Two Terrific Coasts: Scuba Diving in Costa Rica

By Jasmijn VDB

No matter how long I’ve been scuba diving, it doesn’t cease to amaze me how much variety of flora and fauna exists in each dive location. So, when searching for my next scuba diving destination, I came across many advertisements about scuba diving in Costa Rica that piqued my interest. Naturally, I needed to know what all the fuss was about!

Costa Rica is an excellent scuba dive destination because of its two coastlines, Atlantic and Pacific, with abundant marine life and nutrient-rich water. There are many dive options for beginners and advanced divers in this gorgeous country. Plus, visibility ranges between 30 and 100 feet.

Scuba Diving at Punta Uva, Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica - Photo credits: Caribefuntours

With so many beautiful locations, it’s essential to find the spots best suited to your diving expectations. And although it’s warm most of the year in Costa Rica, some months might bring you more scuba joy than others.

Both Sides of Costa Rica

As previously mentioned, Costa Rica has two coastlines. To the west is the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea is to the east. While there are many differences in diving on each coast, both feature brilliantly blue nutrient-rich water.

The Pacific coast of Costa Rica gets its nutrients from the Costa Rica Thermal Dome, or “the Dome,” as it’s sometimes called. Here, an interaction between winds and currents causes nutrients from deep in the ocean to rise to the surface.

On the other side, the Caribbean Sea gets its nutrients from the surrounding landmasses.

Rivers that flow into the Caribbean have traversed continents, accumulating nutrients that are eventually deposited into the sea.

This is important for defining Costa Rica as a great Scuba Diving hotspot because these nutrients create the fantastic biodiversity the country is famous for. In addition, these nutrients lay the foundation for the food chain, resulting in beautiful reefs and impressive marine animal encounters for scuba divers.

Which Coast? The Pacific Ocean vs. The Caribbean Sea

Although both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea have incredible biodiversity, many differences exist between the two that should be considered when planning a dive trip in Costa Rica.

Due to its geographic location, the Caribbean Sea has more protection from islands and reefs, causing it to be calmer and beginner-friendly. However, the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is less developed. Therefore it might be a little more complicated and take more planning to get to those beautiful scuba diving locations.

The Pacific coast of Costa Rica is more developed and attracts more tourism. As a result, it has more scuba dive schools, scuba dive tours, and beachfront hotels. This makes the planning of your trip more accessible while not sacrificing beauty.

Costa Rica’s Crystal Clear Waters

The reason why there is always clear water in Costa Rica is, again, due to the country being located between two oceans. Therefore, when one perfect dive season ends on one coast, another is in full swing.

It is important to keep in mind clear water for scuba diving doesn’t necessarily mean clear water at the beach. From May through November, Costa Rica experiences its rainy season. During this time, the rivers bring lots of sediment into the Pacific, creating murky water near the coastline.

Most of the best scuba dive locations around the Pacific coast of Costa Rica are offshore and have clear water year-round. But if you don’t feel like going offshore for your scuba dive experience, you don’t have to!

The Caribbean side of Costa Rica is enjoying the summertime during the Pacific rainy months. In Caribbean Costa Rica, the water is calm with excellent visibility, especially from August to December. Ultimately, there is good visibility and incredible marine life to see whenever you choose to visit.

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School of Fish at Manzanillo wildlife refuge - Photo Credits: GloboSurf

The Dive Season on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica

Costa Rica offers excellent scuba diving all year around. However, the difficulty of the dives and the fauna which you will be most likely to encounter changes. For example, during the Pacific rainy season, off-reef activity increases significantly. Due to the increase in nutrient swells, pelagic species such as sharks and sailfish are especially drawn to the area.

During this particular time of year on the Pacific side, you may see Humpback Whales, Manta Rays, Bull Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks, Tuna, and many more bucket list creatures. However, this season on the west coast is better suited for advanced scuba divers. The water is more volatile, and the visibility is inconsistent.

But not to worry, the east coast provides less experienced scuba divers with plenty of beautiful dives during these months.

The Dive Season on the Caribbean Side of Costa Rica

Starting in August and lasting through April, the water on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica is calmer, and the visibility increases. While December through April is the peak months of the dry season, this entire time is excellent for diving.

The dry season is also great for beginner scuba divers who want to enjoy the beautiful flora and fauna that the Caribbean Sea provides. With little wind and current, most divers can handle the difficulty of these dives.

The dry season is also the high season in Costa Rica, meaning crowded beaches, towns, and hotels. This can also influence the prices of your diving adventures. However, the chance of rainfall will be slim during these months, so you can be sure of a sunny vacation.

The Most Popular Dive Destinations in Costa Rica

1. Coco’s islands:

This UNESCO world heritage site is, for many scuba divers, one of their top dive locations worldwide. Coco’s island (or Isla del Coco) is about 500 kilometers from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. You can only get here by boat, and trip durations range from 5 to 10 days. The sea around Coco’s Island is home to many fish, including Hammerhead sharks. Therefore, this spot is recommended for experienced divers.

2. Caño island:

This biological reserve has an abundance of dive locations and is home to many fish, including Bull sharks. Caño Island is near the Osa peninsula. Due to its status as a biological reserve, only a few divers can dive at a time. However, depending on weather conditions, this spot is accessible for both beginners and advanced divers.

3. Manzanillo:      

 Manzanillo is debatably the most beautiful dive location on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. The diversity underwater is remarkable, as it is home to a wide variety of colorful reefs and fish. On land, the atmosphere on the beaches is calm and relaxed, making for a tranquil vacation. Manzanillo is also suitable for both beginner and advanced divers.

Are You Ready to Dive in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is a great place to dive due to its incredible marine biodiversity and varied dive sites. Pacific or Caribbean, there is something for every diver in this gorgeous country.

If you enjoy diving in Costa Rica, please let us know in the comments!