Scuba Diving the Atlantic Coast of Costa Rica

The Caribbean in general is known for its excellent scuba diving, and Costa Rica’s eastern side has some excellent dive sites. The history of Limon province, which occupies the entire eastern coast of Costa Rica, has a long history. It was here that Costa Rica was first discovered by Europeans, when Christopher Columbus gave the country its name (Costa Rica = “rich coast”) after seeing the native people wearing gold jewelry. The province of Limon was given some recognition only after the development of a seaport at Puerto Limon. This seaport was originally used primarily for the purpose of exporting bananas to other countries. The name originated from the Spanish version of a lemon (Limón) tree growing in the area. Soon, highways and other transport links were developed that connected the province to the rest of Costa Rica.

Limon is located on the Atlantic Coast of the country. A little north are the Caribbean beaches that attract tourists from all over the world due to their exotic collection of wildlife and other features that add to the natural beauty of the area. Extending from the Atlantic Coast to the mountains in the center of Costa Rica are the smooth alluvial plains that provide an exquisite view for the people living in the villages nearby. The alluvial plains are characterized by the banana trees and abundant rainforests that are present all along their length. This area experiences frequent and heavy rain falls, perhaps even the highest annual average in the country. Some of the best natural parks with the largest variety of ecology are located in this area, such as the Barra Del Colorado, Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre and the Parque Nacional Tortuguero. These areas are basically giant swamps and are only accessible by helicopter or boat.

The Caribbean coast on the Atlantic side of Costa Rica is characterized by the diversity of its flora and fauna, which is the result of the abundant rainfall. Particularly from April to December, the rain-carrying winds can last for days on end. During these days, the moisture content of the air is significantly high. Despite the heavy rains that target it time and again, Limon experiences plenty of sunny days to make up for it. The weather conditions are perhaps one of the major reasons that make this place such an ideal scuba diving spot. Particularly during the months of February and March, this place is filled with tourists because of the clear weather.

The Talamanca mountain range lies to the south of Puerto Limon. The Cahuita National Park in this region has the perfect blue-green shade of water and is a major resort for many scuba divers because of its coral reefs. Moreover, many of the people living in this region are of Jamaican origin, and hence complement the culture and feel of the area.

South of Cahuita is Puerto Viejo, which is the prime location for scuba diving on the Atlantic coast. Not only is it popular for diving, but it also has great surfing. This place has gained steady popularity over the years because of the diversity of marine life and the exquisite natural scenery. In addition to this, the cultural diversity of the population along the Atlantic coast is a further attraction for tourists.