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2 wrecks await beneath the waves of Isla Uvita. In particular, The Phoenix, a cargo ship which sank several years ago, hosts abundant marine life.
From Puerto Viejo south to the Panamanian border, a long barrier reef sits 50 miles offshore. Largely unexplored, divers can see its soft coral gardens.
Roughly October to January is considered rainy season. Visitors can expect one to two hours of rainfall in the mid-afternoon during these months.
The rainy season is the best time to go if you’re an advanced diver who likes pelagic action. During these months, nutrient swells attract the big animals, but rain creates run-off from the many coastal rivers. This in turn severely hinders visibility in the region.
The benefits of visiting during the rainy season are that the water is usually calm as there is very little wind. Also, fewer tourists arrive during rainy season, making this holiday locale cheaper.
February to September is dry season in Costa Rica. During these months, very little rain falls along the Caribbean coast.
The dry season is the best time to visit Costa Rica if you want to split your time between sunbathing on the beach and diving into the underwater world. Most of the pelagic species found during the rainy season leave this part of Costa Rica and are replaced by a variety of fish and macro species.
It is also the best time to dive in Limon for beginner divers who prefer easy, colorful diving. During these months, divers will benefit from calmer seas and visibility reaching 70 feet (20 meters).
Once every few years, June and July can feature quite a bit of rain. Some people advise not booking a trip during these two months.
Because of the protected status of most of the Caribbean waters in Costa Rica, the marine life you can encounter on your dives is diverse. Off the coast, there are no less than 400 species of fish, 30 species of corals, 11 species of sponges, and 138 species of mollusks. In the coral department, you are sure to see brain, staghorn, fire, and black corals as well as several varieties of sea fans. Turtles, barracudas, lobster, eagle rays, eels, queen fish, reef sharks, angelfish, parrotfish, scorpionfish and trunkfish are just a few of the organisms you might encounter. In addition, seahorses are plentiful in certain areas. And at night, octopus, nudibranchs, Spanish dancers and crabs come out to hunt. At the end of your diving day, your hand will be cramped with all the animals you have to write in your log book.
For better readability of the table, pass into the landscape mode.
