Blue Whale in Costa Rica
October 30th, 2012
Photo courtesy from Squalo Divers
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be underwater during night? There’s only one way to find out: Let’s go night diving.
Some people have said that the only difference between diving at night and a day dive at the very same site is just the absence of light. While this may partly be true, you should know by now that the reef transforms into a different world once the sun sets down. Our reef system is nocturnal within itself. Your favorite coral may not totally look the same at night where coral polyps goes out and extends its so called tentacles to feed. Some species of fish are more active during night compared during the day, like the smaller types of sharks for example. On the other hand, cracks and crevices may be empty during day time but can be filled with day-time fishes seeking refuge for the night.
No, I am not talking about stars or any light reflected from the surface. I am referring to the miniature bright light created when there is water motion. This is called bioluminescence courtesy from the primary producers of our oceans, the plankton. While you will be using an underwater torch or flashlight, you have the option to turn it off for a second and make a wave using your hands and you will be amazed by the lights generated from the movement of water. Well, this can be observed in almost any diving site in the world, but this is more pronounced in Costa Rica as the waters are known to be plankton-rich. Just a reminder: don’t forget to turn on back your lights to go with your dive plan and proceed with your underwater nocturnal adventure.
Yes, we know you’re excited to experience what we just mentioned. But wait, night diving is not just setting up your gear and provide yourselves with a torch. Night diving requires special training and can only be done through a certification course.
You have two options if you want to immerse yourself in this totally different diving experience. First, you can sign-up for the Advanced Open Water Diver Certification course where one of the advanced skills taught is night diving. Second, if you want to specialize and focus your skills and learning, you can enroll for the Night Diver Specialty Course. Nonetheless, regardless of what option you choose, the requirement is that you should be at least 15 years old and a certified Open Water Diver.
During the course, you will be taught how to properly use the underwater torch or flashlight and learn to focus your sight to the direction of where the light is pointing. You will also master your buoyancy control by feel or instinct as the absence of light gives you this feeling of having a no reference point. Another thing that is being pointed out during the course is communication skills using your torch and navigating to your entry and exit points.
Reminder: Do not directly point your torch to the eyes of your buddy.
There are several dive shops in Costa Rica that offers this one of a kind adventure. For safety reasons, night diving is only done in dive sites that are relatively confined from the elements like wind and waves. And for beginners, night and deep diving should not be joined together in one single dive. Here are some scuba outfitters in Costa Rica offering night diving tours and certification.
Location: Tamarindo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Aside from their Night Diver training courtesy from their Advanced Open Water and Specialty Course, Agua Rica Diving Center also offers night diving tours to nearby confined areas like the ones near the Las Baulas National Marine Park. For more information, you can read our related article about Agua Rica Diving Center.
Location: San José, Costa Rica
Aquacenter Diving offers Night Diver Training through their Advanced Open Water Certification course and also does night diving tours servicing the areas of Playa Flamingo and Playa Conchal. For more information, you can read our related article about Aquacenter Diving.
Location: Nosara y Guines, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
The confined surroundings of Garza fronting the Guiones and Ostional Beach which is just nearby the facilities of Buceo Gavilana Dive Center is a perfect spot for night diving where you can make your underwater nocturnal adventure or get certified through the Advanced Open Water Diver Certification. For more information, you can read our related article about Buceo Gavilana Dive Centre.
Location: Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica
Night diving with Buzos de Aventura is very popular with certified divers signing-up with their Aquacombo Tour. But if you want to be formally trained in night diving, they offer Advanced Open Water Certification Course where one of the skills taught is night diving. Or perhaps, focus your night diving skills by taking up their night diver specialty course. For more information, you can read our related article about Buzos de Aventura.
Location: Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
The shallow and confined reef areas around Drake Bay has become a perfect spot for night diving where Cano Divers offers this unique underwater experience. Through their Advanced Open Water Diver Certification Course or the Night Diver Specialty Course, you can pursue your dreams of becoming a well-trained night diver. For more information, you can read our article about Cano Divers.
Location: Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Costa Rica Adventure Divers offers Night Diver Training embedded in their Advanced Open Water Certification Course where you explore several dive sites, not just during a night dive, but also during a day dive. For more information, you can read our related article about Costa Rica Adventure Divers.
Location: Dominical, Costa Rica
If you want to experience some extreme underwater adventure, Costa Rica Dive and Surf not just only offers night diving tours, but also you can request and plan for a combined deep and night dive in just a single underwater exploration. For those who wish to take a formal class, they offer night diver training where you can enroll in their Advanced Open Water Certification Course. For more information, you can read our related article about Costa Rica Dive and Surf.
Location: Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Deep blue diving conducts night diving tours and night diver certification dives in the shallow areas of Papagayo. If the prevailing weather does not permit diving in the rocky substrates of Papagayo, then night diving can be done inside the protected bay of Playas del Coco. For more information, you can read our related article about Deep Blue Diving.
Location: Jaco, Herradura, Costa Rica
Popular with novice divers, Middle Reef is being promoted by Herradura Divers as a perfect spot for night diving where you can enjoy the comforts of a confined water environment and shallow depth having a maximum depth of 50 feet. For more information, you can read our related article about Herradura Divers.
Location: Playa Ventannas, Costa Rica
Night diving in the shallow reef plateau of Cano Island called Paraiso is a known tour destination being offered by Mystic Dive Center. You can also visit another popular night diving site promoted by Mystic Diving called Los Arcos which is a rock formation that shapes like an arch. For more information, you can read our related article about Mystic Dive Center.
Location: Manuel Antonio, Quepos, Costa Rica
A good night diving spot offered by Oceans Unlimited is the shallow reef areas of Manuel Antonio where the average depth of the 12 islands comprising this National Park is 35 feet. Most divers who did a night dive in Manuel Antonio said that they have seen hawksbill sea turtles. For more information, you can read our related article about Oceans Unlimited.
Location: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limon, Costa Rica
The nearby fringing reefs of Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge has been promoted by Punta Uva Dive Center as a perfect spot for night diving where tours and certification courses are usually conducted. For more information, you can read our related article about Punta Uva Dive Center.
Location: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón, Costa Rica
Among the 25 fixed dive locations promoted by Reef Runner Divers, there is one place that is suited for night diving. You can take a plunge at the shallow coral gardens and if you are meticulous enough, you can find seahorses curling its tail to an algae or seagrass. For more information, you can read our related article about Reef Runner Divers.
Location: Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
The shallow reefs of Papagayo has been a playground for night diving as far as Rich Coast Diving is concerned. Most divers who have done a night dive with them have seen an eagle ray. Aside from this, they also specialize in guiding guest to locate a very small subject for night photography: the sea slug or nudibranch. For more information, you can read our related article about Rich Coast Diving.
Location: Playa Ocotal, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
If you happen to be within the vicinity of Playa Ocotal and join the Rocket Frog Divers for a night dive, you can explore several dive spots like Argentina Point, Monkey, Turning Point and Shark Shallows to name a few. For more information, you can read our related article about Rocket Frog Divers.
Location: Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
If you sign-up for a night diving tour with Sirenas Diving, you have three sites to choose from. Night diving in the Gulf of Papagayo, Playa del Coco or Playa Hermosa guarantees you to have an amazing underwater experience where you can see active nocturnal creatures while enjoying the comforts of a confined water condition. For more information, you can read our related article about Sirenas Diving.
Location: Tamarindo, Guanacaste,
Aside from a pre-booked night diving tour, Tamarindo Diving Center also conducts deep diver training courtesy of their Advanced Open Water or Night Diver Specialty Course. For more information, you can read our related article about Tamarindo Diving Center.
At the end of the day, allow us to share our personal experience, recommendation and benefits we got from night diving. First, do not be confused with direction. Some divers have been confused and descended down thinking that they are going up. With this, our advice is ALWAYS LOOK AT THE BUBBLES as it is always going up and from there, you will gain your direction and orientation with reference to the surface. Second, if disorientation really sets in, do not forget to do this: RELAX, STOP, THINK THEN ACT. And we tell you, the next time you do a day dive, it will be much easier as you have already exposed yourself to this one of a kind diving experience.
PADI: https://www.padi.com/padi-courses/night-diver
Video courtesy from Dave Angelescu
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