Drake Divers, your local PADI dive center for Caño Island, in Drake Bay since 2003: guided dives, scuba diving courses, snorkeling tours and Corcovado excursions with expert local guides.
4.5 / 5 on Google & Tripadvisor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Isla del Caño Biological Reserve – one of the top scuba diving destinations in Costa Rica and one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the entire Pacific. White-tip reef sharks, manta rays, whale sharks, humpback whales, eagle rays and sea turtles. All in the same dive, 45 minutes from Drake Bay by boat.
Crystal-clear waters, nutrient-rich currents and extraordinary marine life make every dive at Caño Island different from the last. 12 dive sites. Visibility up to 24 metres. Wildlife that doesn’t flinch.
During whale season (July–November), humpback whales from both hemispheres meet in Drake Bay. Only two places on Earth where this happens. This is one of them.
And above water: Corcovado National Park – described by National Geographic as the most biologically intense place on Earth. Scarlet macaws, tapirs, four species of monkeys, jaguars. Our local guides have been walking these trails for over 20 years.
Isla del Caño Biological Reserve is Costa Rica’s premier scuba diving destination: a protected marine reserve where white-tip reef sharks, eagle rays, sea turtles and manta rays share the same reef. Visibility up to 24 metres. 12 dive sites. Wildlife that doesn’t disappoint.
We run daily guided dives from Drake Bay, departing at 7:30am. Two tanks or three: you choose.
Both options depart daily. SCUBAPRO gear, small groups & local guides.
PADI diving courses in Drake Bay, Costa Rica , taught at the Caño Island Biological Reserve, one of the most biodiverse marine environments in the Pacific. Every training dive happens in real open water, with real marine life. Small groups of maximum 3 students per instructor. Get certified in Drake Bay, and dive Caño Island from day one.
Theory, confined water session and 4 open water dives at Isla del Caño Biological Reserve. Your international PADI certification, valid for life, earned at Costa Rica’s best dive site.
Five adventure dives at Caño Island: deep dive, underwater navigation and 3 specialty dives of your choice. Dive deeper, dive better , in one of the Pacific’s most biodiverse marine reserves.
Rescue Diver, EFR, Deep Diver, Nitrox and Divemaster: all available at Drake Divers. Whether you want to specialise, go pro or simply dive safer, we’ll build the right course around your schedule.
1️⃣ Safety briefing — gear, signals, what to expect underwater. 2️⃣ Shallow water practice — breathing, mask, buoyancy. No rush. 3️⃣ Real dive at Caño Island: white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, manta rays. Up to 12 metres. 45 minutes you won’t forget.
Max. 3 divers per instructor. Departs Drake Bay daily at 7:30am.
Sea turtles, white-tip reef sharks, manta rays and vibrant coral reefs, just 45 minutes by boat from Drake Bay. The perfect introduction to scuba diving in one of the Pacific’s most biodiverse marine reserves.Daily snorkeling tours at Caño Island Biological Reserve, one of the best snorkeling destinations in Costa Rica. Two snorkeling sessions in crystal-clear Pacific waters, 45 minutes by boat from Drake Bay.
Sea turtles, white-tip reef sharks, manta rays, eagle rays and huge schools of reef fish. Visibility up to 24 metres. No experience or certification needed, our local guides handle everything.
Full gear included. Departs Drake Bay daily at 7:30am.
From $100/person.
Corcovado National Park, described by National Geographic as «the most biologically intense place on Earth.» Jaguars, Baird’s tapirs, scarlet macaws, four species of monkeys, poison dart frogs and over 500 tree species. All of it accessible by boat directly from Drake Bay, led by expert local naturalist guides who have walked these trails for over 20 years.
Venture deep into primary rainforest at Sirena or San Pedrillo station. Howler monkeys, spider monkeys, tapirs, sloths, anteaters and scarlet macaws on every trail. Boat transfer, park entrance fees, bilingual guide and lunch, all included.
Over 350 bird species, four monkey types, three-toed sloths and river otters share the forests of Drake Bay’s Osa Peninsula. Morning birdwatching and wildlife tours led by expert local naturalist guides who know exactly where to look.
20+ years.Local experts who know every reef, current and creature at Caño Island. Everything at Drake Divers is built for one thing: the best diving experience on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
Direct Access to Caño Island. 45 minutes by boat to the Caño Island Biological Reserve, Costa Rica's premier dive site. No transfers, no wasted time. Just ocean.
Our guides have logged thousands of dives at Caño Island. They know exactly where the sharks rest, where the manta rays patrol and where the turtles feed..
The Most Biodiverse Marine Reserve in Costa Rica. White-tip reef sharks, eagle rays, humpback whales, sea turtles and whale sharks, all in the same protected area.
All in One Place. Drake Divers runs your full Drake Bay experience: Caño Island dives, snorkeling tours, Corcovado National Park hikes and whale watching.
Drake Divers is the local PADI dive center in Drake Bay, Costa Rica — rooted in Bahía Drake for over 20 years and backed by more than 30 years of combined diving and teaching experience.
We operate daily dive trips to Isla del Caño Biological Reserve, one of the top dive sites on the Pacific coast, alongside PADI courses from Open Water to Divemaster, snorkeling tours, Corcovado hikes, and wildlife excursions throughout the Osa Peninsula.
Small groups, expert local guides, and a genuine connection to this corner of Costa Rica — that’s what makes Drake Divers different.
In our Google reviews, we are one of the highest-rated dive centers in Costa Rica. Our community highlights our organization, professionalism and the personal touch that makes us unique. connection to this corner of Costa Rica, that’s what makes Drake Divers different.
No experience is required to snorkel at Caño Island. The tour is designed for complete beginners. Before entering the water, your guide explains how to use the mask, snorkel and fins. The snorkel sites inside the Caño Island Biological Reserve have calm, shallow conditions, making it accessible for first-timers, families and non-swimmers as long as they are comfortable in the water.
Snorkeling at Caño Island offers encounters with whitetip reef sharks, sea turtles, eagle rays, moray eels, barracuda and large schools of tropical fish including parrotfish, jack and snapper. The reserve's protected status means marine life is abundant and undisturbed. Dolphin sightings are common during the boat crossing from Drake Bay, and humpback whales are frequently spotted between July and October.
No. The sharks at Caño Island are whitetip reef sharks, a species that is completely harmless to humans. They typically rest on the sandy bottom or swim slowly through the reef and show no interest in snorkelers. Whitetip reef sharks are one of the most docile shark species in the ocean and one of the most memorable sightings on any snorkel tour in Costa Rica.
Caño Island is approximately 19 kilometres (12 miles) from Drake Bay, on the Pacific coast of the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. The boat crossing from Drake Bay to the Caño Island Biological Reserve takes around 40 minutes. During the crossing it is common to spot dolphins, and in season (July to October) humpback whales are regularly seen in these waters.
Caño Island can be snorkelled year-round, but the dry season (December to April) offers the best underwater visibility, which can exceed 20 metres. The rainy season (May to November) brings warmer waters, more marine activity and the highest chance of seeing humpback whales (July to October). Both seasons offer excellent snorkeling conditions inside the Biological Reserve.
Yes. Children aged 6 and above can join the snorkel tour at Caño Island, provided they are comfortable in open water and can swim independently. Life vests are provided for all participants. The tour is a popular family activity from Drake Bay, and the calm reef conditions at the Biological Reserve make it suitable for young, confident swimmers under close guide supervision.
The Caño Island snorkel tour from Drake Bay includes round-trip boat transport, full snorkel gear (mask, fins, snorkel and life vest), a certified guide in the water throughout both sessions, Biological Reserve entrance fees, fresh fruit and water during the surface interval, and a full homemade lunch with drinks at a nearby beach. There are no hidden costs.
Snorkeling at Caño Island means floating on the surface and observing marine life from above — no training or certification needed. Scuba diving involves descending with a tank and breathing underwater, allowing access to greater depths and species such as sharks resting on the sandy bottom. Both activities are available from Drake Bay, with snorkeling being the entry-level option and scuba diving requiring at least a PADI Open Water certification.
Call or message us directly. Talk to one of our local instructors. We’ll listen to you and help you choose the best diving or snorkeling experience for your level.
