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Costa Rica | Costa Rica Dive and Surf | Caño Island Scuba Diving and Snorkeling trip

Costa Rica | Costa Rica Dive and Surf | Caño Island Scuba Diving and Snorkeling trip

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Overview

Costa Rica Dive and Surf’s Caño Island Scuba Diving Tour is your ticket to spectacular dive sites widely praised as some of the best scuba diving in the world, not just the best Costa Rica scuba diving. The Caño Island Biological Reserve is a veritable wonderland of marine life, replete with vibrant coral and stunning aquatic creatures.

  • Tour meets at 7 am at our Uvita dive shop and returns between 3:00-4:00 pm
DISTANCE FROM SHORE 53 km; Average 80 minutes from the coast
VISIBILITY From 20 to 60 feet
MAX DEPTH From 30 to 100 feet
TEMPERATURE From 70ºF to 86ºF
CURRENTS Presence of moderate currents and small waves. Strong currents and surge possible at Bajo del Diablo.
BOTTOM TYPE Rock formations and sand bottoms.
COMMON SPECIES White tip reef sharks, jacks, Southern sting rays, snappers, puffer fishes, angel fish, butterfly fish, moray eels, octopuses, sea turtles, lobsters

Just 32 miles offshore of Dominical Beach and positioned squarely within a massive current of the Pacific Ocean, Isla del Caño draws a diverse population of migratory creatures, such as whales and turtles, to its adjacent environs as well as hosting over 70 indigenous species within its borders. The colorful and majestic living-reef system surrounding the island is replete with marine organisms, including multiple types of Shellfish, Sponges, Mollusks, Arthropods, Fish, Marine Reptiles and Sea Mammals. Common, Bottlenose and Spotted Dolphins are regularly seen, as well as White Tip and Reef Sharks. Eagle Rays, Giant Manta Rays and Moray Eels are also regular sights on many of our dives. If you’re really lucky you might see a Whale Shark or a Humpback Whale. These animals —while rare—have been spotted during some of our Caño Island Scuba Diving Tours during whale-watching season.

The Mini Cocos Island

The island was founded in 1978 as part of the Costa Rican National Park System. “La Reserva Biológica Isla del Caño”, protects 800 acres of land on the island itself. It also protects  over 14,000 surrounding marine acres. The Caño Island Biological Reserve was one of the very first reserves created for the enormous Costa Rican National Parks. These Parks protect a stunning 25 percent of all the land in Costa Rica. Also protect 10 vast stretches of the adjacent Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

Caño Island is often referred to as “Mini Cocos Island” due to similarities in their ecosystems, unspoiled state of preservation, well-deserved reputation for water visibility and the diversity of its underwater fauna. There are strict government policies on the number of daily visitors to the island as well as the number of boats which are allowed to anchor with scuba divers and snorkelers. making reservations as far in advance as possible is strongly recommended.

About the Caño Island Scuba Diving Tour

Leaving bright and early, much of the trip will be spent in transit in full view of the majestic panorama of the Costa Ballena. This is a unique area of Costa Rica where Pacific Ocean waves lap against the shores of the coastal mountain range. Various sea creatures such as dolphins and whales are regularly seen along the way.

Once we arrive at the island, two dives will be performed at different locations. Locations are chosen depending on conditions at the island and the guidance of our knowledgeable Captain and Divemaster.

The quantity and sheer diversity of the Costa Rica Marine Life you will encounter on an Isla del Caño Scuba Diving Tour is so truly astounding.  You might want to reserve your spot right then for the next day’s tour! We always operate with small groups, keeping your Caño Island Scuba Tour friendly, intimate and safe. If you’re looking for the best Costa Rica scuba diving available, Isla del Caño is where you will find it!

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Ethics

At Terra Incognita we support tours that do good in the world. They must help conserve the environment, support local people and provide educational opportunities for guests and staff, or be actively working to improve in these areas.

What conservation activities do you support through the tour, and your wider operations?

We are participating in the Sea Star System which involves many conservation efforts in all the departments (workers, operation, inventory, equipment, water, electricity), also we work together with other tour operators and people from the community to do beach cleanups and ocean cleanups.

How does the tour support local people?

80% of the crew is local people.

What type of environmental education activities do you incorporate into your tour?

During the tours, briefings contain important information regarding global warming, coral bleaching, conservation efforts and details about the marine species.

Certificates

Soon we are going to get the Sea Star System and we are working to get the Sustainable Tourism Certificate by the Costa Rican Tourism Board.

Top 5 achievements

1. Work with the community doing conservation projects

2. Educate people about the importance of conservation and the resources we have left

3. Taking people to a Biological Reserve to see how beautiful the ecosystems are when they're alive

4. We are not using One Single Use plastic products and we have organic sunscreen for our clients.

5. We are working now on creating all the liabilities and digital paperwork and we are working on the idea of being a carbon offset dive center.

What new sustainability steps or initiatives do you plan to take next?

  • Create our own greenhouse to grow the food we take for the tours.
  • Participate or develop programs for Environmental Education to support the local schools
  • Use our resources for research programs in the Ocean.

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Company Name

Costa Rica Dive and Surf

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About Company

Costa Rica Dive and Surf was founded in 2007, with the dream of becoming Costa Rica’s premier diving school, surf school and tour company.

In the beginning, we began meticulously searching both the Caribbean and the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica for the best, most untouched coastline we could find. What eventually really stood out to us was the Costa Ballena, the jewel of the entire South Central Pacific Coast. It caught our attention because it was one of the few places in the Americas where a mountain range transitions directly into the Pacific Ocean. Descending from the highest point in Costa Rica, Cerro Chirripo, until it sinks below our beautiful crystal blue waters, the Talamanca range and its adjacent coastline seemed a perfect location for us both personally and professionally.

The South Central Pacific looked to be one of Costa Rica’s last frontiers and we were just as excited to explore it ourselves as we are were to showcase it to our clients. It was a match made on earth in a place just like heaven.

Costa Rica Dive and Surf, a pioneer Dive Center

Costa Rica Dive and Surf, was one of the first Dive Centers to explore the pristine reef system protected by the Marino Ballena National Park. The Park safeguards the vital central portion of Central America’s largest and most unspoiled Pacific reef. In addition to the Marino Ballena National Park, we are also one of the few dive centers lucky enough to be allowed access to Caño Island National Park, a spectacular island 40 miles off the coast and protected by the Costa Rican government for over 25 years.

With these two amazing locations on our doorstep and hands down the best diving, surfing and SUP sites in the country nearby, we began a journey that has been filled with amazing success supporting our growth as eco-centric people running an eco-centric business. Thanks to the support of great friends, local people, clients from around the globe, and Mother Earth, we are living the dream and our primary goal is for you to experience as much of that dream as we can in whatever time we have with you.

Our mission moving forward, after 8 years of running strong and now with Dive Centers in both Dominical and Uvita, is to retain our place as the best dive and surf school in the country, and stake our claim as one to the premier tour operators in Costa Rica, offering a much wider range of experiences for our clients. Continually raising the bar as far as safety, equipment, vessels and staff, you will find no other company within Costa Rica with as high standards, respect for the local people, and love of the environment. In addition, as a brand, we plan on expanding to other areas within Costa Rica, as well as Central America.

Costa Rica Dive and Surf is a family

At Costa Rica Dive and Surf we welcome everyone as friends and always part as family. We love what we do and enjoy showcasing this amazing place we call home to every person we are blessed with as clients. We look forward to another 10 years of sharing the wonders of Costa Rica and the world with each and every one of you! Namaste!

Tour Website

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Cost

Price per person is $175 for Caño Island Scuba Diving and $130 for Caño Island Snorkeling.

Includes national park fees, equipment, dive or snorkel guide, lunch and a great time.

Group size

Minimum 4 people required per tour, but can be mixed Divers and Snorkelers

Please contact us if your group is smaller than 4 people, as we may be able to combine you with another group

info@costaricadiveandsurf.com
www.costaricadiveandsurf.com

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    About Terra Incognita

    We believe that ecotourism can be a powerful force for good in the world, and seek to promote the best examples of ecotourism worldwide.

    Our mission is to empower a global community that travels for good.

    Our vision is a world where tourism drives positive change for people and wildlife.

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