Diving in the North Pacific of Costa Rica

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Costa Rica not only offers virgin rain forest, volcanoes and fascinating solitary beaches but also an impressive submarine life mainly in the north Pacific. At a distance of 2 to 15 miles off the coast of the Nicoya Peninsula in the north-west lies the archipelago of the Catalina Islands. It consists of about 20 rocks of different sizes. A little further north, there are the Murcielago islands. Due to the exposed location of these islands, the abundant variety of underwater life is hardly found anywhere else. For some reason - not even explored - Catalina Island and Murciélago is a point where you can meet very different submarine species and fishes of all kinds that usually are not found together in other places. With good luck, you can see up to Whale Sharks in the Islands of Murcielago.

Visibility: is around 18 to 75 feet. Strong currents are presented from time to time. But you will be highly recommended to go there to see a spectacle that will not allow you even a minute of boredom: huge banks of snappers, sharks, mantas, turtles and barracuda are waiting for the diver, like an immense variety of tropical fish and other reef life. The giant manta rays can be seen between from November and May and the sea turtles can be seen throughout the year.

Water temperature: It’s between 75 and 85 ° F; diving season is all year, because there are no large rivers that may carry rocks and mud during the rainy season and thus affect visibility. Between late November and late February trip to the diving island of Murcielagos might not always done, because at this time of year there is a strong wind that could prevent the boat leaves the dock. In that case you should go to other places such as Catalina Island. In the waters of the north Pacific is easy to see spectacular specimens of marine life. The best months for diving in the Catalina Islands are December to May, where it had been up to 50 Manta Rays with a wingspan of 14 to 20 feet in a single immersion.

Marine life around the islands Bat: The best months for the long trip to the Murcielago Islands are March to November. Here will be the impressive bull sharks from 8 to 15 feet long, banks of all kind of little fishes, eagle rays and horse-eye jacks, Spade fish, pompano, snapper and Wahoo.

Marine life at the local dive sites: The local dive sites offers many sharks fin tip white huge banks of grunts and yellowtails, spotted eagle rays, turtles, giant stingrays, angel fish, octopus, sea horses, starfish sea, frog fish and several species of eel. With some luck you will see whale sharks up to 35 ‘long and spinner dolphins, humpback whales, pilot whales, orcas and false killer whales.