Main Menu
Join Undercurrent on Facebook

The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 | |
For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975
"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other
source dares to publish" -- Forbes
X
 

Dive Review of Agua Rica/Cala Luna in
Costa Rica/Tamarindo

Agua Rica/Cala Luna, Nov, 2002,

by Martin Raffauf, CA, USA . Report 295.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving 1 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 2 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Agua Rica is located in Tamarindo on Pacific coast. Dives only at Santa Catalina Islands (which is good). THe marine life there is prolific - lots of sharks, rays, eels, tons of fish, large shools, wahoo, tuna etc. Ocasional whale sharks, although Nov is not the time(usually in spring). The Santa Catalinas are one of the better sites on pacific side of COsta Rica. Agua Rica is run by two expat italians, Claudio and Toni who do a decent job. They do all the diving at Catalinas, which is good. Their boats were both out for repair when we were there, and they were using smaller rented boats which were bad. Boats were too small for the sea conditions resulting in rough rides, and one of them broke down on two successive days. However as compensation, they gave us a discount and free t-shirts.
The boat ride from Tamarindo is about 45 minutes as opposed to 1.5 hrs from Playa Coco and Hermosa. However you can reach Bat Islands from Hermosa, but its too far for a day trip from Tamarindo.
Costa Rica diving Pacific side is for more experienced. The boat rides, current, surge etc can be rough. Visability varies dependant on rains and runoff. Lots of runoff, limited vis, but lots of plankton, so many fish. Pelagics on every dive - sharks on every dive along with eels, other pelagic fish. Large shools of fish. Forget the inshore sites, just go to Catalinas, or Bat Islands further north.
THere are no docks at Tamarindo, so boat boarding is via small skiff on beach, with transfer to larger boat.
Tamarindo accomodations range from basic to excellent. Cala Luna resort is excellent. Clean, nice rooms, excellent food, good service. The attitude of the concierge there is "yes", what ever you want - Yes. They are very helpful with info, and will organize anything you wish. Costa Rica has alot of other attractions other than diving. Jungle canopy tour at Tamarindo was excellent, as was the Tabacon Hot springs at the Live Arenal volcano. Driving in Costa Rica is best described as "an adventure". There are now direct flights on Delta to Liberia in the north - otherwise you are in for a 4-5 hour drive from San Jose on two lane roads with lots of trucks and traffic.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Hawaii, Florida, Austrailia, Palau, Solomons, Costa Rica, Caymans, Bahamas, Bonaire, Cozumel
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas choppy, surge, currents
Water Temp 77-80°F / 25-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 20-50 Ft/ 6-15 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions LImitations by site - computer users could basically dive till 500 psi left
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 5 stars
Large Pelagics 4 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities 1 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 1 stars Shore Facilities 1 stars
UW Photo Comments Not really setup for U/W photogs at all. Boats small, ride to sites is usually rough (at this time of year), Vis is low (at this time of year) - however fish life is huge.
Was this report helpful to you?
Leave a comment (Subscribers only -- 200 words max)
Subscribers can comment here
 

Subscribe Now
Subscribers can post comments, ask the reviewer questions, as well as getting immediate and complete access to ALL 166 dive reviews of Costa Rica and all other dive destinations. Complete access to all issues and Chapbooks is also included.

 
Featured Links from Our Sponsors
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Reef & Rainforest, Let our experience be your guide -- Reef and Rainforest
Reef & Rainforest
is an agency for travelers that like to scuba dive. Let us plan your trip to mingle with hundreds of swirling hammerheads, sharks, & rays of Cocos in Costa Rica.

Want to assemble your own collection of Costa Rica reports in one place?
Use the Mini Chapbook Facility to create your personalized collection.

Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

Undercurrent Home


Get more dive info like these and other important scuba updates sent monthly to your email.
And a FREE Recent Issue of Undercurrent

Free Undercurrent Issue
Get a free
monthly email and
a sample issue!


Find in  

| Home | Online Members Area | My Account | Login | Join |
| Travel Index | Dive Resort & Liveaboard Reviews | Featured Reports | Recent Issues | Back Issues |
| Dive Gear Index | Health/Safety Index | Environment & Misc. Index | Seasonal Planner | Blogs | Free Articles | Book Picks | News |
| Special Offers | RSS | FAQ | About Us | Contact Us | Links |

Copyright © 1996-2024 Undercurrent (www.undercurrent.org)
3020 Bridgeway, Ste 102, Sausalito, Ca 94965
All rights reserved.

Page computed and displayed in 0.09 seconds