Exploring the underwater world is one of the most rewarding experiences for divers of all levels. Costa Rica offers a variety of scuba diving opportunities, ranging from exciting day excursions to multi-day diving expeditions. Whether you’re looking to discover the rich marine biodiversity of Costa Rica, join a thrilling excursion to the Catalinas or Murciélago Islands, or take part in a diving trip with an organized group, there are incredible adventures waiting for you.
This guide highlights two key diving experiences:
Scuba Diving Trips to Costa Rica: Visitors from around the world come to explore our world-class dive sites and encounter diverse marine life.
Excursions: Daily diving adventures to top sites like the Catalinas and Murciélago Islands, offering unforgettable underwater encounters.
No matter your experience level, there is a diving adventure suited for you. Let’s dive into the details of these incredible journeys.
Scuba Diving trips in Costa Rica
For divers seeking thrilling day trips, excursions to Catalinas Islands, Murciélago Islands, Gulf of Papagayo, Caño Island, and Cocos Island offer some of the best diving experiences in Costa Rica. These locations are known for their rich marine biodiversity, including encounters with giant manta rays, white-tip reef sharks, and vibrant schools of fish.
For divers seeking thrilling day trips, excursions to Catalinas Islands, Murciélago Islands, Caño Island, and Cocos Island offer some of the best diving experiences in Costa Rica. These locations are known for their rich marine biodiversity, including encounters with giant manta rays, white-tip reef sharks, and vibrant schools of fish.
Diving in Catalinas Islands
The Catalinas Islands are one of Costa Rica’s most sought-after dive sites, offering exceptional biodiversity and stunning underwater landscapes. This group of rocky islets is well known for its migratory giant manta rays, which visit from November to May. Divers here frequently encounter schools of jacks, eagle rays, white-tip reef sharks, and even dolphins. The islands also feature underwater canyons, caves, and pinnacles, making them an exciting location for exploration and adventure.
Visibility ranges from 10 to 25 meters (30 to 80 feet), and conditions can vary, with mild to moderate currents. Some sites are beginner-friendly, but Advanced Open Water certification is recommended for deeper dives and sites with strong currents.
Beyond the underwater world, the Catalinas Islands are surrounded by stunning coastal landscapes, making them an excellent destination for surface intervals, snorkeling, and marine photography. Divers may also spot whales and dolphins from the boat, depending on the season. Additionally, if you’re lucky, you might have the unforgettable experience of diving while a whale sings in the background, creating an awe-inspiring and surreal atmosphere.
Diving in Islas Murcielago, Bull sharks are waiting
For more advanced divers, the Murciélago Islands (also known as Bat Islands) offer a high-energy dive experience, known for strong currents and thrilling encounters with bull sharks at the renowned dive site, "Big Scare." The nutrient-rich waters surrounding these islands attract a variety of pelagic species, including jacks, groupers, and even occasional sightings of whale sharks.
Due to the challenging conditions, this destination is only recommended for Advanced Open Water divers with experience in strong currents. For divers interested in learning more, we cover Bat Island diving in-depth in our dedicated blog post.
This location is a must for thrill-seekers looking for one of the most exhilarating dives in Costa Rica. For more advanced divers, the Murciélago Islands (also known as Bat Islands) offer a high-energy dive experience, known for strong currents and thrilling encounters with bull sharks at the renowned dive site, "Big Scare." The nutrient-rich waters surrounding these islands attract a variety of pelagic species, including jacks, groupers, and even occasional sightings of whale sharks.
Gulf of Papagayo
The Gulf of Papagayo is a fantastic diving destination known for its diverse marine ecosystems and vibrant underwater scenery. It features some of the best dive sites in Costa Rica, including Sorpresa and Virador, both famous for their unique underwater landscapes and abundance of marine life.
Sorpresa, It always gives you something to amaze
Sorpresa, meaning "Surprise" in Spanish, is an aptly named dive site where unexpected encounters with whitetip reef sharks, rays, and large schools of jacks are common. The volcanic formations and soft corals create a stunning backdrop, making every dive feel like an exploration of a hidden underwater world.
Virador, eagle rays are common here
Virador is another premier dive site in the Gulf of Papagayo, known for its incredible visibility and thriving biodiversity. Divers here can experience majestic eagle rays gliding through the currents, colorful reef fish, and even the occasional encounter with large pelagic species. This site is suitable for all levels, with depths ranging from shallow reefs to deeper drop-offs for more advanced divers.
Diving in Caño Island
Located on the southern Pacific coast, Caño Island is another exceptional dive destination, known for its pristine coral reefs and incredible marine biodiversity. Divers frequently encounter reef sharks, sea turtles, and massive schools of fish in these protected waters. With excellent visibility and calm conditions, it is ideal for both beginner and advanced divers. Though we do not offer this excursion yet, we recommend diving with Costa Rica Adventure Divers, a reputable operator specializing in Caño Island trips.
Diving Expedition to Isla del Coco
While often classified as an excursion, Isla del Coco is actually an expedition due to its remote location and the need for a liveaboard trip. Located over 500 km off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, this UNESCO World Heritage site offers one of the most incredible diving experiences in the world. It is famous for massive schools of hammerhead sharks, tiger sharks, manta rays, and other pelagic species. This trip requires advanced diving experience and is best suited for divers with strong underwater skills. While we do not currently offer trips to Isla del Coco, it remains a bucket-list destination for many divers worldwide.
Customizing Your Dive and Adventure Experience
We understand that every traveler seeks a unique experience, which is why we offer tailor-made dive and adventure packages. Whether you want to combine scuba diving with land-based excursions, enjoy a private diving expedition, or extend your trip with guided eco-tours, we can customize your itinerary to match your interests
Popular additions to your diving trip include:
Yoga and wellness retreats for relaxation between dives
Hiking and night trekkings for an immersive jungle experience.
Tenorio Volcano National Park & Río Celeste: A stunning natural wonder known for its bright turquoise river, lush trails, and impressive waterfalls.
White-Water Rafting on the Tenorio River: A thrilling Class III-IV rafting experience through scenic jungle landscapes.
Diamante Eco Adventure Park: Home to one of Costa Rica’s longest ocean-view zip lines, a wildlife sanctuary, and botanical gardens.
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park: Featuring geothermal activity, bubbling mud pots, scenic hiking trails, and hot springs.
Local Culture & Nightlife in Playas del Coco: Enjoy the vibrant beachfront atmosphere, with local markets, restaurants, and live music venues showcasing authentic Costa Rican culture.
2024 Expeditions & Upcoming Trips
2024 Scuba Diving Expeditions
Throughout 2024, we had the pleasure of hosting some incredible diving expeditions, bringing together passionate divers from around the world to explore Costa Rica's best underwater destinations. Some of the key expeditions included:
Dive Spot (Chile): Dive Spot is a Chilean diving community dedicated to bringing divers together through immersive underwater experiences. Their 2024 expedition to Costa Rica took them to some of the most renowned dive sites, including the Catalinas and Murciélago Islands. Divers in the group encountered a wide array of marine life, from massive schools of fish and eagle rays and white-tip reef sharks. The expedition also emphasized fostering a strong diving community, where participants bonded over their shared passion for exploration, marine conservation, and adventure. Visit Dive Spot for more about their expeditions.
Dive Spot Crew and Divers Austral Divers (Chile): Austral Divers, one of Chile’s most prestigious dive centers, specializes in advanced diving and high-adventure expeditions. Their 2024 trip to Costa Rica was designed for experienced divers eager to explore the Catalinas Islands and Gulf of Papagayo. Due to the seasonality and strong winds, the group did not visit Murciélago Islands but instead focused on thrilling dives in Catalinas and Papagayo, where they encountered eagle rays, white-tip reef sharks, and massive schools of tropical fish. The expedition also emphasized marine conservation and underwater photography, with divers capturing stunning footage of the diverse marine ecosystems. Visit Austral Divers to learn more about their training programs and expeditions.
AustralDivers Group
Upcoming Scuba Diving Expeditions in 2025
We are excited to welcome new and returning groups for even more incredible diving adventures in 2025. Some of the upcoming expeditions include:
Latitud Scuba (Chile): Latitud Scuba is one of Chile’s leading dive centers, offering high-quality training and curated dive trips for passionate divers. Their upcoming expedition to Costa Rica in 2025 will bring an enthusiastic group eager to experience the best dive sites of the Pacific, including bull shark encounters at Murciélago Islands, manta ray aggregations at Catalinas, and stunning volcanic formations in the Gulf of Papagayo. This group expedition is designed to offer a mix of adventure, marine education, and unforgettable underwater experiences. Visit Latitud Scuba to learn more about their training programs and upcoming trips.
Scubacao (Curaçao): Scubacao is a well-established dive center based in Curaçao, known for its dedication to high-quality dive training and exploration. In the upcoming months, they will be joining us for their first-ever expedition to Costa Rica, experiencing the rich biodiversity and thrilling underwater landscapes of our Pacific waters. Their divers will explore iconic locations such as the Catalinas Islands, Murciélago Islands, and Gulf of Papagayo, encountering manta rays, white-tip reef sharks, and vibrant schools of tropical fish. This trip will provide a unique opportunity for Caribbean divers to experience the contrasting underwater environments of the Pacific. Visit Scubacao to learn more about their diving programs and expeditions.
Custom Private Expeditions: We continue to offer tailor-made diving trips for individuals and groups looking to create their own customized adventure.
If you’d like to join one of our expeditions or plan a private group trip, contact us today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does Costa Rica have good scuba diving?
Absolutely! Costa Rica is home to some of the best scuba diving in the world, offering a diverse range of dive sites, from vibrant coral reefs to deep volcanic rock formations. The country’s waters are teeming with marine life, including manta rays, sharks, turtles, and schools of tropical fish.
What is the best month to scuba dive in Costa Rica?
Diving conditions are excellent year-round, but the best months depend on what you want to see. The best visibility and manta ray sightings occur between November and May, while bull sharks are most commonly seen at Murciélago Islands between May and September.
Is there good diving in Costa Rica?
Yes! Costa Rica offers incredible diving opportunities at locations such as Catalinas Islands, Murciélago Islands, Caño Island, and Cocos Island. Whether you are looking for encounters with big pelagic species, vibrant coral reefs, or unique underwater topography, Costa Rica has something for every diver.
What certification do I need for diving in Costa Rica?
Most dive sites can be accessed with an Open Water Diver certification, but for sites with stronger currents, such as Murciélago Islands and certain parts of the Catalinas Islands, an Advanced Open Water certification is recommended.
When is the best time to dive in Costa Rica?
Diving is great year-round, but the best visibility and manta ray sightings occur between November and May, while bull sharks are most commonly seen at Murciélago Islands between May and September.
What is included in a diving trip?
Each expedition includes boat transportation, dive guides, tanks, and weights. Our trips can also include meals, equipment rental, and additional guided experiences upon request.
Can I combine diving with land-based activities?
Absolutely! We offer tailor-made dive and adventure packages, allowing you to combine your diving experiences with thrilling land-based activities such as wildlife tours, hiking, white-water rafting, and cultural experiences.
What marine life can I expect to see?
Costa Rica’s waters are home to an incredible array of marine life, including giant manta rays, white-tip reef sharks, bull sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, and massive schools of fish. Seasonal visitors include humpback whales and whale sharks.
How do I book a diving trip?
You can book your diving trip by contacting us directly via email (sales@lifeandive.com) or our website. Reservations should be made in advance to secure your preferred dates.
Contact & Author Information
If you have any questions about our diving trips or want to join one of our upcoming expeditions, feel free to reach out!
Alvaro Alvarado
Sales and Marketing
Looking forward to diving with you!
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