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Corcovado and Isla del Caño or Caño Island
protect one of the most untouched underwater habitats.
Snorkeling or diving in Caño Island is amont
the best in Centralamerica. Cristal clear water ( up
to 100 feet visibility ) and a large and rich variety
of underwater fauna and marine species make these waters
a natural and national treasure. Although not part of
Corcovado National Park, Isla del Caño is usually
included in all Corcovado Packages.
Whales and Dophins
 
 
Caño Island
Location: It is located in the Pacific
Ocean in front of Corcovado National Park, 15 Km. out
to sea from the San Pedrillo post. Importance: It is
archeologically most significant, because it was used
as a pre - Columbian cemetery. The area's most important
attraction is its marine resources. The ecosystems forested
by the reefs provide the organic platforms for the maintenance
of a great diversity of marine organisms, such as reef
- dwelling fish, mollusks crustaceans and echinoderms
among others.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling Corcovado and Caño
Island
Diving
on the southern Pacific Coast
of Costa Rica can be simply described as spectacular.
Costa Rica Adventure Divers explores several sites around
the small island of Caño .
Protected as a biological reserve by the Costa Rican
Government, the water surrounding the island is extremely
pristine and teeming with life. Twelve miles west of
Drake bay, Caño Island offers some of the most exciting
diving anywhere in the world. A wide variety of marine
life can be discovered beneath the island waters.
Perhaps the most memorable encounters
occur with the pelagics that inhabit the area. Schools of mobula rays (devil rays),
turtles, and white tip reef sharks can be seen on many
dives. On almost every dive, the large schools of fish
swimming around and overhead can be breathtaking. Sometimes
the numbers are so great that sunlight can actually
be blocked by these large schools of fish, creating
an underwater eclipse.
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 Caño 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 Caño 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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