Tortuga Island

Tortuga Island is a dive and snorkelling destination located just off the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, roughly 40 minutes out by boat, and historically known as a stopover for tall ship pirates including Blackbeard and Henry Morgan. The site combines shallow reefs with easy navigation and calm conditions, making it well suited to beginners; it is typically reached on full-day boat trips from Puntarenas, with catamaran departures also available from Los Suenos Marina. The diving is characterised by shallow rocky reefs and rock formations that support dense aquatic life.

The marine life at Tortuga Island includes parrotfish, angelfish, stingrays, sea turtles, starfish, eels, and scorpionfish, along with some small wrecks in the area. Vibrant coral reefs and rock formations provide habitat for a broad range of sea creatures throughout the site.

Visibility is a highlight here, reaching up to 98 feet (approximately 30 metres), and the waters are described as among the clearest and calmest in Costa Rica. The best conditions for diving fall between December and April, coinciding with the dry season. The site is appropriate for beginner-level divers and is equally popular with snorkellers, making it a practical choice for mixed groups of divers and non-divers.