Cano island is known as the best place to scuba dive in Costa Rica, except for Cocos Island. However, Cano is much more accessible, and there are many dive resorts and dive companies that can take you from Drake Bay or other areas in the Osa Peninsula to the dive sites.
Come explore the tropical paradise of Cano Island located just 12 km off the coast of Costa Rica. The island is known for its tropical forests and amazing marine life. While taking a short ferry to the island there is a possibility of witnessing the joyful play of dolphins or even during the migration season, which is July through February, the majestic humpback whales. Once arriving to your destination the island is surrounded by beautiful reefs for snorkel or scubaadventures. The snorkelers can enjoy the many species of marine life while the scuba divers have the pleasure of exploring under water caves, canyons and cliffs. Cano Island has been declared one of the best dive sites in the world.
Cano Island and its natural beauty give you beautiful 15 foot reefs to explore. Here you will find head corals, cup corals, and sea fans. This destination for scuba divers has been kept from harm due to it being controlled and regulated as a Biological Reserve. The control limits how many divers are allowed into its waters and which areas can be explored. Due to it being protected, removal of any marine life, coral or shells is prohibited. There is no disappointment or lack of shark sightings. Most divers come away with memories of seeing sharks in these waters which range in sizes of up to ten feet. Stingrays, dolphins, turtles and morays are also popular in this destination.
El Cano Island is located off the south pacific coast of Costa Rica in front of the Osa Peninsula and one of the most bio diverse places on earth. It has a total area of 320 acres and is a marine park with protected waters. The Island has an altitude of about 3000 feet and is a heavy forest with several small rivers which allows it to stay an intense green color all year long. Beaches are a mixture between sand and stone and it does not contain any wetlands.
The primary attractions in El Caño Island are the resident tropical fish and the beautiful colorful corals and marine flora, you can also find the occasional large pelagic and marine mammals, i.e. humpback whales, pilot whales, white tip sharks, black tip sharks great hammerhead sharks, nurse sharks, tuna, amberjacks, wahoo, rays, mantas, turtles, and enormous schools of fish. Occasionally, there are sightings of whale sharks, marlin, and Bottle-Nosed dolphin.
Itinerary
All charters to Caño Island are 8 days/7 nights and includes 6 days of diving. Of the 6 days of diving; 3 dives per day will be offered with one day 2 dives being offered plus a land tour to Corcovado National Park (San Pedrillo Station or Sirena Station), Sierpe River Mangroves, or Caño Island or Drakes Bay Hiking Tour (see details below). During the week 3 night dives are offered. The Okeanos Aggressor I & II depart from the port town of Puntarenas
