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About Papagayo Gulf
The Gulf of Papagay covers the northwestern coast of Costa Rica. Pacific waters of Papagayo Gulf (Golfo de Papagayo) are suited to divers of all experience levels. There is an enormous amount of fish activity and teeming marine life to be found among the volcanic rock islets and undersea pinnacles off this coastline. The many dive sites offer the opportunity to practice different activities, such as snorkeling, liveaboard, wreck diving and cave diving. The most famous destination of the region is the Catalina Islands (Islas Catalinas), considered among the most attractive dive sites in Costa Rica. Here divers often find themselves surrounded by large schools of colorful fish and an abundance of manta rays and stingrays. Other popular destinations include Playa Flamingo, Playa Hermosa, Playa Ocotal and Playa Panamá, where divers can discover different corals and abundant marine life, including groups of green jacks, damselfish, butterflyfish, spotted rose snappers, grunts, angelfish, triggerfish, parrotfish, turtles, whitetip sharks, eagle rays and stingrays, lobsters and eels. Playa del Coco is the most developed and populated area in the Papagayo region and is known for its large populations of sharks, which can be found in schools of 300 or more. The red-lipped batfish species is unique to the waters off Playa del Coco. Divers will enjoy their diving in Punta Argentina, Punta Gorda, Los Sombreros, Meros, The Point, Catalina Islands, Bat Islands dive sites.
When to go to Papagayo Gulf
Diving in Papagayo Gulf (Golfo de Papagayo) is available year-round with water temperature averages around 68F/20C-75F/24C. The best time for diving in the area is from July to October. During the months of December to April the Gulf is home to an astonishing abundance of marine life, including the occasional Mobula Ray and thousands of Cow-nosed Rays and migrating whale sharks. The water visibility averages 26-65ft/8-20m most of the year.