Discover What to See in Costa Rica on a Scuba Diving Adventure

Discover What to See in Costa Rica While Scuba Diving in Its Stunning Waters

Costa Rica has a diverse and fantastic marine life that only scuba divers can witness. As a scuba diver in Costa Rica, you’ll be one of the lucky ones to encounter magnificent marine life beneath the sea.

If you want to discover this thriving ecosystem beneath the waves of Costa Rica’s shores, join us on a scuba diving adventure!

Get a Glimpse Into Costa Rica’s Sea Life

When most people visit Costa Rica, they are drawn to its many natural wonders, including its amazing sunsets, tropical climate, and stunning beaches. There’s no doubt that this paradise has much to offer its visitors, as do the waters on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts.

Here are a few main players you might see:

Crustaceans

Scuba diving in Costa Rica is filled with colorful crustaceans. They add a special touch to your underwater adventure. Take a look at the ones you’ll see:

Harlequin Clown Shrimp

They’re found in pairs, eating starfish. Generally, the females are larger than the males. Their white color is accentuated by purple, blue, or orange-red patches, giving them a stunning appearance. Macro photographers visiting Costa Rica will love spotting them.

Scuba dive on the north Pacific Coast of Costa Rica and see the adorable Harlequin Clown Shrimp!

Spiny Lobster

There are ten different species of spiny lobster found in Costa Rica in shallow water under rocks and crevices. However, they have been found deeper in high-traffic areas. This highly prized seafood is prone to overfishing.

Costa Rican waters are home to the colorful Spiny Lobster!

Mollusks

You’ll be captivated by the elegant beauty of mollusks gracing the ocean floor as you scuba dive in Costa Rica’s warm waters.

Octopus

Smaller than 2 feet, several species of octopus can be seen in holes or under rocks around volcanic rock formations, waiting for an unwary lobster to pounce on them.

Discover Costa Rica's scuba diving spots with fascinating octopus sightings.

Nudibranchs

Costa Rica is home to several species of nudibranchs, ranging in size from a match tip to a lettuce leaf. They’re hermaphrodites and carnivores.

Dive into Costa Rica's scuba paradise, discovering nudibranchs along its gorgeous beaches.

Fish

A big part of Costa Rican culture revolves around protecting the special nature around us. That’s why you find so many national parks to keep our land safe, like Arenal Volcano National Park or Corcovado National Park. The same goes for our waters, which are home to many different kinds of fish and marine life.

Take a look at some of the most common and cool fish we have:

Frogfish

Frogfish are short and stocky fish that are masters of camouflage, often mistaken for ocean debris. With modified pectoral fins, this predictor can “walk” along the ocean floor. Their colors include orange, brown, red, and yellow

Scuba dive into Costa Rica's underwater wonders and spot the exotic Frogfish!

Blennies

This is what macro marine life looks like at its cutest. If you keep your eyes open, you might find yourself staring into blennie’s puppy-like eyes. Burrowed into reefs or the ocean floor, these bottom dwellers will stay put, waiting for food to swim by.

Explore Costa Rica's vibrant marine life and encounter fascinating blennies on your next scuba dive!

Blue & Gold Snapper

Blue and Gold Snappers are shallow-water reef fish up to 12 inches in size and probably no deeper than 50 feet. It is common on local dive sites in the Gulf of Papagayo

Dive into the natural world undersea in Costa Rica and witness the stunning beauty of the Blue & Gold Snapper!

Striped Grunts

These fish can be found schooling in extremely large numbers around volcanic pinnacles and rock formations within 30 feet of the surface in the Gulf of Papagayo, the Bat Islands, and local dive sites.

Join us in Costa Rica for an unforgettable scuba diving experience and get up close with the amazing Striped Grunts!

Moray Eel

There are sixteen species of moray eels living in our waters, with the most common being the green, tiger snake, zebra, jeweled, and mosaic, and yes, they bite!

The Moray Eel is one of Costa Rica's most interesting sea creatures.

Panamic Porkfish

Easily recognizable by its gold and blue stripes, the panamic porkfish can be found around rock formations up to 75 feet deep in small schools.

Witness the stunning beauty of the Panamic Porkfish in their natural habitat!

Big Eye Jack

It is very common to find large schools of big eye jacks around Catalina Island, which can span two and a half to three feet long. It may extend from the surface to a depth of more than 100 feet.

Swim alongside the impressive Big Eye Jack schools on your next underwater adventure!

Seahorses

There are five different colors of seahorses in Costa Rica, and they can be found in shallow water on all dive sites where their tails anchor themselves to grass or other marine vegetation.

Discover the delicate beauty of the Sea Horse while scuba diving in Costa Rica!

Goby

Seeing this fish swimming in Costa Rica’s underwater rocks is a delight. When a dive approaches, they jump back into their holes, but if you have patience, they will come out again.

Get a glimpse of the elusive goby as you explore Costa Rica's vibrant underwater landscapes!

Rays

As you move beneath Costa Rica’s tropical waters, get ready for unforgettable encounters with majestic rays! These graceful creatures, with their wide wingspans, dance around in their natural habitat, offering a spectacle like no other.

These are the species you’ll see:

Giant Pacific Manta Ray

They range in size from 14 to 24 feet and are found year-round in local waters, on the Bat Islands, and schooling around the Catalina Islands in the cold winter months.

Join us for an extraordinary dive and meet the magnificent Giant Pacific Manta Ray!

Spotted Eagle Ray

The spotted eagle ray is usually found in graceful squadrons of 15 to 20 in the Gulf of Papagayo, circling volcanic rock pinnacles and islands. You might see a spotted eagle ray riding solo, digging shellfish from the sandy bottom.

Dive into adventure and witness the elegant glide of spotted eagle rays!

Marble Ray

Found abundantly on Cocos Islands. They feed on the bottom of the sea, scooping up crabs and small critters. For protection, they stack up like pancakes on the rocks during the day.

Embark on an underwater journey and be captivated by the unique beauty of marble rays, a hidden treasure of the sea!

Cownose Rays

Seen in schools ranging from 200 to 10,000 in the Gulf of Papagayo, Catalina, and Bat Islands, usually close to the surface. They are very common and a sight to behold.

Experience the thrill of swimming with cownose rays!

Southern Stingrays

Stingrays are year-round residents of Costa Rica’s waters, but they can be found in greater numbers when the water is colder. Their eyes are on the top of their heads, and they have powerful jaws for cracking shellfish.

Get ready for an unforgettable encounter as you gently glide with the graceful Southern Sting Rays!

Dolphins

Imagine diving into Costa Rica’s warm, inviting waters and being greeted by joyful dolphins! As you explore the underwater world, dolphins might swim alongside you, sharing in your adventure. Their friendly presence adds magic to every dive, making your experience truly unforgettable.

Here are the two species you’ll see:

Spinner Dolphin

A small dolphin that loves to leap out of the water and ride in the wake and at the bow of the boat. Usually 20 to 25 in a pod, except offshore, where they are found in the thousands

Experience the joy of seeing Spinner Dolphins, known for their playful spins and aerial acrobatics!

Orcas

Orcas are mostly seen in the U.S. during the winter. Usually, one or two are sighted together, but as many as seven have been observed simultaneously. While it’s rare to see orcas in Costa Rican waters, pseudo-orcas are common in Costa Rica year-round.

Witness the majestic beauty of orcas in their natural habitat!

Sharks

As you dive into the deep blue, prepare for a heart-pounding shark encounter. Watch these incredible predators in their natural habitat—an experience you won’t forget.

Here are the common sharks you’ll be able to witness:

Bull Shark

It is mostly found around a cleaning station on Bat Island. Sizes range from 9 to 12 feet, but larger ones have been sighted. Catalina Islands has small bull sharks around 5 or 6 feet. They have never posed a problem to divers.

Embark on an unforgettable diving adventure and come face-to-face with the formidable Bull Sharks!

White-tipped Reef Shark

Divers will usually find these non-aggressive sharks resting on the ocean floor during the day and getting ready for hunting at night. They have white dorsal and tail fins.

Join us for a dive into the vibrant underwater world to glide alongside white-tipped reef sharks.

Whale Sharks

On the Pacific side of Costa Rica, these gentle giants are sighted near the surface every month of the year at any given dive site. They are usually in the 25 to 35-foot range.

See the majestic whale sharks and marvel at the gentle giants of the ocean!

Hammerhead

Frequent encounters are had with schooling hammerheads during the day at Cocos Island; however, they are known to appear at many land-based dive locations as well.

Costa Rican waters are home to this iconic hammerhead shark species.

Whales

From the sun-kissed North Pacific to the pristine South Pacific Coast, the ocean here is a playground for the magnificent whales. Imagine swimming in the serene blue, only to be graced by these gentle giants.

When you go scuba diving, you’ll see these species during the boat rides:

Humpback Whales

Costa Rica is blessed with two humpback whale migrations a year. One happens during the U.S. winter, and the other during the U.S. summer. Usually, when spotting humpback whales, you’ll see females with calves swimming alongside them. If you want to see them, plan your visit for January, February, August, or September.

Let's dive in and see the majestic humpback whales!

Pilot Whale

In schools of 15 to 20, they appear at the same time as humpback whales. They are approachable to divers due to their friendliness.

Get up close to the fascinating pilot whales in their natural habitat!

False Killer Whales

False killer whales are common in Costa Rica’s waters from the Northwest to the Southwest Pacific. They start their journey during winter, looking for warmer waters. During their passing through Costa Rica, they become Costa Rica’s most social, smartest, and least human-fearing marine creatures.

Witness the majestic False Killer Whales on an unforgettable underwater journey!

Costa Rica’s Underwater Wonders Are Waiting for You!

Ready to dive into this tropical paradise? Experience the ‘Pura Vida’ spirit like never before as you dive into the majestic waters of Costa Rica, a country renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty. Contact Bill Beard’s today to book your scuba diving tour or get answers to all your questions.

Want a sneak peek at the diving experience? Watch our video to immerse yourself in Costa Rica’s stunning marine life and start dreaming of your next diving adventure!

Video credit: Bill Brousseau