Costa Rica - Osa Peninsula - Cano Island

Hi all,

My wife and I are thinking of going to Costa Rica in January and diving Cano
Island, off of Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. As you know, diving is very
equipment intensive. I hear things about a 25 pounds weight limit. I
definitely need to bring mycomputer, u/v video and case and mask, (very
strong prescription bifocal.) I would also like to bring my flood light if
possible. I'd like to take all my own equipment, but I could live with
renting the rest if necessary. My wife wants her regs.

This is something we've been talking about for years, but we always get
stopped by the weight thing and questions about the season to go. We don't
want get rained out or stuck in the mud. Does anyone have any knowledge of
diving Cano or seeing the wildlife on the Osa? We've dived in many places,
but this seems the most confusing. I'd love to hear from someone who has
experience diving there.

We're also planning on spending some time seeing the cloud forest and
Arenal, probably in a rented vehicle. Any advice would be appreciated.

Bob Klemow
dvbob@ptd.net
http://www.scubadadreefpix.com/fishies.htm

"Bob" <dvbob@ptd.net> wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>My wife and I are thinking of going to Costa Rica in January and diving Cano
>Island, off of Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. As you know, diving is very
>equipment intensive. I hear things about a 25 pounds weight limit. I
>definitely need to bring mycomputer, u/v video and case and mask, (very
>strong prescription bifocal.) I would also like to bring my flood light if
>possible. I'd like to take all my own equipment, but I could live with
>renting the rest if necessary. My wife wants her regs.

I think you could fit that into a 25 lb weight limit as long as you
don't need too many clothes. But I've snorkeled at Cano and I thought
that the really excellent diving is at an island with a similar name
which is a good bit farther out. Most of the time diving at Isla del
Coco is done from a live-aboard dive boat. The attraction there is the
big marine animals like hammerhead sharks.
>
>This is something we've been talking about for years, but we always get
>stopped by the weight thing and questions about the season to go. We don't
>want get rained out or stuck in the mud. Does anyone have any knowledge of
>diving Cano or seeing the wildlife on the Osa? We've dived in many places,
>but this seems the most confusing. I'd love to hear from someone who has
>experience diving there.
>
>We're also planning on spending some time seeing the cloud forest and
>Arenal, probably in a rented vehicle. Any advice would be appreciated.

We've done almost exactly what you propose, but 10 years ago -- in
February of 1996 we went to Costa Rica to see the rain forest. We used
a travel agent (Pat Hewitt of Costa Rica Travel Exchange)
http://www.crtravelexchange.com/intro.html that I got a
recommendation for from the internet, and he was terrific.

After we landed in San Jose , we went to Tortuguero on the Caribbean
coast , and Drakes Bay on the Pacific coast on package trips, and
drove to Arenal by way of Sarchi and Monteverde on our own. We saw
several different varieties of rain forest including a lot of animals
(monkeys, alligators, poison arrow frogs), birds and plants. And we
spent less money on 13 days in Costa Rica than we did on 5 days on
Bermuda.

[Of course it helped that we didn't pay for our air fare to Costa Rica
because we flew on a buddy pass supplied by our daughter who is an
airline pilot.]

Trip report here
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2c0d8/#TL

Some of this information is going to still be valid.

"Bob" <dvbob@ptd.net> wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>My wife and I are thinking of going to Costa Rica in January and diving Cano
>Island, off of Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. As you know, diving is very
>equipment intensive. I hear things about a 25 pounds weight limit. I
>definitely need to bring mycomputer, u/v video and case and mask, (very
>strong prescription bifocal.) I would also like to bring my flood light if
>possible. I'd like to take all my own equipment, but I could live with
>renting the rest if necessary. My wife wants her regs.

I think you could fit that into a 25 lb weight limit as long as you
don't need too many clothes. But I've snorkeled at Cano and I thought
that the really excellent diving is at an island with a similar name
which is a good bit farther out. Most of the time diving at Isla del
Coco is done from a live-aboard dive boat. The attraction there is the
big marine animals like hammerhead sharks.
>
>This is something we've been talking about for years, but we always get
>stopped by the weight thing and questions about the season to go. We don't
>want get rained out or stuck in the mud. Does anyone have any knowledge of
>diving Cano or seeing the wildlife on the Osa? We've dived in many places,
>but this seems the most confusing. I'd love to hear from someone who has
>experience diving there.
>
>We're also planning on spending some time seeing the cloud forest and
>Arenal, probably in a rented vehicle. Any advice would be appreciated.

We've done almost exactly what you propose, but 10 years ago -- in
February of 1996 we went to Costa Rica to see the rain forest. We used
a travel agent (Pat Hewitt of Costa Rica Travel Exchange)
http://www.crtravelexchange.com/intro.html that I got a
recommendation for from the internet, and he was terrific.

After we landed in San Jose , we went to Tortuguero on the Caribbean
coast , and Drakes Bay on the Pacific coast on package trips, and
drove to Arenal by way of Sarchi and Monteverde on our own. We saw
several different varieties of rain forest including a lot of animals
(monkeys, alligators, poison arrow frogs), birds and plants. And we
spent less money on 13 days in Costa Rica than we did on 5 days on
Bermuda.

[Of course it helped that we didn't pay for our air fare to Costa Rica
because we flew on a buddy pass supplied by our daughter who is an
airline pilot.]

Trip report here
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2c0d8/#TL

Some of this information is going to still be valid.

"Bob" <dvbob@ptd.net> wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>My wife and I are thinking of going to Costa Rica in January and diving Cano
>Island, off of Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. As you know, diving is very
>equipment intensive. I hear things about a 25 pounds weight limit. I
>definitely need to bring mycomputer, u/v video and case and mask, (very
>strong prescription bifocal.) I would also like to bring my flood light if
>possible. I'd like to take all my own equipment, but I could live with
>renting the rest if necessary. My wife wants her regs.

I think you could fit that into a 25 lb weight limit as long as you
don't need too many clothes. But I've snorkeled at Cano and I thought
that the really excellent diving is at an island with a similar name
which is a good bit farther out. Most of the time diving at Isla del
Coco is done from a live-aboard dive boat. The attraction there is the
big marine animals like hammerhead sharks.
>
>This is something we've been talking about for years, but we always get
>stopped by the weight thing and questions about the season to go. We don't
>want get rained out or stuck in the mud. Does anyone have any knowledge of
>diving Cano or seeing the wildlife on the Osa? We've dived in many places,
>but this seems the most confusing. I'd love to hear from someone who has
>experience diving there.
>
>We're also planning on spending some time seeing the cloud forest and
>Arenal, probably in a rented vehicle. Any advice would be appreciated.

We've done almost exactly what you propose, but 10 years ago -- in
February of 1996 we went to Costa Rica to see the rain forest. We used
a travel agent (Pat Hewitt of Costa Rica Travel Exchange)
http://www.crtravelexchange.com/intro.html that I got a
recommendation for from the internet, and he was terrific.

After we landed in San Jose , we went to Tortuguero on the Caribbean
coast , and Drakes Bay on the Pacific coast on package trips, and
drove to Arenal by way of Sarchi and Monteverde on our own. We saw
several different varieties of rain forest including a lot of animals
(monkeys, alligators, poison arrow frogs), birds and plants. And we
spent less money on 13 days in Costa Rica than we did on 5 days on
Bermuda.

[Of course it helped that we didn't pay for our air fare to Costa Rica
because we flew on a buddy pass supplied by our daughter who is an
airline pilot.]

Trip report here
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2c0d8/#TL

Some of this information is going to still be valid.

"Bob" <dvbob@ptd.net> wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>My wife and I are thinking of going to Costa Rica in January and diving Cano
>Island, off of Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. As you know, diving is very
>equipment intensive. I hear things about a 25 pounds weight limit. I
>definitely need to bring mycomputer, u/v video and case and mask, (very
>strong prescription bifocal.) I would also like to bring my flood light if
>possible. I'd like to take all my own equipment, but I could live with
>renting the rest if necessary. My wife wants her regs.

I think you could fit that into a 25 lb weight limit as long as you
don't need too many clothes. But I've snorkeled at Cano and I thought
that the really excellent diving is at an island with a similar name
which is a good bit farther out. Most of the time diving at Isla del
Coco is done from a live-aboard dive boat. The attraction there is the
big marine animals like hammerhead sharks.
>
>This is something we've been talking about for years, but we always get
>stopped by the weight thing and questions about the season to go. We don't
>want get rained out or stuck in the mud. Does anyone have any knowledge of
>diving Cano or seeing the wildlife on the Osa? We've dived in many places,
>but this seems the most confusing. I'd love to hear from someone who has
>experience diving there.
>
>We're also planning on spending some time seeing the cloud forest and
>Arenal, probably in a rented vehicle. Any advice would be appreciated.

We've done almost exactly what you propose, but 10 years ago -- in
February of 1996 we went to Costa Rica to see the rain forest. We used
a travel agent (Pat Hewitt of Costa Rica Travel Exchange)
http://www.crtravelexchange.com/intro.html that I got a
recommendation for from the internet, and he was terrific.

After we landed in San Jose , we went to Tortuguero on the Caribbean
coast , and Drakes Bay on the Pacific coast on package trips, and
drove to Arenal by way of Sarchi and Monteverde on our own. We saw
several different varieties of rain forest including a lot of animals
(monkeys, alligators, poison arrow frogs), birds and plants. And we
spent less money on 13 days in Costa Rica than we did on 5 days on
Bermuda.

[Of course it helped that we didn't pay for our air fare to Costa Rica
because we flew on a buddy pass supplied by our daughter who is an
airline pilot.]

Trip report here
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2c0d8/#TL

Some of this information is going to still be valid.

"Bob" <dvbob@ptd.net> wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>My wife and I are thinking of going to Costa Rica in January and diving Cano
>Island, off of Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. As you know, diving is very
>equipment intensive. I hear things about a 25 pounds weight limit. I
>definitely need to bring mycomputer, u/v video and case and mask, (very
>strong prescription bifocal.) I would also like to bring my flood light if
>possible. I'd like to take all my own equipment, but I could live with
>renting the rest if necessary. My wife wants her regs.

I think you could fit that into a 25 lb weight limit as long as you
don't need too many clothes. But I've snorkeled at Cano and I thought
that the really excellent diving is at an island with a similar name
which is a good bit farther out. Most of the time diving at Isla del
Coco is done from a live-aboard dive boat. The attraction there is the
big marine animals like hammerhead sharks.
>
>This is something we've been talking about for years, but we always get
>stopped by the weight thing and questions about the season to go. We don't
>want get rained out or stuck in the mud. Does anyone have any knowledge of
>diving Cano or seeing the wildlife on the Osa? We've dived in many places,
>but this seems the most confusing. I'd love to hear from someone who has
>experience diving there.
>
>We're also planning on spending some time seeing the cloud forest and
>Arenal, probably in a rented vehicle. Any advice would be appreciated.

We've done almost exactly what you propose, but 10 years ago -- in
February of 1996 we went to Costa Rica to see the rain forest. We used
a travel agent (Pat Hewitt of Costa Rica Travel Exchange)
http://www.crtravelexchange.com/intro.html that I got a
recommendation for from the internet, and he was terrific.

After we landed in San Jose , we went to Tortuguero on the Caribbean
coast , and Drakes Bay on the Pacific coast on package trips, and
drove to Arenal by way of Sarchi and Monteverde on our own. We saw
several different varieties of rain forest including a lot of animals
(monkeys, alligators, poison arrow frogs), birds and plants. And we
spent less money on 13 days in Costa Rica than we did on 5 days on
Bermuda.

[Of course it helped that we didn't pay for our air fare to Costa Rica
because we flew on a buddy pass supplied by our daughter who is an
airline pilot.]

Trip report here
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2c0d8/#TL

Some of this information is going to still be valid.

Bob wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> My wife and I are thinking of going to Costa Rica in January and diving
> Cano Island, off of Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. As you know, diving
> is very equipment intensive. I hear things about a 25 pounds weight
> limit. I definitely need to bring mycomputer, u/v video and case and
> mask, (very strong prescription bifocal.) I would also like to bring my
> flood light if possible. I'd like to take all my own equipment, but I
> could live with renting the rest if necessary. My wife wants her regs.
>
> This is something we've been talking about for years, but we always get
> stopped by the weight thing and questions about the season to go. We
> don't want get rained out or stuck in the mud. Does anyone have any
> knowledge of diving Cano or seeing the wildlife on the Osa? We've dived
> in many places, but this seems the most confusing. I'd love to hear
> from someone who has experience diving there.
>
> We're also planning on spending some time seeing the cloud forest and
> Arenal, probably in a rented vehicle. Any advice would be appreciated.
>
> Bob Klemow
> dvbob@ptd.net
> http://www.scubadadreefpix.com/fishies.htm


Bob, you didn't mention you've seen this, but here's the Drake Bay
website http://www.drakebay.com

I've been there a coupla times, summer and winter, and I'm returning in
September after I peek at a business deal in Panama. Jan is prime time
(a little cooler & less rain, but more crowds). An ex-pat named Herbert
and wife Marleny run the place with their family.

Used to be a quaint place, an adventure to get to, but that's all
changed with road improvements from Sierpe. I hear DB even has
electricity full time now, and harvest restrictions have now replaced
the thatch cabin roofs with tin roofs. Not being an ocean angler, I
used an off day for a fishing trip and snagged an excellent yellow fin
that fed the place for two days. If you like a lot of walking, I'll
recommend the Corcovado park tour, very informative. Kayaking on the
river is a nice diversion too.


This is a message I sent to a friend soon after my first visit...

Isla de Caño Biological Reserve is a small island in the Bahia de
Coronado in Costa Rica located on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, west
of the Peninsula de Osa. It has been established as a protected national
park, with a permanent ranger station on the island. Nonetheless, it is
a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors for its beaches,
coral beds, and sea life. Researchers currently use the coral beds to
study the factors surrounding coral death and recolonization. Marine
life includes manta rays, dolphins, sea turtles, whales, and a wide
variety of fish. The limited diversity of terrestrial fauna, however, is
noticeable, with the island having less than one percent of the insect
diversity of the peninsula and an absence of numerous animals native to
the nearby mainland. Evidence of pre-Colombian human activity on the
island is substantial, with some of the most interesting artifacts being
almost perfect stone spheres evidently carved by an earlier population.

Caño is also the site of great archeological interest as it was once
used as a pre-Columbian cemetery by cultures with a clear South American
influence. Each year, Caño is struck by lightning more than any other
part of Central America, this is believed to be the reason why native
indian cultures considered this place sacred.

The island is an extinct volcano rising 90m above sea level to a wide
plateau and covered with a tall evergreen forest. It is surrounded by
low coral reefs where many species of stony coral have been identified.

It is possible to see some of the perfectly round stone spheres made by
the former native indians, and today they continue to pose one of the
major puzzles of the pre-Columbian cultures in Central America.

Wildlife is scarce, perhaps as a result of the disappearance of the
natural forest, but a few birds can still be seen.

Caño diving is as unique as most any dive destination, just more remote
than most. About an hour by boat from Drake Bay, Caño looms out of the
Pacific as an extinct volcano, most dive sites around it bottom out to
lava strewn canyons and rolling hills at a respectable 60-130'.

Water temps at the surface can range between 77-82 F and drop to 70-72 F
at max depths. I wore a 3mm full-length one-piece wetsuit and was quite
comfortable. Water salinity is noticebly less than Caribbean sites,
offering an opportunity to make small adjustments in diver weights.

Currents around the island differ depending on depth, with bottom
currents often taking a different course than the one above. Typically,
the deeper current is also noticebly cooler, due to it's origin from
deeper waters farther out, welling up around the island and channeling
in the bottom valleys.

Overall visibility is often 80+ ft, but can suddenly and briefly drop to
less than 30+ as a nutrient-rich subwave passes by. It is these times
when mantas can be spotted cruising in the distance. Whitetip sharks,
puffers, and moray eels abound in surprising numbers, and are easily
spotted among the volcaninc boulders. Schools of barracuda are often
near the surface and are welcome company during a safety stop.

Extended surface intervals include a restful picnic at a small beach
area on the north side of the island after signing a visitor log at the
nearby ranger station. Time (and energy) permitting, one can enjoy a
midday hike on a well marked trail to the top of the island, camera is a
must. Also available at the beachside picnic are hundreds of land crabs
constantly scavenging for fruit rinds often provided by lunching divers.
Lizards can also seen in the nearby surface brush, and they too welcome
leftover scraps.

There is a small underwater cave just offshore, and if the surface isn't
too choppy, a short swim inside may turn up another whitetip or two.

Oh, by the way, be certain to bring your C-card, the DM will ask. As
well they should, the nearest chamber is eight hours away in Panama City.



--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

Bob wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> My wife and I are thinking of going to Costa Rica in January and diving
> Cano Island, off of Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. As you know, diving
> is very equipment intensive. I hear things about a 25 pounds weight
> limit. I definitely need to bring mycomputer, u/v video and case and
> mask, (very strong prescription bifocal.) I would also like to bring my
> flood light if possible. I'd like to take all my own equipment, but I
> could live with renting the rest if necessary. My wife wants her regs.
>
> This is something we've been talking about for years, but we always get
> stopped by the weight thing and questions about the season to go. We
> don't want get rained out or stuck in the mud. Does anyone have any
> knowledge of diving Cano or seeing the wildlife on the Osa? We've dived
> in many places, but this seems the most confusing. I'd love to hear
> from someone who has experience diving there.
>
> We're also planning on spending some time seeing the cloud forest and
> Arenal, probably in a rented vehicle. Any advice would be appreciated.
>
> Bob Klemow
> dvbob@ptd.net
> http://www.scubadadreefpix.com/fishies.htm


Bob, you didn't mention you've seen this, but here's the Drake Bay
website http://www.drakebay.com

I've been there a coupla times, summer and winter, and I'm returning in
September after I peek at a business deal in Panama. Jan is prime time
(a little cooler & less rain, but more crowds). An ex-pat named Herbert
and wife Marleny run the place with their family.

Used to be a quaint place, an adventure to get to, but that's all
changed with road improvements from Sierpe. I hear DB even has
electricity full time now, and harvest restrictions have now replaced
the thatch cabin roofs with tin roofs. Not being an ocean angler, I
used an off day for a fishing trip and snagged an excellent yellow fin
that fed the place for two days. If you like a lot of walking, I'll
recommend the Corcovado park tour, very informative. Kayaking on the
river is a nice diversion too.


This is a message I sent to a friend soon after my first visit...

Isla de Caño Biological Reserve is a small island in the Bahia de
Coronado in Costa Rica located on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, west
of the Peninsula de Osa. It has been established as a protected national
park, with a permanent ranger station on the island. Nonetheless, it is
a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors for its beaches,
coral beds, and sea life. Researchers currently use the coral beds to
study the factors surrounding coral death and recolonization. Marine
life includes manta rays, dolphins, sea turtles, whales, and a wide
variety of fish. The limited diversity of terrestrial fauna, however, is
noticeable, with the island having less than one percent of the insect
diversity of the peninsula and an absence of numerous animals native to
the nearby mainland. Evidence of pre-Colombian human activity on the
island is substantial, with some of the most interesting artifacts being
almost perfect stone spheres evidently carved by an earlier population.

Caño is also the site of great archeological interest as it was once
used as a pre-Columbian cemetery by cultures with a clear South American
influence. Each year, Caño is struck by lightning more than any other
part of Central America, this is believed to be the reason why native
indian cultures considered this place sacred.

The island is an extinct volcano rising 90m above sea level to a wide
plateau and covered with a tall evergreen forest. It is surrounded by
low coral reefs where many species of stony coral have been identified.

It is possible to see some of the perfectly round stone spheres made by
the former native indians, and today they continue to pose one of the
major puzzles of the pre-Columbian cultures in Central America.

Wildlife is scarce, perhaps as a result of the disappearance of the
natural forest, but a few birds can still be seen.

Caño diving is as unique as most any dive destination, just more remote
than most. About an hour by boat from Drake Bay, Caño looms out of the
Pacific as an extinct volcano, most dive sites around it bottom out to
lava strewn canyons and rolling hills at a respectable 60-130'.

Water temps at the surface can range between 77-82 F and drop to 70-72 F
at max depths. I wore a 3mm full-length one-piece wetsuit and was quite
comfortable. Water salinity is noticebly less than Caribbean sites,
offering an opportunity to make small adjustments in diver weights.

Currents around the island differ depending on depth, with bottom
currents often taking a different course than the one above. Typically,
the deeper current is also noticebly cooler, due to it's origin from
deeper waters farther out, welling up around the island and channeling
in the bottom valleys.

Overall visibility is often 80+ ft, but can suddenly and briefly drop to
less than 30+ as a nutrient-rich subwave passes by. It is these times
when mantas can be spotted cruising in the distance. Whitetip sharks,
puffers, and moray eels abound in surprising numbers, and are easily
spotted among the volcaninc boulders. Schools of barracuda are often
near the surface and are welcome company during a safety stop.

Extended surface intervals include a restful picnic at a small beach
area on the north side of the island after signing a visitor log at the
nearby ranger station. Time (and energy) permitting, one can enjoy a
midday hike on a well marked trail to the top of the island, camera is a
must. Also available at the beachside picnic are hundreds of land crabs
constantly scavenging for fruit rinds often provided by lunching divers.
Lizards can also seen in the nearby surface brush, and they too welcome
leftover scraps.

There is a small underwater cave just offshore, and if the surface isn't
too choppy, a short swim inside may turn up another whitetip or two.

Oh, by the way, be certain to bring your C-card, the DM will ask. As
well they should, the nearest chamber is eight hours away in Panama City.



--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

Bob wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> My wife and I are thinking of going to Costa Rica in January and diving
> Cano Island, off of Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. As you know, diving
> is very equipment intensive. I hear things about a 25 pounds weight
> limit. I definitely need to bring mycomputer, u/v video and case and
> mask, (very strong prescription bifocal.) I would also like to bring my
> flood light if possible. I'd like to take all my own equipment, but I
> could live with renting the rest if necessary. My wife wants her regs.
>
> This is something we've been talking about for years, but we always get
> stopped by the weight thing and questions about the season to go. We
> don't want get rained out or stuck in the mud. Does anyone have any
> knowledge of diving Cano or seeing the wildlife on the Osa? We've dived
> in many places, but this seems the most confusing. I'd love to hear
> from someone who has experience diving there.
>
> We're also planning on spending some time seeing the cloud forest and
> Arenal, probably in a rented vehicle. Any advice would be appreciated.
>
> Bob Klemow
> dvbob@ptd.net
> http://www.scubadadreefpix.com/fishies.htm


Bob, you didn't mention you've seen this, but here's the Drake Bay
website http://www.drakebay.com

I've been there a coupla times, summer and winter, and I'm returning in
September after I peek at a business deal in Panama. Jan is prime time
(a little cooler & less rain, but more crowds). An ex-pat named Herbert
and wife Marleny run the place with their family.

Used to be a quaint place, an adventure to get to, but that's all
changed with road improvements from Sierpe. I hear DB even has
electricity full time now, and harvest restrictions have now replaced
the thatch cabin roofs with tin roofs. Not being an ocean angler, I
used an off day for a fishing trip and snagged an excellent yellow fin
that fed the place for two days. If you like a lot of walking, I'll
recommend the Corcovado park tour, very informative. Kayaking on the
river is a nice diversion too.


This is a message I sent to a friend soon after my first visit...

Isla de Caño Biological Reserve is a small island in the Bahia de
Coronado in Costa Rica located on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, west
of the Peninsula de Osa. It has been established as a protected national
park, with a permanent ranger station on the island. Nonetheless, it is
a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors for its beaches,
coral beds, and sea life. Researchers currently use the coral beds to
study the factors surrounding coral death and recolonization. Marine
life includes manta rays, dolphins, sea turtles, whales, and a wide
variety of fish. The limited diversity of terrestrial fauna, however, is
noticeable, with the island having less than one percent of the insect
diversity of the peninsula and an absence of numerous animals native to
the nearby mainland. Evidence of pre-Colombian human activity on the
island is substantial, with some of the most interesting artifacts being
almost perfect stone spheres evidently carved by an earlier population.

Caño is also the site of great archeological interest as it was once
used as a pre-Columbian cemetery by cultures with a clear South American
influence. Each year, Caño is struck by lightning more than any other
part of Central America, this is believed to be the reason why native
indian cultures considered this place sacred.

The island is an extinct volcano rising 90m above sea level to a wide
plateau and covered with a tall evergreen forest. It is surrounded by
low coral reefs where many species of stony coral have been identified.

It is possible to see some of the perfectly round stone spheres made by
the former native indians, and today they continue to pose one of the
major puzzles of the pre-Columbian cultures in Central America.

Wildlife is scarce, perhaps as a result of the disappearance of the
natural forest, but a few birds can still be seen.

Caño diving is as unique as most any dive destination, just more remote
than most. About an hour by boat from Drake Bay, Caño looms out of the
Pacific as an extinct volcano, most dive sites around it bottom out to
lava strewn canyons and rolling hills at a respectable 60-130'.

Water temps at the surface can range between 77-82 F and drop to 70-72 F
at max depths. I wore a 3mm full-length one-piece wetsuit and was quite
comfortable. Water salinity is noticebly less than Caribbean sites,
offering an opportunity to make small adjustments in diver weights.

Currents around the island differ depending on depth, with bottom
currents often taking a different course than the one above. Typically,
the deeper current is also noticebly cooler, due to it's origin from
deeper waters farther out, welling up around the island and channeling
in the bottom valleys.

Overall visibility is often 80+ ft, but can suddenly and briefly drop to
less than 30+ as a nutrient-rich subwave passes by. It is these times
when mantas can be spotted cruising in the distance. Whitetip sharks,
puffers, and moray eels abound in surprising numbers, and are easily
spotted among the volcaninc boulders. Schools of barracuda are often
near the surface and are welcome company during a safety stop.

Extended surface intervals include a restful picnic at a small beach
area on the north side of the island after signing a visitor log at the
nearby ranger station. Time (and energy) permitting, one can enjoy a
midday hike on a well marked trail to the top of the island, camera is a
must. Also available at the beachside picnic are hundreds of land crabs
constantly scavenging for fruit rinds often provided by lunching divers.
Lizards can also seen in the nearby surface brush, and they too welcome
leftover scraps.

There is a small underwater cave just offshore, and if the surface isn't
too choppy, a short swim inside may turn up another whitetip or two.

Oh, by the way, be certain to bring your C-card, the DM will ask. As
well they should, the nearest chamber is eight hours away in Panama City.



--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

Bob wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> My wife and I are thinking of going to Costa Rica in January and diving
> Cano Island, off of Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. As you know, diving
> is very equipment intensive. I hear things about a 25 pounds weight
> limit. I definitely need to bring mycomputer, u/v video and case and
> mask, (very strong prescription bifocal.) I would also like to bring my
> flood light if possible. I'd like to take all my own equipment, but I
> could live with renting the rest if necessary. My wife wants her regs.
>
> This is something we've been talking about for years, but we always get
> stopped by the weight thing and questions about the season to go. We
> don't want get rained out or stuck in the mud. Does anyone have any
> knowledge of diving Cano or seeing the wildlife on the Osa? We've dived
> in many places, but this seems the most confusing. I'd love to hear
> from someone who has experience diving there.
>
> We're also planning on spending some time seeing the cloud forest and
> Arenal, probably in a rented vehicle. Any advice would be appreciated.
>
> Bob Klemow
> dvbob@ptd.net
> http://www.scubadadreefpix.com/fishies.htm


Bob, you didn't mention you've seen this, but here's the Drake Bay
website http://www.drakebay.com

I've been there a coupla times, summer and winter, and I'm returning in
September after I peek at a business deal in Panama. Jan is prime time
(a little cooler & less rain, but more crowds). An ex-pat named Herbert
and wife Marleny run the place with their family.

Used to be a quaint place, an adventure to get to, but that's all
changed with road improvements from Sierpe. I hear DB even has
electricity full time now, and harvest restrictions have now replaced
the thatch cabin roofs with tin roofs. Not being an ocean angler, I
used an off day for a fishing trip and snagged an excellent yellow fin
that fed the place for two days. If you like a lot of walking, I'll
recommend the Corcovado park tour, very informative. Kayaking on the
river is a nice diversion too.


This is a message I sent to a friend soon after my first visit...

Isla de Caño Biological Reserve is a small island in the Bahia de
Coronado in Costa Rica located on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, west
of the Peninsula de Osa. It has been established as a protected national
park, with a permanent ranger station on the island. Nonetheless, it is
a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors for its beaches,
coral beds, and sea life. Researchers currently use the coral beds to
study the factors surrounding coral death and recolonization. Marine
life includes manta rays, dolphins, sea turtles, whales, and a wide
variety of fish. The limited diversity of terrestrial fauna, however, is
noticeable, with the island having less than one percent of the insect
diversity of the peninsula and an absence of numerous animals native to
the nearby mainland. Evidence of pre-Colombian human activity on the
island is substantial, with some of the most interesting artifacts being
almost perfect stone spheres evidently carved by an earlier population.

Caño is also the site of great archeological interest as it was once
used as a pre-Columbian cemetery by cultures with a clear South American
influence. Each year, Caño is struck by lightning more than any other
part of Central America, this is believed to be the reason why native
indian cultures considered this place sacred.

The island is an extinct volcano rising 90m above sea level to a wide
plateau and covered with a tall evergreen forest. It is surrounded by
low coral reefs where many species of stony coral have been identified.

It is possible to see some of the perfectly round stone spheres made by
the former native indians, and today they continue to pose one of the
major puzzles of the pre-Columbian cultures in Central America.

Wildlife is scarce, perhaps as a result of the disappearance of the
natural forest, but a few birds can still be seen.

Caño diving is as unique as most any dive destination, just more remote
than most. About an hour by boat from Drake Bay, Caño looms out of the
Pacific as an extinct volcano, most dive sites around it bottom out to
lava strewn canyons and rolling hills at a respectable 60-130'.

Water temps at the surface can range between 77-82 F and drop to 70-72 F
at max depths. I wore a 3mm full-length one-piece wetsuit and was quite
comfortable. Water salinity is noticebly less than Caribbean sites,
offering an opportunity to make small adjustments in diver weights.

Currents around the island differ depending on depth, with bottom
currents often taking a different course than the one above. Typically,
the deeper current is also noticebly cooler, due to it's origin from
deeper waters farther out, welling up around the island and channeling
in the bottom valleys.

Overall visibility is often 80+ ft, but can suddenly and briefly drop to
less than 30+ as a nutrient-rich subwave passes by. It is these times
when mantas can be spotted cruising in the distance. Whitetip sharks,
puffers, and moray eels abound in surprising numbers, and are easily
spotted among the volcaninc boulders. Schools of barracuda are often
near the surface and are welcome company during a safety stop.

Extended surface intervals include a restful picnic at a small beach
area on the north side of the island after signing a visitor log at the
nearby ranger station. Time (and energy) permitting, one can enjoy a
midday hike on a well marked trail to the top of the island, camera is a
must. Also available at the beachside picnic are hundreds of land crabs
constantly scavenging for fruit rinds often provided by lunching divers.
Lizards can also seen in the nearby surface brush, and they too welcome
leftover scraps.

There is a small underwater cave just offshore, and if the surface isn't
too choppy, a short swim inside may turn up another whitetip or two.

Oh, by the way, be certain to bring your C-card, the DM will ask. As
well they should, the nearest chamber is eight hours away in Panama City.



--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'