Visibility ranges from 20 feet to 100 feet, depending on the plankton and nutrients in the area at the time.  Water temperatures range from 75 to 80 degrees F and depths range from 40 feet to more than 100 feet with an average of 45 feet of spectacular underwater exploration of reefs, caves, and rocks. 

There are over 40 dive sites in the Gulf of Papagayo in the Ocotal area of Costa Rica.  Some of the more popular sites are Aquarium, Surprise, Virador, Monkey Head, Punta Gorda, Baja Tiburones and Los Meros and Escorpiones for shallow dives.  All sites showcase an abundant array of marine life such as spotted eagle rays, white-tip sharks, mobule and cow nosed rays, frogfish and sea horses alongside a backdrop of volcanic rock formations. 

At other sites in the area divers experience once in a lifetime adventures with green and Ridley turtles and white-tip reef sharks.  Most sights showcase large manta rays and black marlins weighing upwards of several hundred pounds and the occasional pod of pilot whales.  At specific sites like Las Corridas and Surpresa photographers surface having snapped pictures of tiny sea horses swimming amongst 200 to 300 jewfish and 20 to 80 pound amberjacks. 

Some key dive sites are: 

Islas Murcielagos or Bat Island:

Bat Island is north of the archipelago known as the Catalina Islands and due to its exposed location guarantees an abundant variety of sea life that is rarely found in one location anywhere else in the world.  The largest attraction at Bat Island are the bull and whale sharks, schools of cow-nosed rays and other varieties of large fish swimming in and out of the beautiful rock formations.  The Bat Islands are recommended for advanced level divers only because of the frequent strong currents.

Catalina Islands:

The Catalina Islands is an archipelago made up of 20 rocks just south of Bat Island.  Both the Catalina Islands and Bat Island have only recently become popular among divers- somehow the word got out!  The Catalina Islands are a short distance from the mainland and are popular all year long, but the islands are very popular from December to May where divers encounter 50 manta rays with wingspans from 14 to 20 feet in one single dive.  It is recommended to descend to 60 feet where the visibility improves and the larger species hang out. 

I just wanted to let you know about the AMAZING time we had at Ocotal. The dive shop staff was wonderfull, we forgot our camera in our room one morning and they could not have been nicer about the delay when my husband ran back to get it. The divemasters were friendly and professional. The did a great job finding rays and sharks, not to mention the schools of fish on virtually every dive!! Everything about the resort was great, from the flowers in the room upon our arrival to the accommodating staff at the restaurant. We plan tu return. Thank you so much for your recommendations you provided us a truly memorable "escape".

                                         Rich and Lori Himmel
                                         Mission Viejo, CA