Gulf of Papagayo & Playas del Coco · Costa Rica · Reef
Tortuga
A sunken fishing boat at 18 m beside a whitetip shark cave
Area photo: Chris Spain · CC0
Tortuga is a rocky site in the Gulf of Papagayo from 5 to 21 m (15 to 70 ft), where rock walls run down into sand channels. A sunken fishing boat lies at 18 m (60 ft) beside a cave where whitetip reef sharks often rest in the afternoon. It is rated easy, with current at times.
Also known as Turtle.
Where it is and how deep
10.5778° N, 85.7111° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Rock walls run down into sand channels, and the niches in the walls give many types of life a place to hide. The site is dived between about 5 m (15 ft) and 21 m (70 ft), and current runs at times. It is rated easy.
The main stop is a sunken fishing boat lying in 18 m (60 ft) of water near a shark cave, where whitetip reef sharks are often seen taking afternoon naps. The boat sits within the band where the thermocline lies, between 15 and 30 m, so the water there can be much cooler than in the shallows, down to 20 °C from December to March.
Marine life and season
- Reef sharks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Gulf of Papagayo & Playas del Coco: Boats run every day all year; December to March brings the coolest water, down to 20 °C, and June to August the warmest.
Know before you go
- Current runs at times along the rock walls.
- Below the thermocline, which lies between 15 and 30 m, the water is much colder, down to 20 °C from December to March.
Dive videos
Buceo Tortuga, Playas del Coco-Golfo de Papagayo 19-Nov Parte 1 · Joane Barnett on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the fishing boat at Tortuga?+
The sunken fishing boat lies in 18 m (60 ft) of water, beside the shark cave. The site as a whole runs from 5 to 21 m (15 to 70 ft).
Sources
- Dive sites Golfo Papagayo - Papagayo Gulf — Deep Blue Diving
- Local Dive | Summer-Salt — Summer-Salt Dive Center
- La Tortuga, Playas del Coco - Scubago dive site — Scubago
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