Drake Bay Snorkeling & Scuba Diving.

Please check back periodically
for updated information to plan your
Drake Bay Diving Trip.

Contact

Phone:
• US (310) 748-6844
• Costa Rica (011-506) 844-7272

Drake Bay Snorkeling & Scuba Diving

Drake Bay, Cano Island and the surrounding waters offer world class scuba diving and snorkeling. Our neighboring dive center C.R.A.D. is currently the only PADI International Resort Association facility in the Drake Bay vicinity. C.R.A.D adheres to PADI's strict regulations regarding safety and quality of service offered. They are also members of the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) and are Diver Alert Network (DAN) sponsors. C.R.A.D. carries only well serviced name brand equipment from Sherwood and US Divers, as well as other top brands. The center offers a wide range of professional underwater services for the recreational scuba diver. Their PADI certified instructors teach courses ranging from basic open water to dive master and can conduct any specialty course of interest.

Cano Island offers the novice and experienced diver an excellent diving venue. The visibility here is excellent! It varies from site to site but averages 60 ft plus, making it the best in mainland Costa Rica. Water temperature ranges from the high 80's to the low 70's with thermoclines at varying depths. Diving in the waters here will bring you face to face with a wide variety of underwater marine lives. Glide through the water with a giant manta ray or observe the huge schools of barracuda, jacks and rays that frequent the area. If you are lucky you may even witness an awe-inspiring whale shark! All this makes Cano Island one of the best dive locations found anywhere on the entire pacific coast!

El Bag Del Diablo (The Depth of the Devil): The best site by far in the area and one of the best in the entire country- a huge area with many sub sites. Towering rock pinnacles rise from over 150 ft to just under 20 ft. the best visibility, overall fish life and the best place to encounter Giant Mantas. It is an incredible maze of peaks and valleys. Groupers, snappers and amberjack reaching 701b, swim along side great schools of tuna, barracuda, reef sharks and a large number of different tropical fishes. More than 4 species of eels can be found as well. Cueva Del Tiburon (Shark Cave): A small cave that is home to you guessed it, sharks! Other inhabitants include angels, butterfly, damsels and parrotfish, Moorish idols, puffers, sturgeon fish, and occasional mantas and stingrays. It is a very exciting dive.

Los Arcos (The Arches): 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.

El Barco (The Wreck): No wreck here, only a variety of rock formations with the area's most plentiful hard corals. Fish life profuse and a great dive to encounter white tip reef sharks, stingrays, and an occasional sea turtle.

Cano Island

Mysterious Cano Island offers world class snorkeling, scuba diving and guided tours of the intriguing island. Not only do the waters surrounding Cano Island contain some of the most abundant and varied marine life in the world, but the island is also an important archaeological site. Indian graves are found all over the central plateau and archaeologists have unearthed mysterious stone spheres and other finely worked artifacts. The perfectly spherical stones are believed to have once marked the offshore burial ground and ceremonial site for the indigenous Diquis people. Another interesting fact about the island is that it has been struck by lightening more times than any other place on earth!

The snorkeling and scuba diving are unequaled here at Cano Island. Clouds of fish literally block the sun's rays in the clear warm water. Brightly colored tropical fish, shark, barracuda, manta rays, eels, porcupine fish, octopus and other marine species may be seen. There are 15 or more types of stony coral species as well as the attendant coral eaters (starfish, mollusks and hermit crab). The terrain varies widely and includes 20' reefs, 50' underwater pinnacles, canyons, walls and caves. Visibility is good to excellent all year round. Surface sightings include porpoises, sea turtles, whale sharks, sea snakes and humpback whales.

A guided day trip to Cano Island is truly a day to remember. An early morning departure from Treetop Resort takes you on a 45-minute boat ride to the island. The guide leads you hiking through primary jungle up to the site of the Indian graves on the central plateau. Along the way, notable defenses between the island and the mainland forest will be pointed out. By noon a picnic lunch is served on the beach. Following lunch you are at your leisure to swim, soak up the sun's rays; explore other parts of the island or snorkel among the coral and brightly colored reef fish. A late afternoon boat ride back to Treetop Resort ends the day of island exploration.

Scuba Diving Services and Instruction Rates:

2-Tank Dive w/Lunch at Cano Island $110
3-Tank Dive w/Lunch a Cano Island $120
Full Rental Equipment Package $20
Includes: BCD, regulator w/ computer, compass, depth gauge and SPG and 3mm wetsuit
Scuba Review Course $65
Resort Course - Discover Scuba Diving $135
Includes: instruction, all equipment, and 2-tank dive at Cano Island
Open Water Complete Course - Drake Bay $280
Includes: instruction, all equipment, and all 4 dives at Drake Bay
Open Water Complete Course - Drake Bay/Cano Island $325
Includes: instruction, all equipment, 2 dives at Drake and 2 dives Cano Island
Referral Dives-Completion of Open Water Course from Referral
Referral w/ equipment and 4 dives at Drake Bay $180
Referral w/equipment, 2 dives Drake and 2 dives Cano Island $225
Advanced Open Water Course $250
Rescue Diver Course $325
Divemaster Course $400
Specialty Courses Inquire

Other Information:

The purchase of DAN (Divers Alert Network) Insurance is highly recommended prior to arriving in Costa Rica. Cost for basic coverage is inexpensive (around $35us) and is well worth the price if an unforeseen accident should occur.

Equipment Rental

Rental: The rental department uses only top quality Sherwood regulators, gauges, BCDs, masks, fins, and snorkels. All wet suits are Henderson 3-mm neoprene.

Tanks: 80 cu ft (12 liter) aluminum. All tanks are less than 1 year old and 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.

Boats: The boats are small and fast so you can have an even better experience, C.R.A.D. limits the number of divers on a boat to no more than 8, but usually keeps numbers on any particular boat from 4-6 divers.

Dive Staff: a certified PADI Instructor or Dive Master guides all boat dives. All dive staff are Medic 1st Aid and Oxygen Provider Certified.

Exposure Protection Needed: For most people, a 2-mm spring suit "shorty" will suffice. If you tend to get cold a full 2-mm or 3-mm suit will almost always do the job. The rental department stocks quality Henderson full 3-mm suits.

Accommodations

Drake Bay Treetop Resort provides you with an affordable and comfortable way to be in the midst of one of the most pristine virgin tropical rain forests in the world.

The rustic atmosphere here offers a very unique beach and primary jungle experience. All rooms are private, are completely screened in and have incredible ocean views (approximately 60 meters from the beach.)

Currently, our resort is closed for remodeling and improvements. Please check back again for more information. We will re-open next year.

A deposit of $500 per angler is required within 10 days of the reservation request. The balance is due 60 days prior to scheduled arrival. A refund of the deposit minus $150 will be given if notified 30 days prior to the arrival date. If cancellation is after the balance is paid, we will reschedule your trip. Additional charges may apply. There will be no refunds for "no shows".

visit Drake Bay Treetop Resort