Diving in Costa Rica

Ocotal Beach Resort was recently awarded one of PADI’s highest honors; the Gold Palm recognition. As Costa Rica’s Gold Palm Resort Destination, you can expect an unparalleled level of service and facilities that are unmatched by any other dive operationin Central America.

Most dives are around pinnacle rock formations between 40 and 80 feet deep. There is nowhere schools of fish will meet the divers on descent. You can swim amongst the thousands of fish that travel in these schools and feel yourself one with group.

 

Some divers seize the opportunity to arrange for special trips to the Bat or Catalina Islands. These islands chains located 21 and 14 miles from Ocotal present unique, challenging Pacific Ocean Blue Water Diving. Dive spots in these areas offer good chances to see large Bull Sharks, Manta Rays, Eagle Rays and large schools of four or five different species of fish simultaneously.

Ocotal Resort is internationally famous for pampering their divers. Divers never have to carry equipment, and the competent staff even takes care of the fresh water rising of the equipment at day’s end. Al our guides and instructors are certified PADI Dive masters. Our 32-foot dive boats have been modified to feet divers needs with tanks racks, swim platform, dive ladder, fresh water shower and shaded areas. Although our 5 Star Dive Operation might receive groups of up to 60 people, there are never more than 10 divers per boat. Each dive is leaded by two dive masters regardless of the numbers of divers in the water.    

 

 

OCOTAL LOCAL DIVE SITES

(Located from 5 to 25 minutes boat ride)

 

PUNTA GORDA:  At only 10 minutes from  the dive shop this pinacle  is one of the most popular local dive sites due to the great  variety of  flora & fauna .  The depth on  one side is only 20 ft. and is like a nursery area  with lots of fish, invertebrades and hard coral.  The other side  drops off to  80 ft., where it is likely to see schools of eagle & golden rays, green & hawkbill turtles, huge schools of jack crevalle and grunts. A highlight about this place is that 99% of the time you can see teenage white tip sharks in a crevice on the dive site at only 20 ft. of depth.   A great place for snorkelers and all level of divers.  None to a soft current is found on one side of the pinacle.

 

AQUARIUM :  At a 25 minute boat trip,  this sumerged rock formation starting at a depth of 50 ft and droping down to 110 ft. is an spectacular dive. At this dive site we can see  big hamberjacks, snappers, stingrays, white tip sharks, along with schools of all kinds of tropical fish.   No hard coral is found on this site but part of the rock is covered with soft coral and orange cup sponges.   This is one of our deepest dive sites. From November until March we can see dolphins, pilot whales and sometimes humpback whales on the way to and from the site. Slightly strong current in low tide.

 

SURPRISE:   Only 7 min. away.  This dive site ranges from a depth of 40  to 100 ft.  Huge schools of spade fish, jacks and grunts are waiting for you as soon you reach the bottom; stingrays and eagle rays usually pass around  the rock covered with soft coral and a lot of crevices where many types of eels have made their home. Usually a bit of surface current but none at the bottom.

 

VIRADOR:  At 20 minutes, this pinacle is a great place to see sea horses, many of them!!  One side of the pinacle is a depth of only 25 ft. and drops to 85 ft. This is a very nice dive with a great variety of fish. Normally  some current at the surface.

 

MONKEY FACE:  20 min. away.  This pinacle rages out of the water more than 25 meters making a perfect  shape of a gorilla face and down below it is an amazing dive to a maximun depth of  60ft. Depending on surface conditions the surge can be strong.

 

 

 

 

LOS MEROS:  25 min. away. A very shallow place maximun 40 ft. This spot is enjoyed by divers because of it´s extended bottom time and a great varieties of fish.  Puffer fish, guinea fowl puffer or a porcupinefish can be spotted easily and frequently on this dive.No current at all.

 

LAS CORRIDAS:  5 min. away. This rock formation with depths ranging from 35 ft. droping to 60 ft consists of  2 main rocks separated by a 30 ft. wide sand channel. Lots of soft coral, jewel morays on every rock, sea horses and often the frog fish. Occasionally a jewfish resting on the sandy channel can be spotted.

No current.

 

TRANQUILO:  20 min. away.  Drift dive along the coast to a depth of 60 ft. a good place to see stingrays and white tip sharks.

 

PUNTA ARGENTINA:  10 min. away  to the  Pelona Islands.  Diving on the east side of a maximum of  80 ft.  we can find a couple of very big frog fish.  Is a very mellow dive in a very protected area with not to much current and a lots of marine life.

 

There are another 15 local dive sites such us: big surprise, bajo de los tiburones, the phantom, rainbow, palmares, scorpions, la boya, laberintos, etc.

In all the local dive sites we use the anchor line for a support on the descent.  In some dive sites we can almost guarantee to see specific kinds of animals. In all of them you can see all kinds of tropical fish, such as butterflyfish, eels,cortez angelfish, king angelfish, danselfish, hawkfish, ect.) Plus there is the possibility  to see   Whale sharks,  Giant Pacific Manta Rays and mating turtles year round. During the summer months we occasionally see Humpback Whales. Dolphin and Pilot whales are sometimes are friendly enough to allow us to snorkel with them and enjoy playing with the waves made by the boat.

 

 

MARINE CALENDAR

 

January: Mantas, Bull Sharks, Bat Rays, Sea Horses, large Jewfish.

February: Mantas, schools of mobiles, Bat Rays in schools, Sea Horses.

March: Mantas, White tipped Sharks, Bat Rays in schools, Sea Horses.

April: Mantas, small Crustacean, Grat Shells, Sea Horses.

May: White tipped Sharks in numbers, fewer Mantas, occasional Bull Sharks, large Jewfish.

June: Whale Sharks, Turtles begin arriving near the surface, large schools of Snapper, Wahoo, and Pelages arrive in small numbers.

July: Whale sharks, pilot Whales, more Pelages, Sails.

August: Whale Sharks in greater numbers, Bull Sharks and more Turtles.

September: Whale Sharks, Bull Sharks in numbers, Roosterfish, even more Pelagic and Whale representatives.

October: Whale Sharks begin moving out, White-tipped schooling, Rays of various types, biggest month for Turtles.

November: Turtles begin moving out, large Bull Sharks, large Morays, large schools of fish.

December: Big Bulls and White-tips, as water cools some large fish move into shallow water, large schools of smaller fish and coral in top form.

 

VISIBILITY

Varies from 20 to 80 ft. on the same day on different dives. This is primarily due to the abundance of plankton and other marine organisms at the lower end of the food chain that thrive in warm 72 to 82 degree waters.   Although this abundance of food often restricts visibility, it is the principal reason for the profuse and varied pelagic marine population that is seen on every dive.  It’s a trade off that divers welcome accept.

 

WATER TEMPETURE:   May to Nov:  27C       Dec to April: 21C

 

The Rates are with Hotel Tax included.

 NOTES :

-           MINIMUM  2  PERSONS.

-           TOURS PROGRAMS AND PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGES WITHOUT NOTICE

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