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Costa Rica Liveaboard Diving Trips

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Best Costa Rica Liveaboards

Scuba Diving in Costa Rica

Biodiversity
Untouched Beauty
Luxury Trips

Costa Rica offers a breathtaking underwater world teeming with an array of marine life that sets it apart as a diving destination. Expect to see hammerhead sharks, manta rays, dolphins, and schools of colorful fish like angelfish and parrotfish. Unique creatures like sea turtles, moray eels, and nurse sharks also make frequent appearances. Alongside this rich biodiversity, Costa Rica's underwater landscapes feature stunning coral gardens and volcanic rock formations that are a haven for macro life such as nudibranchs and crustaceans. One of the distinguishing aspects of diving in Costa Rica is the opportunity to explore relatively untouched and remote sites. Liveaboard trips primarily depart from Puntarenas, and the closest airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)

Top Places to Dive in Costa Rica

Cocos Island
Cocos Island
4 liveaboards
Cano Island
Cano Island
liveaboards
Guanacaste
Guanacaste
liveaboards

Cocos Island is indeed the crown jewel for Cocos Island liveaboard diving in Costa Rica. This remote paradise offers unparalleled diving experiences with its abundant marine life and unique underwater landscapes. Occasionally, Cano Island and Guanacaste can also be part of your exotic dive cruises itinerary, though these are rare additions. Cano Island, a biological reserve, is known for its crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral reefs teeming with diverse marine life. It's a serene contrast to the remote and rugged Cocos Island, offering a more tranquil diving experience. Guanacaste, on the other hand, provides a different flavor of diving with its varied underwater habitats. From coral gardens to bull shark encounters at the Bat Islands, Guanacaste diving is diverse and accessible, adding a dynamic range to your diving adventure

Must See Costa Rica Dive Sites

Unveil the mysteries of Bat Islands, where adrenaline-pumping dives with bull sharks await. Explore the depths of Bajo Alcyone, a renowned seamount that serves as a magnet for large schools of hammerhead sharks. Marvel at the beauty of Manuelita, where the colorful marine biodiversity captivates divers of all levels. Whether it’s the adventurous Guanacaste diving or the thrilling Bat Island diving, Costa Rica offers unparalleled underwater adventures. Each site, with its unique characteristics, contributes to the rich mosaic of diving experiences that Costa Rica proudly offers. From the serene to the exhilarating, these destinations promise to satisfy the desires of divers seeking both beauty and thrill beneath the waves

When To Go Diving in Costa Rica

Water temperature

The best time to dive in Costa Rica is indeed between May and November, coinciding with the wet season. This period offers the greatest chances to see a wide array of marine life due to nutrient-rich waters brought in by the rains. Currents during this time can be strong, so experience is recommended to navigate these conditions safely. Water temperatures during this period range from 21°C to 29°C (70°F to 85°F), depending on the season and the specific diving location. Warmer temperatures are typically found earlier in the season, while cooler waters are more common as the wet season progresses. These variations in temperature can affect the types of marine life divers encounter, as well as the overall diving experience

Frequently Asked Questions About Costa Rica

While the requirements may vary between different dive operators, diving at Cocos Island is generally considered to be for more experienced divers due to its strong currents and deeper dive sites. Many dive operators do require divers to have an Advanced Open Water Diver certification or equivalent experience. Some may also require a 50 dives minimum of logged dives, often in similar conditions. Nitrox certification can also be recommended given the depth and duration of some of the dives
To get to Cocos Island, you'll typically start your journey from the mainland of Costa Rica, most often departing from Puntarenas. The trip to the island is usually undertaken by liveaboard boats, and it can take up to 36-48 hours to reach the destination due to its remote location in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 550 km off the coast of Costa Rica. While the travel time may reduce the total number of diving days compared to other destinations, the unique and pristine diving conditions at Cocos Island make the journey absolutely worth it. The island offers an unparalleled opportunity to dive with large pelagic species and explore untouched underwater landscapes

Only a few liveaboards provide diving trips to Cocos Island, making it a truly exclusive destination. Among these are two operated by the Aggressor Fleet: Cocos Island Aggressor and Okeanos Aggressor II. Okeanos Aggressor II offers ample accommodation, great diving facilities, and special photography facilities, making it ideal for those looking to capture their underwater experiences. Okeanos Aggressor II boasts both covered and uncovered sun decks, sun loungers, a bar, and a grill. Of course, like any other Aggressor Fleets' liveaboards, this boat has everything to make your diving trip perfect. 

The newer Cocos Island Aggressor is another custom-built vessel in the Aggressor Fleet. It offers a range of amenities for relaxation, including a sun deck with chaise lounges and deck chairs, as well as a bar and grill. The menu onboard is varied and abundant, featuring American feasts, barbecues, and local cuisine.

Sea Hunter stands as a unique offering that combines luxury with functionality. This spacious vessel caters to serious divers and photographers, providing individual gear lockers, specialized camera and strobe storage with both 110 & 220 AC power outlets, dual camera rinse tanks, and even a drone takeoff and landing pad. A well-equipped galley ensures meals and refreshments are up to par