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Dive Review of El Ocotal Dive Resort in
Costa Rica/Guanacaste

El Ocotal Dive Resort, Jul, 2003,

by Brian, Florida, United States . Report 584.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments The diving was great, lots of big critters, sharks, turtles, etc. Also, good macro opportunities including sea horses, harlequin shrimp, nudibranch, slugs, etc. The food at El Ocotal was excellent. The operation was very safe and organized. All expectations and requests, including a night dive and Nitrox, were met. Not so last year with Diving Safaris/Bill Beards and El Ocotal Dive Resort far outperformed Diving Safaris/Playa Hermosa. At El Ocotal,one boat had a bit of an exhaust smell. The boats (3) were safe, fast and gave a good ride. The crew made sure we stayed hydrated and kept all divers together, nobody was lost. A variety of fruit, cookies, cold drinks were available and plentiful. We stayed in the older rooms down on the beach. While older, they are in good shape, really close to the beach, pool and dive shop. There is a real feeling of community in this dive resort and we spent much time talking to other Americans who were there diving, made new friends. We plan to return next year.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Caymans, Belize, Bonaire, Bahamas
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 80-85°F / 27-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 20-50 Ft/ 6-15 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions 80 feet maximum depth, total time 45 minutes
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics 4 stars

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities 5 stars
UW Photo Comments They were very accomodating
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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