Are there Sharks in Costa Rica?
Diving with sharks at Caño Island is a fascinating and unforgettable experience.
In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 12 milles from the nearest coast in Costa Rica, you find Caño Island Biological Reserve the perfect destination for diving surrounded by the great variety of Costa Rican sharks that coexist in the waters of the South Pacific.
This small and wonderful island constitutes one of the areas with the greatest biodiversity of sharks on Costa Rica. The most frequently seen are the different types of reef sharks, such as blacktip sharks and whitetip reef sharks, whose names come from the color of the tip of their dorsal fin. Called reef sharks because, according to their name, they are often found on reefs. Unlike pelagic species, which always have to swim to avoid dying, reef sharks can also take a break. They are completely harmless to humans and generally quite small, perhaps up to six feet in size.
In addition, among the sharks on Caño Island, you will also find sometimes the large species of pelagic sharks such as bull sharks, hammerhead sharks, tiger sharks or whale sharks, a huge shark that eats plankton and measures up to 16 meters long.
There are 9 dive sites on Caño Island; all with rocky landscapes and sometimes light currents, which make this an exceptional place for divers of any level.
The rainy season, from June to December, is perfect to find more species, thanks to the high concentration of plankton, although this causes visibility to be lost a bit. The time from December to May offers calm waters, ideal for those who suffer from constant seasickness.
Are sharks dangerous in Costa Rica?
Many tourists wonder if sharks in Costa Rica are dangerous to humans. In the last 50 years, on Caño Island, no attacks have been reported. There is no need to panic. The chances of being attacked by a shark are negligible, we have infinitely more chances of drowning or being hit by a car.
What can I do to minimize the risk of an attack?
To avoid risks, the main thing is to seek information, seek advice through local sources on which are the most dangerous beaches and which are the safest. If you do it and act sensibly, you will have no problem, assuming, of course, that risk 0 never exists. However, some general tips may be the following:
• Don’t swim alone
• Avoid swimming at dusk and dawn
• Don’t swim if you have wounds that bleed
• Avoid murky waters
• Do not wear bright jewelry or high contrast colors
• Avoid from splashing too much
• Don’t swim if you know there are sharks in the water.
• Be alert to see if turtles and fish suddenly flee
Are sharks the biggest risk in Costa Rican waters?
No. You are more likely to drown in Costa Rican waters than to be the victim of a shark attack. There are strong currents and high waves on some of the beaches.
Diving with sharks is an exciting experience, a unique memory that you will surely keep for a lifetime.
Like the rest of large animals, sharks have a fairly low reproduction rate, therefore their indiscriminate fishing has placed them on numerous occasions as an endangered species.
Join the defenders of this magical king of the sea and discover all about them and how to help protect them with the PADI Aware Shark Conservation program.