DIVE SITES ISLAS MURCÌELAGOS-BAT ISLAND

The Bat Islands are one of Costa Rica’s premier dive destinations for advanced divers—raw, wild, and truly unforgettable. This world-class site is best known for its legendary face-to-face encounters with massive bull sharks, often reaching up to 12 ft (3.5 m) in length.

Located approximately 30 miles (45 km) northwest of Playas del Coco, at the remote outer edge of Santa Rosa National Park, the Bat Islands feel like the edge of the world. Our boat will get you there in about an hour, where the real adventure begins.

Diving conditions here are exhilarating, with depths ranging from 60 ft (18 m) to 130 ft (35 m) and visibility between 18 and 100 ft (6–30 m). These are demanding, open-ocean dive sites best suited for experienced divers who are comfortable with depth, currents, and the unpredictable nature of big animal encounters.

Our professional dive guides use advanced dive computers to maximize your bottom time while maintaining the highest safety standards. If you’re ready for an adrenaline-charged experience and want to explore some of the most exciting diving in Central America, this is it. Slip beneath the surface—and don’t be surprised if you never want to come back up.

Our Bat Islands trips include three dives, giving you the full experience of this incredible location. Boats depart at 7:15 am and typically return around 3:30 pm.

For your convenience, we also offer beach pickups by boat from a selection of nearby resorts, including RIU Guanacaste, Bosque del Mar, Occidental Papagayo, El Mangroove, Casa Conde del Mar, Secrets Papagayo, Andaz Peninsula Papagayo, and Four Seasons.

You’ll travel to the islands aboard one of our fully equipped dive boats, designed for both comfort and safety. Each vessel features a sunroof, marine radio, GPS, oxygen and first aid kits—as well as a cooler stocked with refreshing drinks and fresh fruit to keep you energized between dives.

The following is a sampling of Catalina Islands dive sites:

Gran Susto – Big Scare (40-130ft)

Want an adrenaline rush? Dive with the bull sharks! During the season, this dive site is your best opportunity to see the elusive bull sharks.

Level: advanced, sometimes strong current and surge

Bajo Negro – Black Rock (30-120ft)

This beautifully landscaped pinnacle is covered with corals and sponges. As we encircle the pinnacle from bottom to top, we encounter large schools of fish and rays on our way towards the surface. Also many times you have the chance to see flying manta rays

Level: advanced, current and surge