RATES to Caņo Island: includes
all equipment
Two Dives: US$125/person
Three Dives, Half Day and Full Day are available.
Rates are subject to change.
Caño Island Biological Reserve on the Osa Peninsula
of Costa Rica is surely considered Costa Rica's second finest
diving spot. It faces Guaria de Osa Centre, about a 30 min.
boat ride away, off the Southwest Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.
The Osa Peninsula Coast is part of a gigantic marine ecosystem
- Rio Sierpe, Rio Terraba, and Caņo Island. More than one hundred
thousand acres of mangrove wetlands and one thousand miles of
fresh and salt-water rivers, estuaries and tributaries interact
with the Pacific Ocean through tides that provide for an amazing
abundance of marine life. This area of the Pacific is south
of the trade winds and therefore characterized by gentle swells
and breezes.
Caņo Island is considered to have one of the best diving in
Costa Rica - after Cocos Island, located 300 miles South West
of Costa Rica (36 hours offshore). If you want to dive with
big fish this is the place for you! Many Galapagos Island species
live in the waters around Caņo Island. This is the spot to plunge
with small, medium, and huge fish of all colors of the rainbow!
The ocean here is considered among the clearest and relatively
least polluted in the entire world. Not only do the waters surrounding
Caņo Island contain some of the most abundant and varied marine
life in the world, but the island is also the site of great
archeological interest as it was once used as a pre-Columbian
cemetery. And the lush Rainforest on Canõ is amazing to trek
through.
Since Caņo Island Reserve is adjacent to Corcovado National
Park (the Crown Jewel of Costa Rican Parks), a vast nautical
zone, Caņo Island is protected; schools of fish and dolphins
abound. The island rises 90 meters above sea level to a wide
plateau, which is covered with a very tall evergreen forest
and surrounded by five platforms of low coral reefs, with 15
species of identified stony coral.
Skin Diver Magazine writes that Caņo Island and the
coastal sites of the Osa Peninsula typically have unequaled
parades of pelagic fish. These virginal waters, coral reefs,
and spectacular ecosystem terrain varies widely with 20' reefs,
50' underwater pinnacles, canyons, walls and caves.
15 - 16' reefs to 80' walls of marine species shelter here,
for example, Barracudas (typically in schools), Damsel Fish,
several varieties of Dolphins, Moray Eels, Groupers, Jacks,
Lobsters, Mackerels, Manta Rays, with wingspans up to 20 feet;
and hundreds of smaller Manta Rays; Octopuses, Parrot and Porcupine
Fishes, Porpoises, Puffers, Sea Cucumbers, Olive Ridley Sea
Turtles, Sea Snakes, Sea Urchins, Silky and Bull Sharks, White
Tipped Reef Sharks, ranging in size from 6-10' and occasionally,
Whale Sharks; Snappers (huge ones), Sponges, Stingrays, Trigger
Fish, Tunas, Pilot Whales, and Humpback Whales.
The ocean landscape has stony coral species and coral eaters,
such as Starfish, Mollusks, and Hermit Crabs. Visibility is
good to excellent all year round. The rock formations are of
volcanic origins.
Sometimes the numbers are so great that these large schools
of fish can actually block sunlight, creating an underwater
eclipse. Although not as common, the elusive whale shark and
the giant bull shark are often spotted in the area.
Because of its status as a Biological Reserve, Caņo Island
is regulated. This is an ocean offering abundant experiences
for scuba divers. There are no residents on the island except
the park ranger(s). Law prohibits removing any marine objects
dead or alive (shells, corals, etc.).
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Specific
Dive Information
Caņo Island
Night Dives: Available on a limited basis
from January to June.
Water Visibility: Excellent!! Can range from
45 90ft. Varies from site to site but is usually no lower
than 40ft and ranges to 100ft plus making it the best in mainland
Costa Rica. Averages 60ft plus.
Temperature Range: Flutters in the upper seventies
to low eighties throughout the year and provide for an exquisite
diving experience; high 70's to low 80's with thermo clines
at varying depths.
Marine Life: Abundant!!! Humpback, sei, pilot,
and false killer whales, over five species of dolphin, white
tipped reef sharks, bull sharks, giant pacific manta rays, mobula
rays, southern sting rays, spotted eagle rays, green sea turtles,
snappers, king angels, moorish idols, trumpet fish, scorpion
fish, various types of eels, spiny lobster, octopus, huge schools
of barracuda, jacks, grunts, and much more.
Coral Formations: Soft fans and hard coral
formations are common but perhaps not as colorful or abundant
as the Caribbean.
Currents: Usually mild but on some days can
be strong.
Dive Staff: a certified PADI Instructor or
Dive master guides all boat dives. All dive staff are Medic
1st Aid and Oxygen Provider Certified.
Boats: Our boats are small and fast. So you
can have a better experience, we limit the number of divers
on a boat to no more than 10. Usually we try to keep numbers
on any particular boat from 4-6 divers.
Equipment: Rentals are for only top quality
Sherwood regulators, gauges, BCDs, masks, fins, and snorkels.
All wetsuits are O'neill 3mm neoprene.
Tanks: 80cu ft (12liter) aluminum. All tanks
have current visual and hydrostatic tests. Tanks use regular
K-valve (the main type used in the U.S. and throughout N. America).
DIN compatible valves are not available at this time.
Safety: Oxygen kit and 1st aid kit on board.
Compressor: Top quality Bauer K-14. For your
safety, compressed air is certified for purity every three months
by a pure air testing station in the United States.
Departure Time for Caņo Island Dives: 7:30am.
Return Time: Around 2-3 pm
Average Time to Reach Dive Sights: 45min -
1hr. Average Dive Depths: 45-65 ft (15-20m)
Rates and Times are subject to change.
Personalized arrangements to meet your needs can be made.
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Other Awesome
Dive Sites
Bajo del Diablo (Devil's Pinnacle)
Barco Hundido (Sunken Ship or Shipwreck)
The Coral Gardens (at Barco Hundido)
Campanario
Cueva Del Tiburon (Shark's Cave)
Los Arcos (The Arches)
Paraiso (Paradise)
Sharks' Lair (at Paraiso)
Bajo del Diablo
(Devil's Pinnacle)
Depth: 15-40 meters (45-130 feet) Skill Level: Intermediate
The waters at the pinnacle and surrounding canyons are populated
with jacks, snappers, barracudas, puffers, parrotfish, moray
eels and sharks (bull sharks occasionally at greater depths).
This is the best site in the area and one of the best in the
entire country. It is a huge with many sub sites. Towering rock
pinnacles rise from a depth of over 150ft to just less than
20 ft. with an incredible maze of peaks and valleys. The best
visibility, overall fish life and best place to encounter giant
mantas. Snappers and amberjack reaching 70lb swim along side
great schools of barracuda, jacks, reef sharks and a large number
of tropical fishes. Many species of eels can be found. Often
giant schools can be seen as well. Although sometimes there
is a fairly strong current, this is some dive spot!
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Barco Hundido
(Sunken Ship or Shipwreck)
Depth: 15-20 meters (50-70 feet) Skill Level: Beginner
We've never found a sunken ship here but the locals insist
on calling it by this name. Nicknamed El Barco, or "El Sharko"
for the copious sharks that live here. This is a calm dive among
various rock formations. Generally you find white-tip sharks,
lots of mantas, giant stingrays (up to 6ft/2cm) wide), Moorish
idols and other smaller fish, and sea turtles. Some good-sized
schools pass through Barco Hundido. If you leave the rocks and
head out over the sand you can usually find large numbers of
Galapagos garden eels. This site also allows the observant diver
a chance to view the well-camouflaged rock scorpion fish!
The Coral
Gardens (at Barco Hundido)
A short swim southeast of El Barco will bring you to the area's
largest concentration of hard corals. This shallow dive of 15
to 30 feet (5-10m) allows long bottom times to explore the fascinating
reef creatures that live here.
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Campanario
Depth: 25-45 ft (8-15m)
Located near Corcovado National Park, this inshore site offers
large numbers of rock pinnacles and larger numbers of fish species.
It also offers crevices, swim-throughs, small caves, and a beautiful
array of fans. Due to its proximity to the mainland, this site
cannot be dived when there is a large swell or during the rainy
season.
Cueva Del
Tiburon (Shark's Cave)
Depth: 10 17 meter (30-50ft)
A small cave, home to sharks! Although we do not penetrate
the cave, we will swim up close enough to view the residents
inside. Other inhabitants include angels, butterfly, damsels
and parrotfish. Over five different types of eels can be found
here as well as moorish idols, puffers, surgeonfish, and occasional
mantas and stingrays. A very exciting dive!
Los Arcos (The Arches)
Depth: 30-55ft (10-18m)
Unique rock formations formed in the shape of arches. Swim
through these towering underwater arches and see fish life similar
to the Shark Cave due to its close proximity.
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Paraiso (Paradise)
Depth: 20 - 23 meters (60 70 feet) Skill Level: Intermediate
Prolific fish life is usually very strong - although you might
at first think this is a boring site because of its flatness
with a couple of ridges and a few rock outcroppings and the
current. Aha ha! Don't let Nature's Paradise fool you! Look!
What's that wall moving towards us? Wow! A giant school of jacks!
And look over that way!!! Another bastion with hundreds of blue
striped snappers! Keep breathing with awe for here comes enormous
schools of barracudas! Watch out! Here come the grunts! An occasional
school of mobile manta rays may decide to glide by. And then,
within-a-blink-of-an-eye, you are in the midst of a colossal
underwater schoolhouse with thousands of fish, and if the timing
is right, the 'head masters' of 20 to 30 sharks, like white
tip reef sharks, may show up!
Sharks' Lair (at Paraiso)
About 50 meters from the main rocks at Paraiso, up to 20 white
tip reef sharks can be often found resting under rock overhangs.
At times these sleek creatures will allow the calm diver a chance
to swim within a few feet of where they are resting!
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Medical
Insurance
The purchase of health/evacuation/medical insurance is imperative
prior to arriving in Costa Rica. DAN (Divers Alert Network)
Insurance offers only free medical evacuation. Cost for basic
coverage is inexpensive and is well worth the price if an unforeseen
accident should occur. Tel: (1-919) 684 2948 - www.diversalertnetwork.org.
They have global offices and give free medical evacuation around
the world (even if your not a diver) with membership that only
costs $29. It seems too good to be true but it is!
OR contact TRAVEL GUARD for health, evacuation, medical, and
travel insurance. Tel: (800) 826 1300 - they have a full package
that covers a lot and at a reasonable price.
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Beginners
No wet suit, booties, nor gloves needed anytime of the year
in this tropical Pacific water. You can dive in your bathing
suit. Bring a mask, snorkel, and fins or rent them at the dive
shop up near Guaria de Osa. There you can also rent weight belts,
BCD (Buoyancy Control Device), console regulators (depth meter),
tanks, and weight belts. Scuba Diving instructors are available.
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Boats
& Equipment
For scuba diving and other water-related activities GUARIA
de OSA has access to 10-meter (32 feet) full-roofed boats to
keep our guests protected from the sun. Cano Divers was the
first operation in Drake Bay to use four stroke motors to avoid
pollution and excess noise and all boats carry first aid kits
and oxygen and comply with all local safety regulations. This
is important because dive sites lie about 12 miles offshore
and the trip to Cano Island Biological Reserve takes about 45
minutes.
The four-stroke outboard motors do not pollute the ocean since
they burn pure gasoline and not a mixture of oil and gas. Those
susceptible to seasickness will also greatly appreciate the
total lack of oily smell that characterizes traditional two-stroke
motors. The boats have radios and carry full safety and first
aid equipment. Our scuba divers can also rest easy because we
carry emergency oxygen adequate for several hours (the trip
from the dive sites to the nearest hospital is about two and
three hours). Thankfully we have never had to use it, due in
part to the high emphasis that Cano Divers places on your safety.
All guides are legitimate PADI dive masters, assistant instructors
or instructors. Each boat carries a maximum of eight divers
and two dive masters.
Guaria de Osa has access to Caņo Divers/Pirate Cove scuba and
snorkeling equipment, exclusively from Submarex (Switzerland)
and Mares (Italy). Pirate Cove is the exclusive Mares H.U.B.
center in Costa Rica and this revolutionary top-of-the-line
BCD (which retails in the U. S. for nearly $1,500.00) is available
for use by prior reservation. All equipment is less than two
years old and professionally maintained. 12-liter steel tanks
(slightly greater capacity than 80 cubic foot aluminum tanks
used elsewhere) with DIN valves and regulators are used; and
compressors are Bauer and the air quality meets or exceeds all
recognized international standards.
