Conditions & tides
Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model
Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
The Bat Islands, known locally as Islas Murciélago, lie off the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica within Santa Rosa National Park, reached by boat from the Guanacaste coast near Playa del Coco. The site is rated advanced, reaching around 39.6 metres over a rocky bottom, with strong currents and good visibility. Bull sharks and eagle rays are regularly encountered here, and divers have also reported barracuda, snapper, grouper, mackerel, angelfish, octopus, manta rays, whale sharks, and even orcas or whales passing through. Conditions around these volcanic outcrops are exposed to swell and surge, and divers have described thermoclines, upwelling, and unpredictable currents adding to the challenge of non-anchored dives here. Compared with the sheltered bays closer to shore, the Bat Islands demand more experience and comfort in open water.
AI overviewMarine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
Whale SharkRhincodon typusReported here · unconfirmed
OrcaOrcaReported here · unconfirmed
WhaleWhaleReported here · unconfirmed
OctopusOctopusReported here · unconfirmed
MackerelMackerelReported here · unconfirmed
SnapperSnapperReported here · unconfirmed
PufferfishPufferfishReported here · unconfirmed
Mexican HogfishBodianus diplotaeniaReported here · unconfirmed
Redlight GobyCoryphopterus urospilusReported here · unconfirmed
Pixy HawkfishCirrhitichthys oxycephalusReported here · unconfirmed
Cortez Rainbow WrasseThalassoma lucasanumReported here · unconfirmed
Chameleon WrasseHalichoeres dispilusReported here · unconfirmed
King AngelfishHolacanthus passerReported here · unconfirmed
Sabertooth BlennyPlagiotremus azaleusReported here · unconfirmed
White-spotted PufferArothron hispidusReported here · unconfirmed
GrouperGrouperReported here · unconfirmed
Manta rayManta rayReported here · unconfirmed
Eagle rayEagle rayConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
BarracudaBarracudaReported here · unconfirmed
AngelfishAngelfishReported here · unconfirmed
Bull SharkCarcharhinus leucasConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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