Scuba Diving The Bat Islands in Costa Rica. The Bat Islands are located about 30 miles out to sea off the coast. Fabulous Bat Islands scuba diving day trip prices from Tamarindo in Costa Rica | Dive The World We use cookies to personalise content for you and to analyse our traffic. During these months, very little rain falls throughout the Pacific coast. To dive the Bat Islands you have to travel by boat about 30 miles from towns such as Coco Beach or where our dive shop is located in Playa Ocotal in the province of Guanacaste Costa Rica. We were staying at the Four Seasons, and the ship came to pick us up directly on the beach of the resort. Cocos island is ony run from liveaboards, however divers can explore Bat Islands and Catalina Islands from both land based operators and also with liveaboard options. When we dove it, it was totally manageable. You will need to book a day trip with one of the dive centers to … The major attraction of this cold island is the old prison that is so similar with Alcatraz of USA. PADI Dive Shop. Visit Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Get to know your fellow divers and enjoy the coastal views while you cruise past the Papagayo Gulf – about an hour depending on weather conditions – until you get to the Bat Island Archipelago. Another huge attraction to the Bat Islands is the Pacific Giant Mantas. We did a dive there and saw 6 white tips sharks, a manta and some eagle rays. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. They are very warm and friendly, and it was a pleasure to dive with then. You access it by boat with one of the dive shops from Playa Coco. A boat ride will take you out to this majestic dive site and on the way to the islands you may even get the first glimpse of what awaits in the crystal blue waters; dolphins, turtles and during the right season whales. I have read so many articles on the topic of the When to dive around playa Coco in Costa Rica? The best time of the year is from May until November. We saw 2 bull sharks from far away and 2 mantas. In Playa Flamingo, plenty of luxury beach hotels are located just a few minutes away from the centre. From schools of small fishes to sharks, we felt a bit overwhelmed. The sea is calmer, so this is the best season for beginners divers. You can read my review of the Four Seasons resort here, review of the Quino Al Guardian liveaboard in the sea of Cortez, Sustainability Serie: Misool Resort and the creation of the Misool Marine Reserve, Review of the Misool Resort: a unique retreat with an incredible underwater world, Review of Neomi’s diving liveaboard trip to Misool, Uncrowded diving in Sangihe islands with Sunshine liveaboard. Find out more how we use cookies . Murciélago diving is, of course, for certified divers only. The equipment was quite good. Guanacaste is well-known for its spectacular beaches. A bit of current but nothing that you could not swim against. Considered a scuba diver’s paradise, the 20 islands that make up the Catalina Islands of Costa Ric a are surrounded by pristine water that is often described as being a … Rome2rio makes travelling from Costa Rica to Cook Islands easy. The maximum dive depths are 90ft/30m and our group sizes usually 2 PADI Professionals to 6 diving guests. They often see whale sharks and manta’s there, May to October is the rainy season. In addition to its neighbor, the Bat Islands (Las Islas Murciélagos), the Cats are considered one of the top scuba-diving spots in Costa Rica. We were there mid-august and the rain was not that bad so we could still enjoy a beach vacation in addition to diving. (it's a natural park) Of course we have a permit, so you're more than welcome to come dive with us at RIch Coast Diving! We had been warned about the strong currents. Divers take the plunge in hopes of sighting one of the many species of rays known to dwell in the islands' waters such as spotted eagle rays and devil manta rays. We were staying at the Four Seasons, and the ship came to pick us up directly on the beach of the resort. 8 Day Adventure Tour in Costa Rica. 1 review. We went on a deserted island with a pretty beach for lunch, and they provided lunch burritos. ... We did a tour to the Island from the Jaguars Jungle Lodge and it was incredible! The dive sites are approximately a 50 minute trip with our boat from our Playa Ocotal location. The indigo waters surrounding the Catalina Islands serve as a haven for a spectacular array of marine life. Bat Island (Isla Murcielagos) is located in the Santa Rosa national park, one of the oldest national park in Costa Rica. 5 Days Wildlife Tour in Drake Bay, Sierpe, Corcovado and Osa. It was an exciting ride as we kept seeing animals in the water. Altitude: Sea Level. Quick View. The Catalinas Islands: At a Glance. We are a Scuba Diving instructor and more to get … Our boats have an area in the shade, shore communication systems, oxygen, and a first aid kit. Cano island is known as the best place to scuba dive in Costa Rica, except for Cocos Island.However, Cano is much more accessible, and there are many dive resorts and dive companies that can take you from Drake Bay or other areas in the Osa Peninsula to the dive sites. Crossing them … Don’t forget to look at the walls because there are also nudibranchs, Muray eels, and octopuses to be found. The best time to visit Bat Islands is from May to end of September.It’s an hour long ride by boats. We saw a pregnant white tip shark as well as some nurse sharks. They came to pick us up with their boat directly at the Four Seasons, so it was convenient. Bat Island (Isla Murcielagos) is located in the Santa Rosa national park, one of the oldest national park in Costa Rica. The travel time is approx 1 hour and 30 mins. The boat ride from the Four seasons took us about 70 minutes to Bat Island. Getting to Bat island and the Santa Rosa National Park in Costa Rica. There are some excellent dives within Papagayo Bay. Travel to Panama City, fly to San Jose • 3h 12m. The boat then will travel straight across the Gulf de Papagayo to the Bat Islands. We dove with Rockdivers Costa Rica. Last modified June 12, 2013, Map of the Bat Islands – Not Labelled by Google Maps, The blue whales in the Pacific Ocean are majestic creatures, Inhabiting the worlds tropical and subtropical waters, tri, The green sea turtle, also known as Chelonia mydas, belong, The Pacific Ocean is host to a variety of different scorpion, Easily mistaken as sea snakes, eels are actually elongated f, Mobula Ray are cartilaginous fishes that belong to, Spadefish belong to the fish family Ephippidae, an, The Ballistic Nature of Costa Rica’s Triggerfish, The Colorful Life of Costa Rica’s Nudibranch. It is a place that deserves to be better known. Right next to the Four Seasons hotel, there is a place called Monkey head. And we had not even put our head in the water yet… It looked very promising! Catalina Island is also a popular place, which is about 60 minutes away from the four seasons. I have never seen as many octopuses as on this dive site. The Bat Islands are a world class dive location that has been protected by the Costa Rican government. Where else to dive on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica? But you might get rained on the way to the dive sites. Designated as the 2nd best snorkel and scuba diving site in Costa Rica, Caño Island, or Isla de Caño sits in the Pacific Ocean about 52 kilometers (32 miles) from Marino Ballena National Park.This biological reserve is home to a copious amount of marine wildlife such as sharks, eagle rays, fish and turtles. This is luxury travel had a chance to dive there and was very impressed by the number of fishes. And of course, we have refreshments and fresh fruits on board. In order to reach the Bat Islands, you should first fly into Costa Rica If you fly on San Jose you can take a bus to Playas del Coco which lies in the province of Guanacaste, where you should be able to find a few dive shops. The area is mostly known for spotting bull sharks. Sep 7, 2019 - Explore Sirenas Diving Costa Rica's board "Bat Islands (Isla Murciélagos) Costa Rica", followed by 298 people on Pinterest. North Pacific ( Guanacaste) Gulf of Papagayo (Guanacaste/ Northern Pacific) -Over 20 dive sites on submerged pinnacle packed full of life within a 10 to 20-minute boat ride from shore. You can also see pacific manta and schools of the smaller devil ray in Bat Islands. Bat Islands charters depart at 6:30am from Tamarindo. The beautiful Caño Island reserve Snorkeling at Caño Island. They had plenty of snacks on board ( the pineapple was delicious!). December to April is the dry season. December to April is dry season in Costa Rica. More info. They are actually located just off the coast of Santa Rosa National Park, which is famous for it’s landscape, wildlife, as well of some … $760.00 per adult. The Islands are located in the far north of Costa Rica and are at the edge of Santa Rosa National Park. From January 4 – 17, Costa Rica’s beaches are closed after 2:30pm. There are 8 ways to get from San Blas Islands to Costa Rica by plane, bus or ferry. This national park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997 for its unmatched natural beauty and rich biodiversity. Rockdivers Costa Rica is the #1 Dive Shop in Playas del Coco, TripAdvisor Rating. TIP: In August, the water temperature was around 27 degrees, so a 3 millimeters wetsuit is probably sufficient. It takes us about 1 hour to get from Playas del Coco to the Bat Islands – Islas Murcielagos. The BCD they lend me even had integrated weight pockets. If you like diving with big fishes, this might be one of the best easily accessible places in central America for diving. The boat offers covered area, shore communication system, oxygen and a first aid kit. Black Rock is a submerged peninsula. Made up of 20 small islands, the Catalina archipelago is a scuba paradise. The Bat Islands (or Isla Murciealgo in spanish) are located on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica off of the northern province of Guanacaste. Tamarindo, 25 minutes vehicle drive away, is a paradise of white sandy beaches, manglares, sea birds and iguanas. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Costa Rica diving is famous because of Coco islands, but few people have heard of Bat island and Catalina in the Santa Rosa national park. The dry season is the best time to visit Playas del Coco if you want to split your time between sunbathing on the beach and diving into the underwater world. Chira Island Tourism: Tripadvisor has 23 reviews of Chira Island Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Chira Island resource. The Bat Islands are part of the Santa Rosa National Park, just off the Playas del Coco in Northwestern Costa Rica. The Catalina Islands aka “the Cats” are, without a doubt, one of the most sought-after scuba dive locations in Costa Rica. The waters in the Gulf de Papagayo are heavily influenced by the wind. Make sure when you book a trip to the bats to get a dive shop with a permit. If they don't charge you this fee, they are not allowed to visit the Bats. Bat Islands Costa Rica: Incredible Scuba Diving and Snorkeling For more information about the best diving in Central America, check out my review of the Quino Al Guardian liveaboard in the sea of Cortez and diving Cabo Pulmo in Mexico. Located 45 minutes by boat from Playa Ocotal on the mainland, the area is a protected marine preserve as part of the national park. The Bat Islands are one of the most impressive scuba diving destinations in all of Costa Rica. Local, Catalina's and Bat Island trips! The most remarkable aspect of this dive site is the massive amount of fishes. 2 reviews. Diving Bat island in Costa Rica was surprisingly good and full of big pelagics. The Bat Islands are the only destination in Costa Rica to dive with bull sharks. More info. Go and dive there before it becomes too popular. Recommended option. There is a colony of bull sharks often hanging there from May to October. You can read my review of the Four Seasons resort here. The landscape is a lot of rock formations with plenty of hiding places for fishes and other creatures. I was surprised as I thought that fishing would not be allowed in a national park ☹. Your email address will not be published. blogger lovers but this post is genuinely a pleasant article, keep it up. Big scare is a rock that sees significant fishes action. A visit to San Lucas Island gives the opportunity not only to see a historical place but also to get enjoyment of boating around the island. The Bat Islands are also a good place to view the Pacific Giant Mantas and the smaller Devil Rays, which can sometimes be seen swimming in schools of a few hundred or more. We saw many groups of dolphins, turtles, and rays jumping out. Location: 2 to 15 miles offshore (west) of Flamingo. The Bat Islands are considered a world-class dive area. IMPORTANT! These islands are one of the only places in Costa Rica that you can dive with the bull sharks. It’s located in the Santa Rosa National Park, which is a protected area, and divers are asked to pay a $15 park fee. We saw sharks rays, big snapper, and so much more. Bat Islands is all about sharks. Very convenient! It is the best place to stay in the region so don’t miss it. The trip may be rough depending on winds. Have fun in COsta RIca! You access it by boat with one of the dive shops from Playa Coco. Who to dive with at Bat Island Costa Rica? See more ideas about bull shark, whale song, pilot whale. I am looking forward to going back there and experience more dive sites in the area. Ask and pay your $6 entrance fee. It is a small dive shop in Playa Coco managed by Rocky and CJ, a Canadian/ US couple. Diving here is reserved for advanced divers. Most big pelagics leave the area at that time, but you can still see mantas. $1,744.00 per adult. After the two dives we return to Tamarindo at approximately 1:30pm. It is the best season to see large pelagics like whale sharks and  Bull sharks. The worst month of the year to dive is in October so avoid it if you can. ... Murciélago is the premier scuba destination in Costa Rica. They have their own boat and dive equipment. ... howler monkeys, pheasants, deer, and several types of bats wander in a free state. Getting to Guanacaste and the Bat Islands It's possible to visit some of the dive areas as part of a day trip, however they'll likely be crowded and quite brief, and so in order to get the most out of what is on offer underwater your best bet is to jump aboard a liveaboard cruise which will sail you to many of the less frequented spots, allowing diving in undisturbed and pristine waters.,/p> If you like bull sharks and are an advanced diver, the rainy season, considered May – November, is the best time to go, as nutrient swells attract those majestic predators to the Bat Islands. Find all the transport options for your trip from Costa Rica to Cook Islands right here. Anything can pass by, and we have been told of sightings of humpback whales, mola molas and even whale sharks, We were the only dive boat in the area, which was great but there was also 2 fishing boats very near the dive site. Landscape is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get and. 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