark in the Bat Islands during the rainy season.
However, if you are just beginning, you should go during the dry season. That is when you will have the best underwater visibility, less waves and warmer waters.
Which side of Costa Rica is best for diving?
As you can see on the Best diving in Costa Rica map below, the Pacific coast of Costa Rica offers way more diving spots than the Carribean side.
However, there are nice options in the southern Caribbean Side, near Puerto Viejo.
Cocos Island is located very far from the coast. That is why you need to take a 36-hour boat trip to get there.
Where to scuba dive in Costa Rica for beginners?
Yes, diving in Costa Rica for beginners is 100% possible. The best diving spots for beginners are the Catalina Islands, Tortuga Island, Marenco Rock in Caño Island Biological Reserve and in the Cahuita National Park.
Can you scuba dive in Costa Rica without certification?
Now that you know all the best spots, what do you need to scuba dive in Costa Rica? Well, you will need a diving certification to dive in all the country. Diving is an intense and risky activity that you should take very seriously!
If you are not a certified diver yet, don’t worry; you can get PADI certified in Costa Rica! In the meantime, you can do exploratory dives or first dives with instructors of diving centers. You can do that at Catalina Islands for instance.
How much is PADI in Costa Rica?
Passing your scuba certification in Costa Rica is an excellent idea as this country has an extremely rich underwater world. There are great spots for beginners, but also for advanced divers.
If you are not sure if you will enjoy diving in open waters yet, you can start with a PADI Discover Scuba Diving. This is not an official certification, just a way to try diving without being a licensed diver yet.
If you don’t have enough time to do the full certification, it’s a great option. It usually includes 2 swimming pool dives and one ocean dive and costs less than the certification: $225 USD (227 euros).
Once you are sure you want to get your PADI certification Costa Rica, you will do the open water course. You will learn how to dive with 5 swimming pool dives first, and then 4 ocean dives. It costs around $450 to $550 USD (410 to 500 euros) per diver.
Scuba diving Costa Rica prices
If you already have a PADI certification, a coastal dive costs around $70-$100 USD per person. However, when you need to take a boat to access an island’s submarine life, the price goes up to $150-$200 USD.
If you wish to dive in Cocos Island, you will need to book an excursion, which includes many dives but also the 36-hour boat journey to get there, sleeping on board for a week and more. We heard such an excursion costs around $3000 USD per diver.
What is the water temperature in Costa Rica for scuba diving?
The water of both coasts of Costa Rica fluctuates between 77 to 86°F (25 to 30°C), depending on the time of the year. Therefore, it’s very easy to go into the water to do scuba diving!
If you intend to do scuba diving in Cocos Island, the water can go down to 70°F (21°C) as it’s very far from the coast.
Can you swim year round in Costa Rica?
You can definitely swim year-round in Costa Rica. You don’t even need a wetsuit to swim from beaches as the water is pretty hot, but you can put one on for deep dives.
Is Costa Rica ocean safe to swim?
Costa Rica is known for surfing, which means it has big waves and is not swimmer-friendly everywhere. You should always make google searches or ask locals before going into the water as there can be riptides or strong currents that you can’t see from the beach.
It doesn’t mean there are no good beaches to swim in Costa Rica! If other people are swimming and the sea doesn’t look too animated, you should be good.
To minimize risks, we recommend checking the weather forecast before going in, staying close to the shore and swimming with a partner if possible.
Are there any coral reefs in Costa Rica?
There are several coral reefs in Costa Rica. The largest one is in Cahuita National Park, on the Caribbean coast. You can also explore coral reefs on the Pacific coast, around the Osa Peninsula.
Can you dive with sharks in Costa Rica?
You can dive with sharks in many places of Costa Rica, including but not limited to the islands of Bat, Catalina, Tortuga, Caño, and of course, Cocos Islands.
To maximize your chances to see sharks, you should scuba dive between June and October.
When can you see manta rays in Costa Rica?
The best period to see manta rays in Costa Rica is from December to April. However, you can see them all year-round with a bit of luck. Their favorite spots are the Catalina Islands, Bat Island, Caño Island and Cocos Island.
Is Costa Rica or Belize better for diving?
Belize is one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world. It has more than 400 islands and one of the longest barrier reefs. The most famous spot of the country is a scuba diving one: the Great Blue Hole. Yes, the one you’ve seen all over social media!
Belize is better for scuba diving than Costa Rica. However, if your trip is not just about diving, Costa Rica has so much to offer. When arriving in the capital, we recommend heading straight from San Jose to Monteverde to see its amazing rainforest and wildlife.
From La Fortuna to Monteverde, and even Cartago, Costa Rica has so much to offer!
Best diving in Costa Rica: a sum up
Costa Rica is the ultimate destination for scuba diving and an incredible underwater adventure awaits!
But this country offers much more than scuba diving. You can explore Costa Rica Ancient Ruins Sites, hike in its many rainforests, swim in its hot springs or under blue waterfalls…
Last but not least, it is the safest country to travel to in Central America. If you are thinking about visiting solo, here is everything you need to know about Solo Female Travel Costa Rica. So, let’s dive right in, right?!
