Costa Rica is a fascinating country, full of natural beauty and stunning coastlines, which is why it is fast becoming a popular destination for scuba divers.
The Pacific Ocean coastline of Costa Rica has been a major draw for the scuba diving fraternity for many years and there are several well developed diving resorts on the Pacific coast, including Drake Bay and Isla del Cano.
However, the Caribbean coast, to the east of Costa Rica, has yet to enjoy extensive tourism development and there are fewer facilities for scuba diving available in this part of the country. But this does not mean you should go somewhere else!
Reasons to Go Scuba Diving on the Caribbean Side of Costa Rica
Unlike the Pacific coast areas of Costa Rica, large stretches of the Caribbean coast lie within a conservation area and are therefore relatively unspoilt. As such, this part of Costa Rica offers diving enthusiasts a fantastic opportunity to take a walk on the wild side and experience a dive trip a bit different to one you might expect to find in the more popular scuba dive resorts on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, Mexico, Belize and Honduras.
The main attraction for scuba divers visiting this part of Costa Rica is the large stretch of coral reef lying offshore from the Parque Nacional Cahuita, a large area designated as a national park and situated within the Limon province. Although this stretch of reef was badly damaged during the 1991 earthquake that devastated the entire area, it is still home to hundreds of different species of coral, fish, and mollusk and has plenty to offer scuba divers.
What Are The Main Diving Sites Along The Caribbean Coast Of Costa Rica?
Columbus first arrived in Limon province in 1502, but little has changed in five hundred years. Limon remains a wildly rugged section of Costa Rican coastline, and one of the most geographically diverse parts of the country.
Palm trees and white sandy beaches divide the warm Caribbean Sea from lush, unkempt rainforests, swampy lagoons and towering mountains to the south. Limon province is where the best scuba diving opportunities in eastern Costa Rica are found, for it is along this stretch of coastline that the amazingly diverse marine life living within the protective boundaries of the Parque Nacional Cahuita can be explored.
There are a number of popular dive sites between the Gandoca Manzanillo Refuge and Cahuita National Park, and if you head down beneath the waves in southern Limon, you will see some of the most beautiful tropical fish and marine species in the world, including stunning angel queen fish, rays, barracudas, sharks, eels, lobsters and turtles.
You will also find some richly diverse species of coral and plants, plus two shipwrecks at Uvita.Although this part of Costa Rica is not as geared up towards tourism as the Pacific coastline, there are still plenty of dive resorts and facilities available to visitors.
Many of the larger hotels and resorts situated along the Limon coast offer dive packages, but if you prefer, you can also opt to use the services of an independent dive company—there are many companies operating scuba diving trips and excursions in the area, although always make sure that the company you use is a certifed one.
When Is The Best Time To Dive The Caribbean Coast Of Costa Rica?
The best time to go scuba diving in this part of Costa Rica is when the sea is calm, this is when diving conditions best and the visibility is excellent. In general, the weather is most favourable between February to April and during this window of opportunity, you can expect to enjoy optimum scuba diving.
Hurricane season in the Caribbean lasts from June until November and whilst storms don’t happen every day there is a higher chance of them happening during these months.
Have you been diving in Costa Rica and what is you favorite place to dive? Would it be the Caribbean or the Pacific side?
