Tamarindo is a popular little beach town in Costa Rica which offers a taste of the high life with shopping, an exciting night life, pristine beaches, lush tropical rainforests, and adventure activities both in and around the sea.

Starting life as a fishing village in the province of Guanacaste the beautiful climate, fantastic views, and golden sandy beaches — all surrounded by the lush greenery of rainforests – have seen Tamarindo grow into a very popular seaside destination. The sparkling azure waters of the ocean are home to an abundance of sea life which creates the perfect scenario for exciting underwater adventures.

There are vast natural aquatic treasures awaiting the scuba diver exploring the depths around Tamarindo. With clear blue water that provides for a visibility distance of between 50 — 80 feet, and volcanic rock formations which create an interesting and varying underwater landscape, the area around Tamarindo is home to manta rays, white tip reef sharks, devil rays, cow nose, jacks, grunts, and spotted eagle rays.

As the seasons change so do the number and type of species who make their home in the ocean waters around Tamarindo. As you explore the depths at various times of the year you are also likely to have close encounters with other species such as red snapper, roosterfish, parrotfish, sergeant majors, sea fans, and an abundance of beautiful live corals.

While you won’t be able to enjoy waters as crystal clear as you would find around popular diving areas on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica it does make up for it in other ways. Plankton is found in higher concentrations around the Pacific — which creates lower visibility. However, the plankton is a food source responsible for an underwater landscape that is teeming with life. Larger species are attracted to these prime sources of food, which allows for much more intense and exciting scuba diving sessions.

Tamarindo beach is a diving hot spot for the area but a short trip further north to Flamingo beach can provide even more variety to your diving. PADI certifications are available from professional divers in the area, as are SSI dealers.

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.