Costa Rica Snorkeling: the 6 Most Exciting Spots
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Costa Rica is a country in Central America, located on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Costa Rica is a popular destination for nature lovers. About 25% of the country is a protected nature reserve and has the highest species density in the world.
The question is then if there is anything left to see in the sea? Costa Rica literally means “rich coast”, which must mean something good for snorkeling there.
To get straight to the point… In spite of Costa Rica’s abundance of natural beauty and location on the Caribbean Sea, the snorkeling conditions there are not as good as you may anticipate. There are several reasons for this.
Climate-wise, Costa Rica is subtropical, with a rather long rainy season (usually it is from May to October). This results in significant leakage of fertile soil and nutrients, particularly on the Caribbean side.
The underwater visibility along the coast suffers as a result. Additionally, unlike other Caribbean Sea regions, this region lacks large coral reefs.
The greatest months to go snorkeling in Costa Rica are January through April. Between 26 and 32 degrees are the range of the water’s temperature. On land, the year-round average temperature is roughly thirty degrees.
The west coast’s powerful winds and large waves make it particularly ideal for sailors who want to surf. When snorkeling here, it’s also crucial to pay attention to the current. Although generally a little cooler than on the Caribbean side, the water is still nice (23-28 degrees).
Don’t be too scared by the above. If you adjust your expectations and read on, you will see that you can snorkel well in Costa Rica.
Despite being lengthy and appealing, not all of the country’s coastline is snorkeler-accessible. There are just a few few prime locations for the world class snorkeling in Costa Rica has to offer in this area on the eastern (Caribbean) coast due to its well-known isolation.
However, snorkelers will be able to see a diversity of tropical fish, reef sharks, and even eagle rays in these few exclusive locations on a regular basis, much to their joy.
Top diving destinations and Costa Rica snorkeling spots:
1. Caño Island Biological Reserve and its coral reefs
West of the Osa Peninsula, off Costa Rica’s south Pacific coast, sits the Caño Island Biological Reserve. In order to preserve the coral reefs and underwater ecology both on the island and at native burial grounds and artifacts discovered there, the island and its surroundings were classified as a protected reserve in 1978.
Cano Island attracts visitors for its world class diving and snorkeling.The Cano Island Reserve safeguards an area of 7,165 acres.
The refuge has an elevation range of 0–404 feet above sea level. It safeguards environments including coral reefs, beaches, and rain forests.
The underwater portion is the main draw. The waters near the island include 19 different types of coral. Numerous tropical fish and mollusk species inhabit these reefs. Giant manta rays, white tip reef sharks, moray eels, sting rays, tuna, barracudas, gigantic snapper and sailfish, grouper, needlefish, marlin and a variety of vibrant reef fish are a few of these species.
In addition, migratory humpback whales, pilot whales, fake orcas, and a few dolphin species are frequently seen.
You will be happy to visit the next diving and snorkeling spots on Cano Island:
| Arches |
| Coral Gardens |
| Shipwreck/Barco Hundido |
| Shark Cave (Cueva del Tiburon) |
2. Cahuita National Park & Coral Reef (Caribbean coast)
Cahuita National Park is a favorite among many since it is the Caribbean national park south of Costa Rica that is the easiest to get to. A total of 55,200 maritime acres and 2,732 acres of land make up this structure, which was built to save the biggest coral reef in the nation.
Anyone traveling to Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica’s South Caribbean should not miss this national park, which has gorgeous white sand beaches, an abundance of animals, and a well-kept walking route.
The coral reefs near the shore are Cahuita National Park ‘s most famous feature.
The park was established in 1970 with the purpose of preserving the beach’s hinterland vegetation as well as the threatened coral reefs.
Sadly, the reef is fighting for its life. A substantial chunk of the coral was raised by an earthquake in 1991 by around 3 meters, and some of it quickly died after being exposed to the air and sun at low tide.
The 600 acre reef is home to approximately 100 kinds of fish, mollusks, crabs, sea turtles and over 35 different types of coral.
Snorkeling is not permitted to safeguard the fragile coral without a licensed guide.
3. Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga)
Tortuga Island, one of the most scenic islands off the coast of Costa Rica, offers great snorkeling excursions and some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling spots in the area.
The season without rain in Costa Rica, which lasts from December to April, is one of the best times to go on an underwater adventure off the coast of Isla Tortuga. Water visability ranges from 30 to 50 feet.
Tortuga Island has long been a favourite destination for daytrippers from the mainland thanks to its famed white powder sands, which are framed by swinging palm trees. It is a must-visit location for divers and scuba aficionados due to its calm turquoise seas.
Step into the warm water just steps from the beach to discover an incredible underwater world. Even though there isn’t a reef, there are plenty of colorful species in the shallows, including angelfish, yellowtails, and parrotfish.
In the clear waters above a sandy sea floor, you might see octopus, seahorses, spotted eagle rays,a variety of eels, etc. Take a brief boat journey to the island’s outer reefs to snorkel around them.
You’ll be pleased with sights of porcupine fish, dolphins, and the renowned sea turtles(the island got a name in honor of them) as you float among enormous natural structures.
En route to the offshore reefs, three shipwrecks can be found. The remains of the Coronel Lafonso Monge and Coast Guard ships Franklin Chang Diaz are located between 9 and 22 meters underwater, making them accessible to the majority of licensed divers.
The Caroline Star wreck is located at 29 meters, making it more appropriate for experienced divers. As you descend down, you will see a hull where reef sharks are probably swimming around in a school of colorful fish.
Whale sharks, which can grow to be 35 feet long marine giants, may also be encountered.
There are a little more than six excellent dive sites in addition to wrecks. As you move through the waterways of Acuario, take a look out for sizable jackfish schools.
You can hardly predict what finned buddies could be hiding in La Cueva, known as “The Cave”. Discover The Labyrinth’s amazing rock formations and drift at La Punta.
Along the way, you’ll come across a variety of tropical creatures, including enormous pelagic fish and big pufferfish.
One of the best things to do in Costa Rica is go on an underwater adventure, and Isla Tortuga is one of the best locations to go snorkeling and scuba diving while you’re there.
4. The Bat Islands (Isla Murcielago)
The Bat Islands (Islas Murciélagos) provide an outstanding and singular experience if you’re seeking for one in Costa Rica.
Although anybody can visit the islands and the national park, this group of islands in Santa Rosa National Park is a well-known spot for expert scuba divers because it is the home to an abundance of incredible marine animals.
Despite being accessible to the general public, this national park doesn’t receive a lot of visitors because of its location and accessibility issues.
Only boats can access the maritime sector, and the land part is impossible to approach by automobile because the infrastructure needs a powerful 44 and is only open during certain times of the year.
Just a few of the marine life that you are certain to see in the Bat Islands are huge schools of fish, different species of sea turtles, huge schools of rays and fish, whales and dolphins depending on the season, encounters with the incredibly impressive bull shark.
The encounters with bull sharks that frequently occur at a dive location dubbed Big Scare are the reason that diving at the Bat Islands is so well-known.
For whatever reason, a sizable population of bull sharks frequents this dive site, which is situated right off the point of the last island in the chain. There are a number of reasons why this dive is often reserved only for divers who have at least their advanced certification.
The bull shark is the main draw at the Big Scare, but you may also frequently see the Giant Pacific Manta, vast schools of jacks, and various fish, eels, and rays there. The site’s visibility varies greatly and can be anywhere between 15 and 90 feet.
Your second dive at the Bat Islands will almost always be at a place called Black Rock. This dive site is a sizable pinnacle that rises straight up from about 80 feet to only a few feet above the high tide level, about a kilometer or so offshore of Costa Rica’s mainland.
For seemingly unending schools of fish, this pinnacle serves as a habitat. You will plunge into swarms of fish that can completely envelop you if you drop in on one side of the rock.
5. The Catalina Islands: Sea turtles are waiting for you 🙂
One of the best places to scuba dive in Costa Rica is the Cats. Warm waters teem with diverse marine life, and because of the clear visibility of up to 75 feet, that life is readily seen. Additionally we are in an ideal location to fulfill all of your deep-sea diving fantasies.
The Catalina Islands chain, which consists of 20 islands, is surrounded by crystal-clear sea. Numerous marine, avian, and land animals can be found on the islands and in the waterways that surround them.
You will understand why scuba divers from all over the world make it a point to place the Catalina Islands on their list of must-see dive locations once you are aware of the wide variety of marine animals that call these waters home.
These Islands in Costa Rica are well known for harboring dense colonies of enormous manta rays, which may reach lengths of about 22 feet and weights of up to 2999 pounds, and also sting, devil, bullseye, spotted eagle,bat rays, mobular rays, cownosed rays, etc.
Actually, it’s not unusual for you to swim in schools with these beautiful rays as you both explore the same marine life.
You will undoubtedly delight in seeing a variety of tropical fish. You will also frequently spotted whitetip sharks, several ray species, moray eels, nudibranchs, angel fish, and butterfly fish.
Additionally, due to their isolation from Costa Rica ‘s main land and their remote location, the islands are likely to be home to a variety of marine species that are uncommon elsewhere such as fish schools in the tropics dolphins, sharks, and whales.
Additionally, practically every moment you glance up, the twenty-foot manta rays’ elegant outlines skimming the sky.
Dive below the Pacific’s sparkling surface and you’ll see brightly striped Cortez angelfish, green moray eels, tiger sharks, sea fans, spinner dolphins, pilot whales, lemon-colored barberfish, barracudas, white-tipped reef sharks.
Also humpback whales, spiny scorpionfish, Moorish idols, killer whales, whale sharks, octopuses, starfish, as well as a number of sea turtle species, including as leatherback, green and hawksbill sea turtles will be your friends there.
Here are the most popular diving and snorkeling spots on Catalina:
| Catalina Grande |
| Little Cupcake |
| Big Cupcake |
| Dos Sombreros |
| Elefante |
| La Pared |
| Peligrosa |
| Roca Sucia |
| La Punta |
The Catalina Islands are one of Costa Rica ‘s most stunning, biodiverse, and breathtaking locations, just as amazing as the rest of the country.
6. Gulfo Dulce (Osa Peninsula)
Golfo Dulce is located in Costa Rica’s southern region, just above Panama. You go to this bay for an exotic getaway if you want to be surrounded by wild, untamed nature. It is one of only three tropical fjords in the world, with a delicate marine ecosystem.
For marine life like sharks and prawns, the mangroves serve as an essential nursery. It is one of the world’s deepest gulfs, with some locations reaching a depth of more than 1050 feet.
People who enjoy both land-based and aquatic species will find the Gulfo Dulce on the Osa Peninsula to be the ideal vacation spot because of its distinctive marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
Additionally, there are many spinner dolphins living there, so while you are making snorkeling trip you might see an impromptu circus show. The spinner dolphins can congregate in super-pods and are fascinating to observe from a boat or up close underwater.
Golfo Dulce is also home to further than 26 different species of dolphins and whales, 4 of the eight sea turtle species found in the world, such as the nearly extinct Hawksbill Turtle, as well as manta rays, sailfish, marlin, tuna.The hammerhead sharks like the threatened species and the whale shark will surprised you.
Red and black mangrove species make up the majority of the mangrove forests in the gulf, which are found in the coastal waters where saline and freshwater and marine converge.
They act as a barrier against storms, preventing shoreline erosion and enhancing the water’s clarity and quality. Many marine animals, such crabs, shrimp and corvina, depend on the mangroves in our area as a vital breeding ground (sea bass.)
Don’t be shocked if you find yourself itching to return because the reefs off the shore are home to more critters than can be viewed in a single excursion.
CONCLUSION
It is not surprise that Costa Rica is considered one of the top diving and snorkeling destinations in the world with its more than 800 miles of breathtaking coastline that features coral reefs, volcanic beaches, and virgin forests that plunge into the sea.
It’s only a little review about fantastic spots for snorkeling in Costa Rica.
But you can find a lot’s of incredible marine life in other places such as Manuel Antonio National Park, Marino Ballena National Park, Bahía Junquillal National Wildlife Refuge, Calzon del Pobre Beach, Playa Hermosa on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge on Southern Caribbean Coast or Cocos Island National Park (Isla del Coco).
Anyway, your trip to Costa Rica will be unforgettable.
