2-tank dive daytrips can be booked to the following dive destination from Tamarindo, Costa Rica, from May to October:
Bat Islands a.k.a. Las Islas Murciélago - USD 225
Bat Island day trip prices normally include: drinking water, fruits and cookies, dives, full set of scuba equipment, professionally qualified divemaster, all taxes.
Prices exclude (mandatory, unless customer provides own): none.
Optional extras: hotel transfers to the Tamarindo departure port, dive computer, dive insurance, nitrox (USD 20 per day), professional photography of your experience (USD 50 per day). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival..
The site is 30m/90 ft deep and the conditions call for moderately experienced divers. For this reason you should be at a minimum PADI Advanced Open Water level or equivalent, with recent diving experience and close to 30 logged dives.
Bat Islands charters depart at 06:30 hrs from Tamarindo. The travel time from Playas del Coco is approx. 1 hour and 30 mins. The dive boat leaves directly from the beachfront at the dive center as soon after 08:00 hrs as possible. The dive boat is fast as well as comfortable. Between the 2 dives is a surface interval of approximately 45 minutes. Chilled water, fruits and cookies are served on board. You may bring your own refreshments along too if you wish. It is recommended you bring with you a towel and sunscreen and your own drinking water container. After the 2 dives you will return to Tamarindo at approximately 13:30 hrs.
There are no other coastal sites that promise encounters with big bull sharks and, since the season is short, few will get to enjoy this experience. The Bat Islands are also home to many marine species that are found all over Costa Rica, but the reason divers head to "The Bats" is to see the bull sharks.
This boutique dive operator limits spaces on the boat to usually only 6 divers, with 2 PADI dive guides. You can be sure of plenty of personal attention.
Located in the Santa Rosa National Park, las Islas Murciélagos can be a thrilling dive adventure as they are famous for its big animal encounters, strong currents, and wild underwater landscapes. The Bat Islands are one of the few places in the world where you can reliably dive with bull sharks (from May to October). The dive site 'Big Scare' (La Cueva del Tiburón) is known for close encounters with these powerful predators. Sharks here are naturally wild (not baited), making sightings more authentic.
The walls and volcanic pinnacles at the islands are covered in hard corals and sponges, and there are caves and swim-throughs too. Depths range from 12-30m+ / 40–100 ft+. Moray eels, octopuses, and lobsters are found in the rocky reefs. Schools of jacks, barracudas, and tuna can be seen in the blue or hunting over the reef. Eagle rays and marble rays are both common here. Humpback whales pass through the region between July and November, and oceanic manta rays are seen outside of the bull shark season (from December to April).
The Bat Islands are exposed to strong currents and surge, and sea conditions can be rough with surface chop. Drift diving to spot pelagic species is the norm. Due to its challenging conditions, the region is best suited for experienced divers.
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Fantastic service from Dive The World helping us find the right trip for us. All representatives showed lots of patience with the back and forth to help us make the right choice.
