Dive Review of Agua Rica/Cala Luna in
Costa Rica/Tamarindo

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Agua Rica/Cala Luna, Nov, 2002, by Martin Raffauf, CA, USA . Report 295.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Agua Rica is located in Tamarindo on Pacific coast. Dives only at Santa Catalina Islands (which is good). THe marine life there is prolific - lots of sharks, rays, eels, tons of fish, large shools, wahoo, tuna etc. Ocasional whale sharks, although Nov is not the time(usually in spring). The Santa Catalinas are one of the better sites on pacific side of COsta Rica. Agua Rica is run by two expat italians, Claudio and Toni who do a decent job. They do all the diving at Catalinas, which is good. Their boats were both out for repair when we were there, and they were using smaller rented boats which were bad. Boats were too small for the sea conditions resulting in rough rides, and one of them broke down on two successive days. However as compensation, they gave us a discount and free t-shirts. The boat ride from Tamarindo is about 45 minutes as opposed to 1.5 hrs from Playa Coco and Hermosa. However you can reach Bat Islands from Hermosa, but its too far for a day trip from Tamarindo. Costa Rica diving Pacific side is for more experienced. The boat rides, current, surge etc can be rough. Visability varies dependant on rains and runoff. Lots of runoff, limited vis, but lots of plankton, so many fish. Pelagics on every dive - sharks on every dive along with eels, other pelagic fish. Large shools of fish. Forget the inshore sites, just go to Catalinas, or Bat Islands further north. THere are no docks at Tamarindo, so boat boarding is via small skiff on beach, with transfer to larger boat. Tamarindo accomodations range from basic to excellent. Cala Luna resort is excellent. Clean, nice rooms, excellent food, good service. The attitude of the concierge there is "yes", what ever you want - Yes. They are very helpful with info, and will organize anything you wish. Costa Rica has alot of other attractions other than diving. Jungle canopy tour at Tamarindo was excellent, as was the Tabacon Hot springs at the Live Arenal volcano. Driving in Costa Rica is best described as "an adventure". There are now direct flights on Delta to Liberia in the north - otherwise you are in for a 4-5 hour drive from San Jose on two lane roads with lots of trucks and traffic.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	Hawaii, Florida, Austrailia, Palau, Solomons, Costa Rica, Caymans, Bahamas, Bonaire, Cozumel
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	choppy, surge, currents
Water Temp	77-80°F / 25-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	20-50 Ft/ 6-15 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	LImitations by site - computer users could basically dive till 500 psi left
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	Not really setup for U/W photogs at all. Boats small, ride to sites is usually rough (at this time of year), Vis is low (at this time of year) - however fish life is huge.

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Dive Review of Agua Rica/Cala Luna in Costa Rica/Tamarindo

Agua Rica/Cala Luna, Nov, 2002,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Agua Rica/Cala Luna in
Costa Rica/Tamarindo