Costa Rica

Costa Rica is the perfect destination for a mix of pelagic diving and rainforest exploration.

Reserved for the advanced, Costa Rica and the Cocos Islands is up there with Galapagos for the big stuff. The only way to dive is by liveaboard and we have teamed up with the best operators.

Insider’s View

Located in Central America, Costa Rica lies on a strip of volcanic land covered in lush rainforest abundant with wildlife. With coastlines lines on the Pacific and Caribbean this country boasts several rare and endangered species including spider monkeys and quetzal as well as some of the world’s richest biodiversity!

On the west coast the Pacific’s current tempts large pelagic fish and mammals close to the country’s shoreline, enabling day diving to places such as Catalina Islands offering captivating underwater scenery, caves and natural arches covered in bright corals as well as lots of rays, turtles, and sharks!

However, the biggest attraction in this part of the world is undoubtedly the Cocos Island, up there with the Galapagos Islands as one of the most icon places in the world to dive! They can only be dived from a liveaboard as the islands are a long way from land making day boat trips impossible. Scalloped hammerhead sharks are the main diving attraction. There are other shark species to encounter, most notably white-tip, Galapagos, silky, tiger, black-tip, silvertip, and guitar sharks. They are joined by many species of ray including mobula, marble, manta, and eagle.

The east coast is the perfect place for beginners and snorkellers, the vibrant Caribbean reefs hide protected sites that are yet to be fully explored, offering a range of tropical marine life.

OUR HOLIDAY PRODUCTS

Advanced

Jun-Nov

20 Nights

Pelagic

From £12,975

Cocos and Galapagos Diving Tour

Galapagos Islands, Galapagos National Park

A diving holiday to the Galapagos or the Cocos Islands is right at the top of any diver’s bucket list so imagine a trip combining these two amazing destinations? Heaven on earth…

  • Ecounters with pelagic creatures
  • Visit 2 Pelagic destinations in 1 holiday
  • Visit Wolf and Darwin dive sites
  • Visit Cocos Island and see the nature
  • Possible strong current
  • Most suitable for advanced divers

Advanced

Dec - May

15 Nights

Pelagic

From £4995

Cocos Islands & Monteverde Cloud Forest

Costa Rica, Cocos Island

Combining a 10 night diving cruise around the world famous Cocos Islands with a trip around the Arenal Volcano & Monteverde Cloud Forest will bring the very best of your adventures spirit.

  • Hammerhead sharks
  • Visit to Costa Rica Forest
  • Ideal for couples & groups
  • San Jose City stay

3 Stars

Dec - May

15 Hours

Tour Ad-On

From £115 Per Night

Monteverde Cloud Forest Lodge

Costa Rica, Central Valley

This lodge allows you to appreciate the stunning Costa Rican biodiversity while providing facilities to enhance your relaxing experience.

  • Free Wifi
  • Situated in a regional park
  • 20 rooms available
  • Tours & activities available
  • 3 Hours from San Jose
  • The ideal ad-on to your diving trip

4 Stars

Dec - May

15 Hours

Tour Ad-On

From £85 Per Night

Days Hotel San Jose

Costa Rica, Central Valley

A tasteful, ideally located hotel only a 10 minute walk from the centre of San Jose with comfortable rooms.

  • 10 Minutes from San Jose
  • Restaurant on-site
  • 15 minutes from the airport

4 Stars

Dec - May

15 Hours

Stopover Hotel

From £125 Per Night

Holiday Inn Escazu

Costa Rica, Central Valley

This is a conveniently located Holiday Inn on the Prospero Fernandez Highway so guests can easily reach the beautiful beaches of the Pacific.

  • Aggressor pickup point
  • 30 minutes from the airport
  • Pacific Beaches 1 hour away
  • 160 rooms & suites

4 Stars

Dec - May

15 Hours

Tour Ad-On

From £85 Per Night

Arenal Volcano Inn Hotel

Costa Rica, Central Valley

This is a beautifully located hotel with stunning views and plenty of activities on offer.

  • Arenal Volcano views
  • Tours & expeditions available
  • 25 Rooms & Suites
  • On-site restaurant

Advanced

Hammerheads

Dec-May

Cocos Islands

UD Rating – 3 Star

Cocos Island Aggressor

Costa Rica, Cocos Island

Cocos Island Aggressor is a real treat for those of you with the constitution to take on such a trip. Cocos is most suitable for experienced divers. But well worth it for the schools of pelagics.

  • Max 22 guests/3-4 dives per day
  • Hammerheads/White tips
  • Dive Cocos Island
  • Possible strong current
  • Advanced level divers
  • Great quality and value

Expert

Hammerheads

Dec-May

Cocos Island

UD Rating – 4 Star

Okeanos Aggressor II

Costa Rica, Cocos Island

Spend a week on-board this well renowned brand’s answer to luxury in the Cocos islands. Aggressor Fleet offers above average standard liveaboards around the globe and this one is not to be missed.

  • Max 18 guests/3 dives per day
  • Full board inc beer/wine
  • 7 & 10 night trips
  • Suitable for novice divers
  • Spacious cabins
  • Great quality and value

Expert

Hammerheads

Jun-Dec

Cocos Island

UD Rating – 4 Star

MV Sea Hunter

Costa Rica, Central Pacific

Join this spacious vessel for a journey around the Cocos Islands. You can expect a fairly rough ride to the islands but once there you can enjoy a trip full of adventure. The diving is very remote and untouched.

  • Max 18 guests/ 3-4 dives per day
  • 9/11 night trips to the Cocos islands
  • Most suited to advanced divers
  • Pelagics/Hammerheads
  • Full board inc soft drinks
  • Good for photographers

Advanced

Hamerheads

Jun-Dec (rainy)

Costa Rica

UD Rating – 3 Star

Argo

Costa Rica, Central Pacific

Argo is a 39 metre boat built for long range expeditions to the Cocos Islands for 10 day itineraries departing from Puntarenas. She is the mother ship of the DeepSee offering a unique virtual tour experience.

  • Max 18 guests/ 3-4 dives a day
  • Rebreather facilities
  • Best for advanced divers
  • Free NITROX
  • DeepSee submersible
  • Dive from skiffs

Marcelina

Saturday, 28 April 2012

Mr Moss and Club on-board the Okeanos Aggressor

Mr Moss and Club went on a liveabord on Costa Rica.

Mr Moss and Club on-board the Okeanos Aggressor

Arenal Volcano Hike

The Arenal Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the Americas.


Tour Type: Adventure Tours

Penas Blancas River

Enjoy the sights and the sounds of the rainforest and experience its peacefulness as you quietly paddle the Peñas Blancas River. Monkeys, sloths, iguanas, crocodiles and numerous tropical birds await us! The professional bilingual guide will share with you educational and interesting explanations of the plants and animals we encounter on the float.


Tour Type: Nature Tours

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Monteverde has two cloud forest reserves giving visitors the opportunity to learn about the ecosystems of Costa Rica.


Tour Type: Nature Tours

Zip Line Canopy Tour

Canopy Tour, Walkways, Butterfly Garden, Hummingbird Garden and lunch in the restaurant.


Tour Type: Nature Tours

Destination Fact File

Costa Rica is the perfect destination for a mix of pelagic diving and rainforest exploration.

Climate Information

Wildlife Calendar

Destination Key Information

Currency Costa Rican colón
Time Difference GMT +6
Vaccinations Typhoid, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and influenza.
Tipping Visitors to the country are guests and hospitality is an honour in our culture. Tips are neither expected nor encouraged.
Passport & Visas British passport holder does not need a visa to enter Costa Rica. Your passport should have at least one day’s validity from the date you are leaving Costa Rica. If you hold a passport other than a British Citizen passport, different regulations may apply.
Flight Routes From Heathrow to Costa Rica via Madrid.
International Flight Durations Average 28hours including the stop over.
Luggage Allowance 23 KG
Transfer Information Once you arrive to your destination you will have someone waiting for you to take you to your liveaboard.
Diving Season The island is situated near the Equator where two weather patterns converge, which results in changeable weather, relatively cool equatorial air temperatures averaging 25.5°C, and average annual precipitation of over 7m. If you prefer calmer seas and higher visibility then book your trip between December and May. Rainfall alternates with sunny skies all year round; this however does not affect the diving action. In fact, the best time to dive at Cocos Island is in the 'rainy' season from June to December, when the nutrient upswells attract multitudes of hammerhead sharks. Water temperatures hover between 24-30°C (average 27.8°C) but can vary dramatically dropping up to 6°C due to thermoclines. A 5 mm full length wet suit, hood, gloves and boots are recommended to be prepared for all eventualities. The visibility is not affected by the rainfall very much and can often be up to 25m.