Country

Diving in Costa Rica

6 dive destinations in Costa Rica, up to 610 km apart. Water temperature across them runs 18–30 °C. 4 of 6 are in season in Dec–May. 23 named dive sites have their own pages.

Gulf of Papagayo & Playas del Coco · photo Chris Spain

Destinations: 6
Dive sites: 23
Water: 18–30°C
Most in season: Dec–May

RegionEastern Pacific

Where are the dive destinations in Costa Rica?

1Bat IslandsJul–Aug
2Gulf of Papagayo & Playas del CocoVaries
3Islas CatalinasNov–Apr
4Quepos & Manuel AntonioDec–Apr
5Isla del CañoJan–Mar
6Cocos IslandJun–Oct

Numbers match the table below. Land outline: Natural Earth (public domain).

How do they compare?

Conditions at each dive destination in Costa Rica
#	Destination	Best months	Water	Visibility	Depth	Level	Access	Sites
1	Bat IslandsBull sharks cruise past divers settled on the bottom at the Big Scare	Jul–Aug	19–29°C	1–20 m	12–30 m	Advanced	Day boat	2
2	Gulf of Papagayo & Playas del CocoWhitetip reef sharks nap in rock caves 10 to 20 minutes from the beach	Varies	20–30°C	5–23 m	5–30 m	Beginnersites from beginner to advanced	Day boat	6
3	Islas CatalinasOceanic manta rays pass the volcanic rocks from November to April	Nov–Apr	18–28°C	12–30 m	7–30 m	Advanced	Day boat	4
4	Quepos & Manuel AntonioShort boat rides to soft-coral canyons off Manuel Antonio National Park	Dec–Apr	28–29°C	4–22 m	7–25 m	Intermediate	Day boat	1
5	Isla del CañoWhitetip reef sharks stack up by the dozen on volcanic pinnacles	Jan–Mar	26–29°C	6–25 m	10–30 m	Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced	Day boat	5
6	Cocos IslandHundreds of scalloped hammerheads overhead on the Bajo Alcyone seamount	Jun–Oct	23–28°C	12–30 m	16–33 m	Advanced	Liveaboard	5

When is the best time to dive Costa Rica?

The most destinations are rated good or prime at the same time in Dec–May: 4 of 6. Each row is one destination's own season rating.

Season rating by month for each dive destination in Costa Rica
Destination	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
1Bat Islands	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Good	Good	Fair	Fair
2Gulf of Papagayo & Playas del Coco	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair
3Islas Catalinas	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Prime	Prime
4Quepos & Manuel Antonio	Good	Good	Good	Good	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Good
5Isla del Caño	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Good	Fair	Good	Good	Good	Fair	Fair	Good
6Cocos Island	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Good
Good or prime	4	4	4	4	4	2	3	3	3	2	2	4

Which destinations combine into one trip?

Destinations that fit within 200 km of each other end to end and share at least one month rated good or prime. Distances are straight lines between destinations, not travel routes.

86 km end to end

In season together: Dec–Apr