Any info about diving on the Carib side of Costa Rica.

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willmacd - 13 Oct 2006 05:41 GMT

Hi, I'v been thinking about aspending a couple of weeks on the Carib
side of Costa Rica as it seems to be less touristy and less crowded.
Specificall south of Limon around Puerto Vargas, Cahuita, Puerto Viego
etc.
I would appreciate it if anyone any experience, thoughts, ideas, info
about diving around these areas etc that they could pass on.
Regards,
William.

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Greg Mossman - 13 Oct 2006 15:25 GMT

> Hi, I'v been thinking about aspending a couple of weeks on the Carib
> side of Costa Rica as it seems to be less touristy and less crowded.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Regards,
> William.

I've heard it sucks. Haven't actually tried it, though, because I've heard
it sucks.

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Eric Berg - 13 Oct 2006 16:28 GMT

> Hi, I'v been thinking about aspending a couple of weeks on the Carib
> side of Costa Rica as it seems to be less touristy and less crowded.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> about diving around these areas etc that they could pass on.
> Regards, William.

While we technically didn't dive the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, we did
take the journey south to Panama, and dove around the islands of Bocas del
Toro. I'll repost what I wrote after that trip as a response to another
poster's inquiry:

<begin repost>

Spent time in Bocas in April of '05.
Journeyed into Panama via the Caribbean border at Sixaola after spending a
week in Puerto Viejo, CR.

This was *not* a "dive trip". Rather, it was more of a walkabout where a
diving opportunity presented itself.

Bocas is a beautiful area, well worth a visit.
While I certainly wouldn't go there just for diving, it's not a bad way to
spend a day or two.

We stopped in at Bocas Water Sports, right on the main drag of Bocas Town.
The shop well organized, and the staff friendly and competent. I asked a
few questions, looked at the rental gear (as I said, we were not there for
diving, and had not brought our gear), and set up a dive for the next day.

While the diving is not world-class (seems the run-off from banana
plantations, etc. has definitely impacted the coral), it was enjoyable
enough. We dove at 'Coral Cay' and 'The Gardens'. Both averaged around 60',
with bottom time of about an hour) Saw a fair amount of small critters
(lobsters, crabs, squid, morays, puffers, and some bristleworms, looking
back at my log) with reasonably decent viz.

However, there was a bonus: it wasn't *just diving. We actually started the
morning doing a little dolphin watching from the boat, before proceeding to
the first dive. After a decent surface interval, we did our second dive.
Upon completion, we then boated over to a beautiful little island, where we
did a bushwalk to observe the endemic red frog. Finally, we ended up at a
spectacular beach for a little swimming and body surfing. Returned to the
shop just a bout dinner time.

How much, you ask? How about $50 bucks for the whole day?

Like I've said, not world-class diving, but a pretty damn fine time, all
things considered.

> Any advice or recommendations for dive shops and hotels will be
> appreciated.

Good experience with Bocas Water Sports, and we stayed at the Hotel Angela.
It's off the main drag, but right on the water. The owner, an expat from
Memphis, was an exceptional host. Excellent on-site restaurant, and very
reasonable. Highly recommended.

<end repost>

Feel free to ask any specific questions you might have.

Cheers!

EFB

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