 
Although not
as common, the elusive whale shark and the giant bull
shark are often spotted in the area. Water visibility
is good and can range from 45-90 feet. Temperatures
hover in the upper seventies to low eighties throughout
the year and provide for an exquisite diving experience.
Our
dive center carries only well
serviced, name brand equipment
from Sherwood, O'neill, as
well as other top brands. We are a certified pure air
station. Our PADI instructors
can teach courses ranging from basic open water to divemaster and can conduct many specialty courses of interest.
All our dive rates can be found on our prices page.
Costa
Rica Adventure Divers is located in beautiful Drake
Bay, along the Osa Peninsula. C.R.A.D. offers a wide
range of professional underwater services for the recreational
scuba diver. We are proudly the longest established
PADI International Resort Association facility in southern
Costa Rica. We adhere to PADI's strict regulations regarding
safety and quality of service offered. We are also members
of the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA)
and are Diver Alert Network (DAN) sponsors.
How is the diving from Flamingo ?
Information and Tips
Services Offered: Scuba excursions around Caņo Island and dive education. With a full time
PADI Instructor on staff, we offer a variety of educational
services from beginning open water to divemaster.
We can also conduct a "resort course" (Discover
Scuba Diving) for those who have no experience but who
would like to try this exciting sport.
Night Dives: Available on a limited basis from
January to June.
Visibility: Excellent!! Varies from site to site
but is usually no lower than 40ft and ranges to 100ft
plus making it the best in mainland Costa Rica. Averages 60ft plus.
Temperature Range: High 70's to low 80's with thermoclines
at varying depths.
Exposure Protection Needed: For most people, a 2mm spring suit
(shorty) will suffice. If
you tend to get cold a full 2mm or 3mm suit will almost
always do the job. Our rental department stocks quality
O'neill full 3mm suits.
Marine Life Encountered Around Caņo Island: In one word, abundant!. Humpback, sei,
pilot, and false killer whales, over five species of
dolphin, white tipped reef sharks, bull sharks, giant
pacific manta rays, mobula
rays, southern sting rays, spotted eagle rays,
green sea turtles, snappers, king angels, moorish
idols, trumpet fish, scorpion fish, various types
of eels, spiny lobster, octopus, huge schools of barracuda,
jacks, grunts, and much more.
Coral Formations: Soft fans and hard coral formations
are common but not as colorful
or abundant as the Caribbean.
El Bajo Del Diablo (The Devil's Pinnacle): Depths: 15-100 ft + (5-33m+)
On a good day, this site is by far
the best site in the area and one of the best in the
entire country. A huge area with many sub sites. Towering rock pinnacles rise
from a depth of over 150ft to just under
20 ft. An incredible maze of peaks and valleys. The best visibility, overall fish life and best place to encounter
giant mantas. Snappers and amberjack reaching 70lb, swim along side great schools of barracuda, jacks, reef
sharks and a large number of tropical fishes. Many species
of eels can be found as well.
Cueva Del Tiburon (Shark Cave) Avg. depth: 30-50ft (10-17m)
A small cave that is home to you guessed
it, sharks! Although we do not penetrate the cave, we
will swim up close enough to view the sharks inside.
Other inhabitants include angels, butterfly, damsels
and parrotfish. Over five different types of eels can
be found here as well as moorish
idols, puffers, surgeonfish, and occasional mantas and
stingrays. A very exciting dive.
Los Arcos (The Arches):Avg depth: 30-55ft (10-18m)
Unique rock formations formed in the shape of arches.
Swim through these towering underwater arches and see
fish life similar to the Shark Cave due to its close proximity.
El Barco
Hundido (The Shipwreck):Avg
Depth: 40-65ft (13-21m)
Nicknamed El Barco, aka "El Sharko," for the vast number of sharks seen here.
Although there is no wreck, there are a variety of rock
formations. Fish life is profuse and a great dive to
encounter white tip reef sharks, giant stingrays (up
to 6ft (2m) wide), and an occasional sea turtle.
This site also allows the observant diver a chance to
view the well camouflaged rock scorpion fish!
The Coral Gardens at Barco
Hundido: A short swim
southeast of El Barco will
bring you to the areas' largest concentration of hard
corals. This shallow dive of 15 to 30 feet (5-10m) allows
long bottom times to explore the many fascinating reef
creatures found here.
Paraiso (Paradise): Avg. Depth:
60-70ft (20-23m)
Prolific fish life.
Excellent site to view white tip reef sharks schooling.
Also: Large schools of blue stripped snapper, barracuda,
and grunts. The occasional
school of mobula manta rays
can be found gliding by here as well
.
The Sharks' Lair at Paraiso: About 50 meters from the main rocks at Paraiso, up to 20 white tip reef sharks can be often found
resting under rock overhangs. At times these sleek
creatures will allow the calm diver a chance to swim
within a few feet of where they are resting!
Campenario: Avg Depth 25-45 ft (8-15m)
Located near Corcovado National Park, this inshore site offers large numbers
of rock pinnacles and larger numbers of fish species.
It also offers crevices, swim-throughs,
small caves, and a beautiful array of fans. Due
to its proximity to the mainland, this site cannot be
dived when there is a large swell or during the rainy
season.
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