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Dive Review of Ocotal Beach Resort in
Costa Rica

Ocotal Beach Resort, Sep, 2003,

by A. Segal, TN, US . Report 725.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 2 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Very intimate hotel. Great service everywhere. Most rooms are set in buildings spaced out hillside. Some beachfront rooms. The top rooms have spectacular view. Very long walk. There is a shuttle that takes people from beach to their rooms. Swim up bar on beach and some buildings have their own small pools. Only rained twice in the evening, otherwise perfect weather. Basic, pretty and clean rooms. Gorgeous setting. Fantastic dive shop. Never had to touch equipment if didn't want to. Always had plenty of water, snacks, fresh fruit. Very good briefings and overview of boat layout. Several sharks (bull & white tip), a few large rays, huge variety of eels in all sizes, dolphins and many turles on the surface during boat rides. Backward roll off boat and a line off the bow to go down. A bit of current, alot of surge. I was told prior to my going by other divers who had been there that I would need a heavy wetsuit (5mm). Maybe I got lucky with water temp, but I felt my 5mm shorty was too much. But I was trying to break it in since it was new, so I stuck with it. Others used 3mm. My male dive buddy felt the same way. There were thermoclines but nothing that lasted long or was terribly uncomfortable. The dives at Bat Island and Catalina were a little more rigid as they are more difficult dives. On one dive my dive buddy and I got separated from the group--which is easy considering the vis. Although we were not lost, we were headed back in the correct direction, they did send a divemaster to get us. I apologized immediately if we worried anyone or if we held up the group, and was told no problem. He said glad we were having a good time and not to worry. No chastising, no condeming, no glares, no yelling or demeaning tactics. Everyone was treated as responsible divers. Most everyone on boat was very experienced. Could go on forever regarding the country. Beautiful! Alot to do in C.R. other than diving! Maybe not the most beautiful dives (i.e. coral) but very exciting. Would go back to Costa Rica and Ocotal in a heartbeat.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Grand Turk, Provo, Roatan, Dominica, St Lucia, Curacao, Bonaire, Cancun, Jamaica
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, rainy Seas choppy, surge
Water Temp 72-80°F / 22-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 15-40 Ft/ 5-12 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions A bit stricter on Bat Island and Catalina dives.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 2 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 4 stars

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

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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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.

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