From: Mark=Taylor%ASIC%Eng=Hou@bangate.compaq.com
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: re: Diving in Costa Rica (Guanacaste)
Date: 12 Oct 92 22:36:17 GMT

On Monday, Oct 5, 1992 17:37:56 GMT, andre@broccoli.bae.bellcore.com (Andre
Cosma) inquired about diving in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica:

I stayed and dove at El Ocotal resort (near Playa del Coco) in the Guanacaste
region last Thanksgiving.  The Dive shop, boats, and DMs were fine there, I
didn't rent any equipment so I don't know about their rentals.  The accommod-
ations at El Ocotal were very nice and clean by Central American standards,
but Costa Rica is still learning about the tourist industry, so some conven-
iences were lacking (like an adequate supply of towels, and ability to cash
traveler's checks; also, the "First class" hotel we stayed at in San Jose
didn't have hot water).

Marine life: the diving local to El Ocotal was definitely different from
Caribbean, but, IMO, not as interesting.  In general, BIG schools of fish (you
could get lost in them, and lose sight of your buddy 3 ft away), and an
occasional reef shark, but low vis (20 ft), and no coral (just rock form-
ations and pinnacles).  The day trips to Bat and Catalina Islands were
supposed to be better, but due to scheduling problems (caused by Nicaraguan
fugitive situation, see below), I was unable to make it out there.  One member
of our group did, and saw several Bull Sharks up close.

Water Temp: I don't have my log book handy, but I dove in my shorty and don't
remember being too cool, so I would guess mid-high 70's.  In general, it is a
little cooler than the Caribbean.

Guanacaste region: I took several land based tours of the Guanacaste region, 
and was not too impressed.  Quite literally, the bus ride from San Jose to El 
Ocotal was more scenic than any of the tours in the Guanacaste region.  If I 
return to Costa Rica, I will spend more time touring around San Jose area; 
there are supposed to be some fabulous rain forests, cloud forests, etc. close
to San Jose.  The Guanacaste region is much drier (reminded me of Texas farm
land not far from home).  I took one night tour to see the Leather Back
Turtles come up on the beach and lay their eggs, which would have been neat,
except that there was no moon that night, so I wasn't able to see much (the
park rangers don't allow any flashlights because they scare off the turtles
before they lay their eggs).

Costa Rica is known as the Switzerland of Central America, and it is, in
general, much safer than the surrounding countries.  However, Playa del Coco
is just about 50 miles from the Nicaraguan Border.  We were there for a week,
and on Wednesday, a Nicaraguan fugitive came across the border, killed an
European tourist in Playa del Coco, and then ran into the woods on the
peninsula between Playa del Coco and El Ocotal.  Costa Rica doesn't have an
army (again, the Switzerland of Central America....), but I can assure you
that they have a very well armed National Guard.  The National Guard and the
local police set up a barricade at the base of the peninsula, along the road
between Playa del Coco and El Ocotal, in order to prevent the fugitive from
escaping.  Needless to say, this sort of caused us some problems getting to
and from town.  Thanksgiving morning, we awoke to the sound of gun fire, and
the National Guard helicopter taking off.  Then, while we were having break-
fast, the Coast Guard cutter opened fire with its 50mm cannons onto the beach
300 yards from our hotel restaurant.  We never did find out why they opened
fire (if they saw the guy, wanted to flush him out, got bored, wanted to prove
that they were doing something); and when we left on Saturday, we read in the
paper that they still had not caught him.

You can decide for yourself what this says about safety of tourists in Costa
Rica.  Personally, I think that it was just a fluke, and it could happen
anywhere (about that same time, a man walked into a Luby's in Waco, TX, opened
fire, and killed about a dozen people); and that Costa Rica is safer than
other places that I have been (Belize City, San Pedro Sula, both of which I
have changed planes in, but hope to never leave the airport).  But then again,
I'm single, and don't have a family to worry about, and Playa del Coco IS just
50 miles from the Nicaraguan Border.

In summary, if I return to Costa Rica; I would take tours based out of San
Jose, and dive the Cocos Islands, but I probably wouldn't return to the
Guanacaste region (not for fear of personal safety, but because the scenery
and diving just weren't that outstanding).

Andre, these are kind of general answers to your questions; email me if you
have any more specific questions. 

Regards,
Mark=Taylor%ASIC%Eng=Hou@bangate.compaq.com

Newsgroups: rec.scuba