Trip Dates: July 25-August 1, 2026
MHT Ambassador: Danni
Challenge Level: 🟠Med
Adventure Level: ⛰️MHT Adventure
Dive Support Level: 🏋️♀️Supported
In July, we returned to Costa Rica for a dive trip with a difference.
Our group of MAR Maids headed to Playa del Coco to spend the week diving alongside marine biologists, contributing to real conservation projects, and exploring Costa Rica both above and below the surface.
Leading the adventure was Danni, our resident marine biologist and one of our MHT Trip Ambassadors. Danni joined this trip alongside Maira last year, and this time stepped up to lead the group solo for the first time!
Our Costa Rica Group Dive Trip
Our 2026 Costa Rica Citizen Science trip was an 8-day, 7-night group dive trip based near Playa del Coco on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
The trip combined 10 dives with hands-on marine conservation, educational seminars, and plenty of Costa Rican adventure.
We completed two boat dives each day, ranging from nearby sites in the Gulf of Papagayo to full-day adventures out to the Bat Islands. Local marine biologists joined us throughout the week, studying local marine life and getting us involved with turtle research and coral restoration.
Above the water, we explored Costa Rica too. We went horseback riding and zip lining, soaked in natural hot springs, tried a volcanic mud bath, and visited a traditional coffee, cacao, and pottery studio.
Adventure Level: MHT Adventure
This trip is for travelers who want to get a little farther off the beaten path.
Expect longer travel times, limited internet, bugs and wildlife, and the occasional power outage or change of plans.
In return, you get remote beaches, incredible wildlife, jungle adventures, and the chance to experience a more local side of Costa Rica.
Costa Rica Diving Conditions
Diving around Playa del Coco is very different from the colourful coral reefs many Caribbean divers are used to.
Costa Rica Pacific diving is mostly rocky reefs surrounded by nutrient-rich water. Sharks, rays, turtles, schooling fish, and other larger marine animals are some of the biggest draws.
Conditions can be unpredictable. Divers should be prepared for surge, changing visibility, thermoclines, occasional currents, and deeper dive sites.
You can join this trip as an Open Water diver, but we recommend having your Advanced certification or Deep Adventure Dive to get the most out of the diving, especially at the Bat Islands.
During our 2026 trip, we experienced high surge but very little current, and visibility was better than usual.
Water temperatures stayed in the mid-to-high 80s°F. Most divers were comfortable in skins or thin exposure protection, while a few preferred a 3mm wetsuit.
Overall, this is a great destination for divers with solid foundational skills who want to build their confidence in Pacific diving conditions.
Citizen Science while Diving Costa Rica
On this Reefcare trip, the group wasn’t just looking for wildlife. They were helping study it. Our conservation work started with an incredible encounter.
On the very first day, the group found a turtle that had never been caught or tagged before.
The turtle received uniquely numbered flipper tags so researchers can identify it during future encounters. The team also took measurements, blood samples, and tissue samples for further research.
Instead of simply seeing a turtle on a dive, our travelers got to understand how scientists actually study and protect it.
Instead of simply seeing a turtle on a dive, our travelers got to see how scientists actually study and protect it.
That’s exactly what we love about our Reefcare trips: getting divers involved in the conservation happening around them.
Coral Restoration in Costa Rica
The final dive day brought another hands-on conservation experience.
The group helped clean a coral nursery, removing growth and debris and giving the growing corals a clean, healthy environment.
These weren’t deep or difficult dives. We did two 45-minute dives in only about 6 to 15 feet of water.
You might think a stationary, shallow dive would get boring. Not for these women!
The divers got completely into the work, and we could physically see the difference we were making and how well the corals were growing.
Everyone came out of the water buzzing.
Life in the Jungle
When we weren’t diving, we were tucked away at the cutest little hotel surrounded by Costa Rican jungle.
Away from the city, mornings came with the sounds of birds and monkeys, while thunderstorms rolled through at night.
Breakfast and lunch were handmade for us every day, with a mix of traditional Costa Rican dishes and familiar comfort foods.
Our time on land was just as adventurous. We went horseback riding, zip lining, covered ourselves in natural mud, soaked in hot springs, and visited a traditional coffee, cacao, and pottery studio.
It was the perfect mix of diving, jungle, and Costa Rican culture.
Why Explore Costa Rica with MHT?
We think our Costa Rica trip is special because you don’t have to choose between a dive trip, an adventure trip, or a conservation experience. We combine them!
You’ll dive alongside local marine biologists, participate in real conservation work, explore the jungle, and challenge yourself in Pacific diving conditions.
And you’ll do it with an experienced MHT Trip Ambassador and a group of divers who are just as excited to get muddy, sweaty, salty, and a little outside their comfort zones as you are.
In 2027, we’ll return for our third annual Reefcare trip to Costa Rica. We can’t wait to see what the next adventure brings!
In 2027 we’ll return for our third annual Reefcare trip to Costa Rica and we can’t wait to see what the next adventure brings!
How to Prepare for Diving Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a great first step into Pacific diving.
Before joining this trip, you should be comfortable with your basic dive skills, buoyancy, buddy checks, and managing your own air and depth.
You don’t need tons of experience in currents or surge. That’s part of what makes this trip a great place to build those skills with support from our team.
For divers who want to work toward more challenging Pacific destinations, Costa Rica is great preparation for Panama and Colombia, and eventually advanced trips like Socorro.
Think of it as your introduction to the Pacific!
