TORTUGA ISLANDS

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