Many beach-goers don’t just visit the coast to relax, enjoy the sun and swim in the warm water, for some it’s the possibility of exploring the underwater treasures the ocean has to offer that makes it irresistible.

Scuba diving allows you to discover and witness with your own eyes parts of the world that many only get to see in television, the adventure and adrenaline behind it is undeniable. Costa Rica has the advantage of having access two both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and the temperature of the water ranges from around 70°F to 85°F, so besides being a great destination for vacationists in general it’s also a great place for surfers, adventure tourism and yes, scuba diving.
Here’s a list of some of the recommended scuba diving spots in Costa Rica:

Catalina Islands:
One of the most popular places in Costa Rica to go scuba diving, located in the Pacific Ocean, this archipelago is made up of 20 small islands, you can access from Guanacaste province by boat from Tamarindo, Flamingo, Papagayo or Playas del Coco, getting there can take around 35 minutes. Here you can spot, stingrays, bat rays, devil manta rays, giant manta rays, eels, sea turtles, humpback whales, spiny scorpionfish, angelfish, whale sharks, among others. Depth is of 14 to 36 meters and visibility of 14 to 30 meters but is best to descend to 18 meters for visibility purposes. There are 6 different dive sites here.

Caño Island:
Located about 20 km from Drake Bay in the South Pacific Coast, this small island in the Pacific Ocean is a National Park. Here you will see sharks, whale sharks, stingrays, eagle rays, eels, jacks, turtles, and different fish. Depth: 6 to 25 meters.

Cahuita
In Limon province in the Atlantic Coast, is famous for its 242 hectare (598 acre) coral reef which is impressive to see, it is also home to a variety of fish. The best time to visit is from March through May or from August through November. You can also see eagle rays, giant manta rays, dolphins, billfish and sharks and there are two shipwrecks on the see floor that can also be explored, one of them a Spanish galleon from the 1700’s only 6 meters deep.

Uvita Island:
This small island in the Atlantic Ocean continues to gain popularity among scuba divers because of its rich undersea life. Uvita is famous for being the first spot where Christopher Columbus anchored in 1502; getting there takes a 20-minute boat ride from Limon. Also just off of Uvita there’s also The Phoenix, a shipwreck that attracts fish and divers.

Isla del Coco:
The ultimate and most famous destination for scuba diving in Costa Rica. This is the go place for shark diving, but you can also do reefs and blue water dives. Hammerhead sharks, humpback whales, tiger sharks, manta rays, eagle rays, devil rays, reef fish and so much more. Getting to Isla del Coco is complicated since it is located 480 km off Costa Rica’s mainland an expedition can take 10-12 days and it can be pricey, but definitely worth it. Depth: 25-30 meters.

Other spots for scuba diving include: Tortuga Island, Bat Island, Gulf of Papagayo