Question 1

What is the best time to dive in Costa Rica?

Accepted Answer

The most popular months to dive in Costa Rica are June, July, August, September, when conditions across the country's 2 dive sites are at their best. Water temperatures and visibility vary by site and region — check individual site pages for monthly forecasts.

Question 2

Do you need a dive certification to dive in Costa Rica?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a dive certification is required. Many sites in Costa Rica are accessible to Open Water certified divers, while others — particularly deeper or higher-current sites — require Advanced Open Water or specialty certifications. Always dive within the limits of your training.

Question 3

How much does diving cost in Costa Rica?

Accepted Answer

Diving costs in Costa Rica range from roughly $100 to $350 USD for a 2-tank dive, depending on the site, operator, and whether you're on a liveaboard or day-boat. Costa Rica spans the ultra luxury to mid range price range.

Question 4

What marine life can you see when diving in Costa Rica?

Accepted Answer

Divers in Costa Rica can encounter scalloped hammerhead, whitetip reef shark, silky shark, whale shark, giant manta ray, marbled ray, manta ray, hammerhead, among many other species. The country's 2 scored dive sites cover pelagic, wall, drift, deep, night diving environments.

Question 5

How does OkToDive rank dive sites in Costa Rica?

Accepted Answer

OkToDive scores every dive site in Costa Rica across 12 weighted categories: marine life, coral health, visibility, site variety, water temperature, depth access, operator quality, topside appeal, getting there, value, crowding, and social proof. Costa Rica's 2 sites average 61.1/100 — the top-rated site is Cocos Island at 64.6/100.

Best Scuba Diving in Costa Rica