The coral reefs off Puerto Viejo in Limon Province, Costa Rica are renowned as pristine ecosystems. On the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, they are the only true coral reefs in Costa Rica. Through Project Aware and Crocodive Caribe (the only DSAT (Diving Science and Technology) Training center in Costa Rica), there are opportunities for divers, who are passionate enough to make a difference, to participate in the non invasive coral reef monitoring method.
Why? New research indicates that more than half of the world’s coral reefs could die in less than 25 years. Human activities and climate change have contributed to the loss of 30 percent of the worlds reefs to date; another 30 percent are severely damaged. Going Puerto Viejo Scuba Diving can enable you to make a difference.
To go scuba diving in Costa Rica in the Puerto Viejo and Cahuita area also gives you access to a huge variety of corals; Brain Coral, Elkhorn, Gorgonian, Sheet Coral, Lettuce Coral and tubipora are just a few. There are over 500 species of fish including Sharks, Trigger Fish, Angel Fish and Parrot Fish. There are also two old shipwrecks about seven meters below the surface in the area.
Crocodive Caribe, as one of the premier Scuba Operators in the area, not only has excellent local knowledge, but also the state-of-the-art equipment that you’d expect of a prime scuba resort, but without the price tag.
They are a 5 Star PADI Instructor Development Dive Resort, a Project Aware Eco-Operator, a DAN Training center and a Beautiful Oceans Science Dive and Snorkeling Center.
So if you’re looking for dive adventures in Costa Rica with a wide range of dive training including professional and technical levels, the Crocodive Caribe in Puerto Viejo is worth investigating further.
When preparing for a dive vacation in Costa Rica and shopping around to compare one operator with the other, you should look at the exp,erience of the instructors and the quality of the equipment. The simple differences like weight integrated buoyancy systems and steel tanks with oxygen enriched nitrox gas that give you extended dive time, could make all the difference to how much you enjoy your scuba diving experience in Costa Rica.
You also should investigate the quality of the dive boat. The Tango IX is not one of the “Cattle-boats” which all divers have learned about but instead has the capacity limited to 8 divers plus crew. It also has a huge diving deck for its size, and it is completely lit with halogen floodlights for night diving.
The best time for diving and snorkeling in Costa Rica is during the dry season, February-May and August to November. Outside of these times the visibility in the water can be reduced.
The area around Puerto Viejo, Limon, Costa Rica is undeveloped. If you are looking for a place to kick back and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and the company of friendly locals, then Puerto Viejo is a great off-the-beaten-track destination.
In particular, the beaches to the south of Puerto Viejo: Playa Checquita and Cocles are renowned. The coastline is protected and no-one can build within 50 meters (150 feet) of the sand and jungle line.
There are many other attractions in the Puerto Viejo and Cahuita region. Apart from Scuba Diving, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a popular destination for tourists and is known for surfing, great beaches, and reggae music.
Roch Magnan is the course director and scuba evangelist at Crocodive Caribe ,the only PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Dive Resort on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Find out more at http://puertoviejoscuba.com
By: Puerto Viejo
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