Accessible from Flamingo and Tamarindo, the Catalina Islands are home to some of the most exciting dive sites in the country. Divers find themselves surrounded by large schools of colorful fish, an abundance of manta rays and stingrays, and several species of sharks. This area also boasts unique rock formations where you can find Moorish idols, angelfish, jacks, snappers, grunts, octopus, eels, and so much more. On every dive, you’ll likely see something www. This area has several dive spots. The depths range from 40 feet to over 100 feet. 

There are over 20 dive sites within 20 minutes of Playas del Coco, offering the most incredible variety of fish and marine life. Popular spots include Punta Argentina, Punta Gorda, Monkeys Head, Tortuga, and the Bat Islands. There’s a dive spot for everyone, from beginners to advanced divers and everyone in between. 

At Tortuga, you’ll find a sunken fishing boat, a shark cave, rock walls, and sand channels.

Punta Argentina is home to frogfish, octopus, and seahorses and is known for its immense schools of fish.

Monkeys' Head is a volcanic rock that the ocean has worn away. It’s famous for eagle rays and stingrays.

Punta Gorda is where turtles and giant eels are frequently seen.

The Bat Islands are a definite favorite in the Playas del Coco area, where experienced divers can see bull sharks and giant Pacific manta rays. The site is not for the faint of heart. 

Isla del Caño is sometimes referred to by divers as “little Cocos Island” because it’s a close second and excellent option for those who can’t go all the way to Cocos. The Caño Island Biological Reserve is home to one of the best marine islands. Visibility is usually more than 80 feet. Among the vibrant coral, you may see huge pelagics, eagle rays, white-tipped reef sharks and whale sharks, purple parrotfish, sparkly silver Jacks, trumpet fish, barracudas, sea cucumbers, tuna, puffers, reef fish, stingrays, dolphins, turtles, or even whales. 

Isla del Coco is the jewel of all Costa Rica’s diving spots. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is an incredibly remote place, and a destination only for hardcore divers seeking schools of hammerhead sharks, mantas, marlin, sea turtles, white sharks, Galapagos sharks, whale sharks, tiger sharks, and silky sharks. A lot of sharks! 

It takes around 36 hours to reach these waters from the mainland and the only way to dive here is via a live-aboard dive boat. Trips usually last seven days, including the journey to and from Puntarenas, with multiple dives per day. 

Dives around Cocos Island have been described as “unparalleled” and “exceptional.” Advanced divers from around the world have Cocos Island on their must-see lists. It’s one of the best shark diving destinations worldwide. It’s also home to 27 endemic fish species, like the red-lipped batfish.