The Basics of Diving In Playas del Coco, Costa Rica
By Demi Johnson, Dive Instructor
Some of the best diving in Costa Rica is off the coast of Guanacaste, and Playas del Coco is the perfect town to use as your base if you intend on exploring the underwater world. There are several dive shops in Playas del Coco that offer dive and stay packages, and whether you’re a complete newbie or a seasoned diver, there is something for everyone. Many tourists may learn to dive in Playas del Coco while others come for their professional Dive Master courses.
Diving in Playa Del Coco, Costa Rica
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
For those choosing to dive in Playas del Coco, the standard of safety and customer care is high. Marine life is abundant here, and you won’t experience the huge crowds of divers that you will often see in other popular dive destinations in Central America, making Playas del Coco an ideal location for diving in Costa Rica.
Local Playas del Coco Dive Sites
Take a stroll down to Coco beach and you will see a couple of islands straight ahead. Taking only 10 minutes by boat to reach, and with lots to see in relatively shallow waters around the islands, these sites are visited almost daily by most dive shops in Playas del Coco.
“Argentina Point” is another popular site, teaming with schools of fish and often visited by turtles. Eagle rays and octopi are common sightings too, and if you’re lucky enough to get a guide with great eyesight you may spot seahorses, nudibranch and even beautiful Harlequin shrimp
Heading south out of the bay and past the Riu Hotel lies “Punta Gorda”, a personal favorite dive site of mine. A rocky pinnacle, with a maximum depth of around 30 meters, the site never disappoints. It is frequented by turtles, several types of eel, and the deep sandy bottom is a favorite location for huge Southern stingrays.
If doing several days local diving, be sure to ask to be taken not only to the islands in the bay but to some of the many sites to the north and south too, such as Virador, Monkey Head and Escorpiones.
Other Popular Guanacaste Dive Sites
BAT ISLANDS (ISLA MURCIELAGOS)
Part of the Santa Rosa National Park, and a protected marine area, Bat Islands offers incredible diving and is most well known for the bull sharks which reside there. With strict rules on feeding, and wardens patrolling the area, it is a chance to dive with bull sharks in an ethical and natural environment.
Bat Islands is about 1.5 hours by boat from Coco, but wildlife is often spotted on the ride there. During the right season, humpback whales can be seen breaching, and their song can be heard underwater, a truly memorable experience for any diver. Pods of dolphins and turtles can also sometimes be spotted on the surface.
You will usually dive the “Big Scare” first, where you will descend to 30 meters quite quickly in sometimes rough conditions with no anchor line. For this reason, some dive shops in Playas del Coco will only take advanced divers to this location.
Once down, there isn’t much to see until the sharks make an appearance. As with all things in nature, sightings are unpredictable, and it is always worth asking around about recent trips. Peak season for bull sharks is May to November.
The second dive is usually at “Black Rock”, which will certainly soften the blow if you didn’t manage to see any bull sharks. Black Rock is a beautiful underwater pinnacle full of life. Schools of fish seem to swamp the area, and if you’re lucky you may hear whales singing!
For more info on diving at Bat Islands, check out this post.
LAS CATALINAS ISLANDS
As the water starts to cool, and dry season approaches, boats will start making the trip south to Las Catalinas. The area is a haven for mantas between November and April. Again, you won’t be anchoring, and currents can be strong. There is plenty to see around the Las Catalinas Islands even if you aren’t visited by a manta – you’re sure to see huge schools of fish, and usually plenty of eagle rays and white tip reef sharks as well.
The best advice for this dive site? Look around constantly. Mantas love to stay shallow, and you will most likely spot one gracefully gliding overhead. With a wingspan that can reach 7m, the gentle giants are top of the list for most divers. It takes around 45 minutes to reach Las Catalinas from Coco.
Dive Conditions in Playas del Coco
Water temperature is warmest around July, hitting 30 degrees Celsius. You will be comfortable in a 3mm, with some people wearing just their swimsuits. There can be baby jellyfish around, so I would recommend a rash guard at the very least.
As dry season approaches, water temperature drops and on a deeper dive at the tail end of the year, it can be as low as 17 degrees! Be sure to ask the dive shop you choose what kind of temperatures they have been experiencing the last few days, and if renting equipment ensure you are given a suitable wetsuit.
Visibility varies too, and some people who are used to the crystal clear waters of the Carribean can sometimes get a shock. Don’t let it put you off though, there is so much life around the sites, and an experienced guide can point out things you wouldn’t have noticed yourself. If you are nervous about the visibility or conditions, ask to be guided in a small group.
DEMI IS A KEEN TRAVELER, WRITER AND DIVE INSTRUCTOR. SHE LIVED IN COCO LAST YEAR, BUT NOW CURRENTLY WORKS IN MALTA. SHE LOVES TO WRITE ABOUT PLACES SHE’S BEEN, TRAVEL TIPS AND DIVING AND HER WORK CAN BE FOUND ON HER BLOG.
