Scuba Diving in Guanacaste

The place to head for if you are interested in a beach vacation, Guanacaste province offers tourists plenty of fun in the sun. The weather here is great most of the year and beaches are beautiful, making this province very popular with visitors from all over the globe. A great vacation destination to just kick back and relax, Guanacaste also has plenty of activities on hand to keep you busy for days on end. Swimming, diving, snorkeling, hiking, horseback riding, fishing surfing and wildlife watching are among the many activities you can enjoy here.

Perfect Conditions

Scuba diving in Guanacaste is superb as the water conditions here are near perfect most of the year. With plenty of beaches accessible to everyone, you do not have to worry about overcrowded diving zones as well, as you have miles and miles of remote coastline to dive in. One of the best scuba diving zones in Guanacaste has to be the Playa del Coco, located in the north of the Nicoya Peninsula. The beaches here are beautiful; however, the scuba diving here is amazing with a plethora of marine life to enjoy. Manta rays, sharks, whales, dolphins, turtles, eels, and schools of vibrant tropical fish can be seen swimming here everyday.

Where to Go

For an even greater variety of aquatic life, head out to Isla Catalina and Isla Murcielagos. Cortez angelfish, parrotfish, clown shrimp, spotted eagle rays, hogfish and bull sharks are some of the many marine dwellers here. Bill Beard’s Diving Safaris is one of the best dive companies in Playa del Coco, with plenty of other diving tour operators found here as well. The nearby Playa Hermosa and Playa Ocotal also offer some fantastic diving opportunities.

Map of Guanacaste

Click to enlarge map - Guanacaste Region Map

Other Places

Additionally, Playa Flamingo and Tamarindo have some great dive sites to choose from. With numerous dive operators available in this area, renting scuba diving equipment and gear as well as going out for a dive should not be a problem. The gentle white sandy beach of Playa Samara also offers some good scuba diving.

Choose the Best

There are plenty of scuba diving companies in Guanacaste to choose from, so be sure to ask around first before you make your final decision. Always choose a certified dive company with plenty of diving experience. Make sure your scuba diving gear is checked in front of you, before you head out for a dive and always swim with your guide. Many hotels and resorts in Guanacaste also offer scuba diving as part of their vacation packages.