Cocos Island is without a doubt Costa Rica's most well-known dive location. It is only accessible via liveaboard charter and is located 340 miles/550 kilometers off the country's west coast. As a result, excursions to Cocos are not cheap—but the wonder of what awaits there justifies the cost. Deep oceanic seas around the island, are accented by high pinnacles and sharp coral walls. This abrupt change in terrain results in nutrient-rich upwellings, which attract a plethora of pelagic organisms.

Cocos is one of the Best Dive Sites in Costa Rica, and has over 20 different dive locations, with potential sightings ranging from large schools of gamefish such as trevally and tuna to dolphins, sailfish, turtles, and manta rays. However, sharks are the main draw here. Galapagos sharks, bull sharks, tiger sharks, silky sharks, and whitetip reef sharks are frequent visitors. Bajo Alcyone, one of the most well-known diving destinations, is noted for its large schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks. The visibility extends from 33 to 100 feet/10 to 30 meters. The ideal time to see animals is from June to November when plankton blooms bring the most variety of life.

Cocos Island dive spots are typically deep and washed by a strong current. As a result, divers must be comfortable in the water and hold a PADI Advanced Open Water certification.

Location: southwest of the Costa Rican mainland

The Catalina Islands are an archipelago of jagged rocky outcrops off the coast of Costa Rica's northeastern Guanacaste region. The islands are famous for huge manta rays and are accessible on day trips with dive operators based in Playas del Coco. Mantas can be observed there all year, although the ideal time to watch them is from November to May. Other rays in abundance include spotted eagle rays, Mobula rays, and bullseye round stingrays.

The Catalina Islands aren't only about rays. Divers with prior experience can also keep a watch out for sharks, turtles, and schools of colorful fish. Cetacean animals like humpbacks and orcas are frequently sighted on the voyage out to the islands. Because the conditions here are frequently characterized by high currents, an Advanced certification is recommended.

Location: off the coast of Costa Rica's northeastern Guanacaste region

The Bat Islands (or Islas Murcielagos, as they're known locally) are another good option for divers in the Guanacaste region and are also accessible from Playas del Coco, and is one of the Best Dive Sites in Costa Rica. You'll need a lot of guts, though, because this is the habitat of the enormous bull shark, and it's one of the few sites in the world where you can dive with the species without being in a cage. The bull sharks naturally concentrate around a location known as the Big Scare.

Safe diving methods necessitate a swift drop, followed by a dive spent finning about the rocky seafloor in search of sharks. Visibility can range from as high as 100 feet/30 meters one day to as low as 16 feet/5 meters the next. The Big Scare isn't the only dive spot worth seeing; Bajo Negro, a rocky pinnacle noted for its school's gamefish and possible manta sightings, is another.

Location: the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica off of the northern province of Guanacaste

Tortuga Island is one of the Best Dive Sites in Costa Rica and is located on Costa Rica's central Pacific coast in the Gulf of Nicoya. With a variety of shallow and deep dive locations, it's an excellent all-around destination for divers of all skill levels. It is especially well-known as the country's wreck diving hub. In the region, three ships can be explored: the Coronel Lafonso Monge, the Franklin Chang Diaz, and the Caroline Star. The Coronel Lafonso Monge is unusual in that it sits in 52 feet/16 meters of water, making it accessible to novice divers.

The Franklin Chang Diaz is a former Coast Guard vessel teeming with big schools of jack and snapper, while the Caroline Star is the deepest wreck, measuring 100 feet/30 meters. Sleeping whitetip reef sharks are frequently observed in the Caroline Star's hold and are also a feature of the local coral diving site La Cueva. Manta rays (December to April) and whales are two other species to keep an eye out for (August to January). Tortuga Island Dive Club, based in Montezuma, can arrange day visits from the mainland.

Location: Costa Rica's central Pacific coast in the Gulf of Nicoya

The Cano Island Biological Reserve in Costa Rica's southern Osa Peninsula has some unique diving opportunities and is one of the Best Dive Sites in Costa Rica. Due to the area's protected status, there are only five official Cani Island dive locations, with a maximum of ten divers in the water at any given time. El Bajo del Diablo (Devil's Rock) is an excellent place to see manta rays, bull sharks, and nurse sharks as they swim amongst the site's massive granite pinnacles, peaks, and canyons. Paraiso (Paradise) is a volcanic lava formation where thousands of blue and gold snappers assemble, watched over by circling barracuda seeking their next victim. Scuba diving on Cano Island is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not to be missed.

Location: Costa Rica's southern Osa Peninsula

Tamarindo, located on Costa Rica's northern Pacific Coast, is one of the Best Dive Sites in Costa Rica and provides access to a plethora of great dive locations throughout the Nicoya Peninsula. There are numerous operators who offer year-round day trips to some of Costa Rica's top diving.

Divers from all over the world travel to Costa Rica to dive into the Catalina Islands. This archipelago is also a fantastic snorkeling destination. This is due to the tropical environment on land and the warm water temperatures throughout the year. In actuality, the water temperature ranges between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius (75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit). The visibility is usually good throughout the year, ranging from 6 to 23 meters (18 to 75 ft). We strongly advise you to bring your underwater camera on your vacation since diving in Tamarindo will be an unforgettable experience.

Location: Costa Rica's northern Pacific Coast

The Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is located near the Panama border on Costa Rica's southern Caribbean coast. It is classed as a humid tropical rainforest, but it also contains a variety of natural ecosystems such as mangrove swamps, marsh, and lowland rainforest, which protects some of Costa Rica's most endangered plant and animal species. Gandoca Manzanillo protects endangered species such as the manatee, ocelot, and jaguar, as well as a wide diversity of birds. It also safeguards some spectacular mangrove oyster beds that are nestled on the coral reef along the immaculate white sand beach. The marshes conceal Costa Rica's only Jolillo, Orey, and palm swamps.

This region's tropical bays and lagoons provide a safe haven for turtles, manatees, crocodiles, and dolphins, making it the best place on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast for diving and snorkeling. There are much little tropical fish to be found here, and the shallow spots and warm clear water provide comfortable diving in uncrowded areas.

Location: near the Panama border on Costa Rica's southern Caribbean coast