Best dive sites Costa Rica & Nicaragua

I'll be in Central America in March/April (flying in/out of San Jose) and am looking for suggestions on best dive sites. I will be spending some time on Bocas del Toro, so that's 100% definite, though I hear the diving is good, but not great. The other places I'm considering are: Corn Islands, Nicaragua; Playas del Coco/Catalina Islands, Costa Rica; and Isla de Cano, Costa Rica.
As far as diversity and abundance of sealife (big stuff! Rays, sharks etc..), which would be the best of the 3? How about crowds? The less crowded, the better.
Thanks for your input!

Nothing special in CR overall unless you Liveboard at Isla Coco (requires Advanced OW)

On the caribe side is some decent diving in Playa Manzanillo-Gonduca refuge and also up the road in Playa Punta Uva, its something to do, not worth a special trip. I prefer to kayak the Gonduca area and just snorkel, weather permitting. The priority on this coast should be the Tortuguero Canals, allow 2 nights, and also raft the Rio Paquare between caribe beaches and San Jose.

On the Pacific side, the best option is Isla Cano off Drake Bay, though again, its not spectacular but white tips and rays are the norm. Its not cheap down there around $110 for a 2 tank dive. The priority in the Osa-Southern Zone should be the Corcovado park, allow 3-4 nights, this is the #1 highlight of CR.

Playa Coco/Catalina is also so so, probably the least desirable on all levels, can be murky conditions, strong currents and hit miss. Its also the most touristy part of CR, so avoid the NW coast of CR is you dont like touristy.

Heard good things about Little Corn but have not been. If you have time, another great time is to get a boat from caribe river area near Tortuguero and get a boat up the Rio San Juan, then cross into Nicaragua after immigration in Los Chiles. If not, head to Cano Negro and the Rio Frio.

Personally I would not make diving a priority in CR.

Man, this is awesome info!! Thanks a lot! Do you not even reckon the bull shark diving at the Bat islands is worthwhile? You've given me some great suggestions on other things to check out too, so thanks for that! I hadn't really done any research thus far other than for diving! Do you happen to know if there is any way to get to Cocos without spending $4K??

Cocos os $$$. Save it for Honduras/Belize.

Bull sharks is all up to you.

I lived on Little Corn Island for the summer a few years ago, and the diving is great! Hammerheads, dolphins, tons of eels, sharks, beautiful fish. I'd definitely dive at the Blowing Rock site there as much as you can.....I'd check out the Dolphin Dive shop (www.dolphindivelittlecorn.com), and ask for my friend Adam - he's great!

I lived on Little Corn Island for the summer a few years ago, and the diving is great! Hammerheads, dolphins, tons of eels, sharks, beautiful fish. I'd definitely dive at the Blowing Rock site there as much as you can.....I'd check out the Dolphin Dive shop (www.dolphindivelittlecorn.com), and ask for my friend Adam - he's great!

coiba island off the south coast of panama is incredible. loads of sharks and other fish, heard whales singing, dolphins and whales from the boat then swam with a whale shark for 15 minutes on the way back.

utila in honduras was great as well but nothing really extraordinary.

caye caulker has the blue hole in belize which is a great dive for the sharks and near incredible coral sites. probably too far away from where you are but those are the 3 places i've dived there so i might as well mention them all :)

I did a two tank local dive with Diving Safaris at Playa Hermosa a year ago (flew into Liberia airport in the north) and really enjoyed it.

Edited by: wanderlustcoz