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Bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea in the heart of Central America, Costa Rica is a prime adventure-tourism and ecotourism destination that offers divers and snorkelers of every level an adventurous expedition under water.

Scuba Diving here tempts daredevils from beginner to expert to step up. Winner of Rodale’s Scuba Diving Magazine’s 2004 Readers’ Choice Award, Costa Rica’s Pacific coast is listed as a top five destination for advanced scuba diving.

Spectacular palettes of color greet divers as they explore immaculate coral reef formations. Throughout Costa Rica, professional diving tour companies offer services, equipment and accessories, and everything else needed for a safe and fun diving experience.

With such spectacular beauty under the water, be sure to have a good scuba diving mask or if you are not certified diver, make sure you have one of the new full face snorkeling masks. Having a quality mask that doesn’t fog or fill with water will give you the best views!

There are even open water diving courses available for everyone from beginners to instructors to the physically challenged. All are offered in accordance with PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors, located in California), NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors), and SSI (Scuba Schools International).

Do not forget these important tips to ensure a safe and fun diving experience. Seek out reputable companies with ties to established professional and licensing associations and make sure the operators with valid permits. Verify that any vessel you board has the emergency equipment required by law and good sense. The Adventure Tourism Regulation oversees the regulating of diving in Costa Rica. The website for the Adventure Tourism Regulation can also be visited when searching for the available diving tours in Costa Rica.

Cocos Island is a world-famous National Park established in 1978. Located on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, this 1997 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) World Natural Heritage Site is a real treasure for divers. The journey takes approximately a day and a half but is well worth it. Lovers of natural environments and exotic marine life will not be disappointed.

The Central Pacific region, with its extraordinary rock formations and underwater caves offers ideal diving conditions. Submerged caverns like those found in the Manuel Antonio National Park offer unique areas of exploration not found anywhere else. The beautiful waters at Cathedral Point, Puerto Escondido, and the Mogote and Olocuita Islands are also prime areas for exploration.

Mystical waters surround a fabulous coral reef ecosystem in the largely unexplored South Pacific region of Costa Rica. Protected by the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge and the Cahuita National Park, one of a kind experiences are sure to be found beneath the crystal clear waters.

It is amazing that even without any diving infrastructure, the coast attracts so many divers. Guanacaste is a giant bay off the northwest coast, which has access to Catalina and Bat Islands both major dive areas. The southern presents the opportunity to see turtles, rays, and white-tip reef sharks.

No matter what level of experience you have with scuba diving, Costa Rica is sure to be one of your favorite locations.

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