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SCUBA DIVING & SNORKELING AT CAÑO ISLAND

« From La Cusinga Lodge »

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Location

Caño Island Biological Reserve is located 16.5 kilometers west of the Osa Peninsula in the Pacific Ocean andconsist of 300 hectares of land and 2,700 hectares of sea. The jagged coastline is 10 kilometers long with small white sand beaches, rocky platforms and cliffs up to 60 meters high. In the center of the island there is a wide plateau, divided into two by a watershed crisscrossed by rivers and streams that plunge down the cliffs into the sea.

The geological history of the island indicates that it is the product of plate tectonics, and in this case the subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the Caribbean Plate. The forests on the island are mainly composed of perennial species typical of very moist tropical forests. Predominant species in the primary forest are fig trees, locusts, wild cacaos, rubber trees, numerous vines epiphytes and the cow tree believed to have been planted by the native Indians.

The climate is very hot and humid with average temperatures of 26° - 28°C. The clear waters surrounding Caño Island are home to an array of fish species, making it a great spot for either snorkelling or scuba diving.

History

The Spanish explorer Juan de Castañada first visited Caño Island in 1519, and named the island after a waterfall that plunges down the cliffs. The existence of stone spheres, tombs with stone statues, golden votive offerings and polychrome ceramics gave rise to a theory that the island was used only as a cemetery for important persons during the pre-Columbian period. However, remains of domestic pottery and stone farming implements suggest that local Indians inhabited the island 500 years ago.

Excursions to Caño Islands

Caño Island is one of Costa-Rica's premier snorkelling and diving spots. The island is surrounded by 5 marine platforms or low coral reefs where 15 species of stony corals have been identified.

Our adventure begins with a short 90-minute boat ride across the clear waters of the Pacific Ocean to Caño Island. Along the way, we might encounter turtles, manta rays, spotted spinner or bottlenose dolphins swimming around our boat. Once we arrive our divemaster will point out the best spots for seeing marine life and then lead divers through the exotic underwater realm. Our snorkelling trips offer the opportunity to explore the reefs and island at your leisure.

While underwater, you can encounter species of fish like the king angel, moorish idol, puffers, surgeon fish, snapper, barracuda, barber fish, parrot fish, damsel fish and a variety of eels hiding around the coral lined rock formations. Turtles, rays and the non-aggressive reef shark are also in the area. The island also offer a shaded picnic area next to the beach where you can enjoy your lunch, and trails leading into the jungle allowing you to explore the island.

Caño Island Dive Sites

El Bajo Del Diablo: (The Depth of the Devil)
El Bajo Del Diablo, known as the Depth of the Devil, is by far the best site. It covers a huge area and is actually sub-divided into many smaller secluded sites. The towering rock pinnacles range from over 150 ft to just under 20 ft, and are among the best sites to encounter moray eel, mantas, spotted eagle rays and more than 4 different species of eels. It's incredible maze of peaks and valleys is home to groupers, snappers and amberjack (some weighing as much as 70 pounds!) and gives divers a chance to swim amongst enormous schools of tuna, barracuda, reef sharks and scores of tropical fish.

Cueva Del Tiburon: (Shark Cave)

The Cueva Del Tiburon, or Shark Cave, is frequented by beautiful white-tip reef sharks. Other inhabitants of the area include angels, butterfly, damsels, parrot fish, moorish idols, lobsters, puffers, and sturgeon fish. Occasional visitors like the mantas and stingrays can also be found in this area, adding to the already phenomenal experience for any diver.

Los Arcos: (The Arches)

Los Arcos, or The Arches, are made up of unique arch-shaped rock formations. Divers can swim through these towering underwater arches and see fish life similar to the Shark Cave.

El Barco: (The wreck)

El Barco's name is perhaps misleading, for there's no wreck there. It is instead made up of a variety of rock formations and plentiful hard corals. The large array of marine life gives divers opportunities to encounter white tip reef sharks, manta rays and occasional sea turtles.

Paraiso: (Paradise)

Paraiso, or Paradise, is famous for its abundant marine life. Divers here might encounter white-tip sharks, schools of big groupers, snappers, tuna and many smaller species of tropical fish.

Snorkeling from Ballena National Marine Park

(From La Cusinga Lodge)

Location

Ballena National Marine Park is the first marine park in Latin America. It was created in February of 1990 to protect the coral and rock reefs. The clear waters around its dramatic coastline of pristine sandy beaches and rocky shores are home to many tropical fish.

The park covers 13 kilometers of coastline from Uvita Point to Pinuela Beach and consists of 5,375 hectares of marine environment. Within the park is a system of reefs and islands called Las Tres Hermanas. This natural barrier, which includes several unique geological formations, not only protects the coastline but also creates some of the best diving and snorkelling in Costa Rica.

The island group Las Tres Hermanas is an important roost for seabirds and home to two species of reptiles, the iguana (Iguana Iguana) and the cherepos (Basilicus Basilicus). The island is also a refuge and roosting site for magnificent frigate birds.

Excursions to Ballena National Marine Park

El Tómbolo:

El Tombolo is 5 metres wide and is situated in Punta Uvita, which was once an island. After years of sediment accumulation, it has transformed the island into a peninsula that can be walked at low tide. Along the Tombolo one can see sponges, sea anemones, corals, mollusks, crabs and echinoderms.

The coastline is fringed with lush vegetation, mainly coconut trees, beach almonds, mahoes and poros. The vegetation on the mainland is complemented by the underwater world of coral reefs and by the islands.

The bays of the park host swarms of anchovies, lobsters, catfish, flying fish, trunk fish, trigger fish, Caribbean snook, jew fish, common dolphins and bottle-nosed dolphins. From December to April the park is home to humpback whales, an endangered species of which only 5,000 remain today.

Ballena National Marine Park protects a variety of important habitats, including sandy and rocky beaches, estuaries, mangroves, cliffs, islands, rocky shoals, and coral reef. The range of habitats represents a very important environment for the preservation and reproduction of marine diversity.

The sandy beaches are visited by olive ridley and hawksbill turtles from May to November, with the highest concentration of visits in September and October. The turtles make the beaches of Ballena Park particularly special as they make their way onto the beaches at night to lay their eggs.

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