Dive Review of Deep Blue Diving/Hotel Puerta del Sol in
Costa Rica/Gulf of Papagayo

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Deep Blue Diving/Hotel Puerta del Sol, Sep, 2011, by Sandy Falen, KS, US ( Sr. Contributor 29 reports with 20 Helpful votes). Report 6232.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Diving in Costa Rica is a big departure from the Caribbean... there is almost no coral, and the visibility is considered excellent at 60 feet. But you adjust very quickly to the environment, because there is always a lot to see: huge schools of tropicals, eels everywhere, white tip sharks daily, octopus, lobsters, and a veritable puffer fish farm. The dive staff was fun, friendly, and always helpful. They were great about encouraging hydration, and post-dive snacks included some of the best fresh pineapple I've ever eaten. The water was warm, at about 80 degrees, not counting the bone-chilling thermoclines you encounter from time to time (just be patient, you'll swim out of it). I wore a 3 mil vest under my polypropylene suit, and was very comfortable. Of course, this was September, and end of summer -- it's very different in the spring. Deep Blue arranged my diving and hotel package, and it's incredibly inexpensive, compared to most Caribbean destinations. Transport from the Liberia airport was $35 each way (per vehicle), and it's less than 30 minutes travel time. Hotel Puerta del Sol was perfect: simple but lovely, impeccably clean, with a roomy bathroom that had a large shower and plenty of hot water, a small fridge, coffee maker, security safe, semi-private veranda, a lovely pool area, and a pleasant breakfast daily. There are plenty of good restaurants in Playas del Coco, and pricing wasn't unreasonable. Be sure to try Villa Italia... it was a lovely oasis of gracious dining and wonderful Italian food... and Citron, in a modern shopping center on the main drag, was also delightful. A two buck taxi ride will get you just about anyplace in town. Everyone happily accepts US currency, and the ATM in the Pacifico shopping center dispenses both Dollars and Colones. My friends and I spent our last day zip-lining and white water rafting, and it was terrific. Randall, owner of Shaman Tours, was our guide and escort. His English is perfect, and he was fun and extremely knowledgeable about Costa Rican history and the environment. www.shamantourscostarica.com The diving here is just a blast, and if you've never ventured beyond the Caribbean, you're really missing something. For me, this was a return visit after 15 years, and I was relieved to find the diving is still worth the trip. Playas del Coco has gotten more touristy, and areas border on tacky, but overall, it's still a great little town, and pretty laid back. I flew American's weekly nonstop from DFW to Liberia, but you can also get there via Miami and Atlanta. Airfare wasn't cheap, but with the reasonable pricing of the diving and accommodations, it's still a bargain trip.
Websites	Deep Blue Diving Hotel Puerta del Sol
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	All over the Caribbean, Central America, Venezuela, Palau, Kosrae, Tonga, Fiji, Kauai
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	79-80°F / 26-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	40-60 Ft/ 12-18 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	[Unspecified]
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	1 or 2	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals	N/A	Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Nothing fancy, but there was always a bucket available.

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Dive Review of Deep Blue Diving/Hotel Puerta del Sol in Costa Rica/Gulf of Papagayo

Deep Blue Diving/Hotel Puerta del Sol, Sep, 2011,

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 Deep Blue Diving/Hotel Puerta del Sol in
Costa Rica/Gulf of Papagayo