Peninsula Papagayo is home to an amazing landscape, and the peninsula is surrounded by an equally extraordinary ocean full of marine life. From the variety of fish to the larger types of marine life, such as rays, whales, dolphins, turtles, sharks, and other creatures, your scuba trip will be a lovely excursion to find a variety of these sea creatures.
Can I get certified to scuba dive while in Costa Rica?
Yes, you can get scuba certified while on vacation in Costa Rica! You would begin by signing up for the PADI open water course at home. PADI has an online course through their website, and you would complete this training section prior to your holiday in Costa Rica, and we would arrange for the pool and ocean diving days during your stay. Once you are in your vacation villa at Peninsula Papagayo, you would have a full day of pool work to practice skills, followed by 2 days of scuba diving in the ocean, for a total of 4 ocean dives.
What kind of Marine life can I see while scuba diving in Costa Rica?
While the area does not have a reef system, there are a lot of underwater rock formations that house a wide array of marine life such as snapper, grouper, moray eels, eagle rays, octopi, angelfish, parrot fish, angel fish, sharks, and also the possibility of giant manta rays. Not to mention, en route to the site by boat, you might spot dolphins, flying devil rays, or even a humpback whale. Because of their protected status, you are not allowed to scuba dive with the whales.
When is the best time of year to scuba dive in Costa Rica?
The Guanacaste region of Costa Rica has two distinct seasons: wet and dry. The dry season, roughly from from mid-November through April, is most noted for its northerly winds that drop the water temperature down into the low to mid-70’s. This will be a refreshing change of pace as the air temperature in the area is hot and one of the driest regions in the country. This cooler water is appealing to humpback whales, whalesharks, giant pacific manta rays, and hordes of roving southern stingrays.
The wet season, from June through November, is when the water is a bit warmer, reaching into the mid-80’s, and can have a bit more visibility than the dry season. Average year round visibility is 35′. During the wet season, there are more opportunities to see large schools of golden rays and more opportunities to see sharks.
What are the top dive sites near me in Costa Rica?
While I was certified by PADI years prior to diving in Costa Rica (and did not get certified here), I have gone diving out of Peninsula Papagayo. We took a boat to a couple of different locations, including the iconic Monkey Head which had an abundance of fish and we even saw a couple of black tip sharks nearby! Monkey Head is named as such since it resembles an ape’s head. What do you think?
There are around a dozen local sites out from your meeting place at Playa Nacascolo in Peninsula Papagayo. Your guide will choose the best options for your skill level and local conditions such as current and predicted weather, visibility, wind, etc.
Advanced divers have more options, as long as they are experienced and comfortable with potentially strong currents. Sites include the Bat Islands (advanced divers) which is about an hour away by boat and available May -Dec. Catalina Islands are for intermediate divers and it is about a 45 min trip by boat.
Come and explore the beauty of nature in Guancaste, Costa Rica, both on land and in water. Our dedicated concierge team will organize the details of your stay to make the most of your time while staying in your luxury vacation villa. Simply contact us to book your trip and we will start to design your itinerary pronto!
