Cuatro piedras, Catalina Islands - Caribbean Coast
Hole In The Wallet always makes us chuckle, a cheeky nod to how quickly a dive trip budget can disappear. But this site, right at Sandy Bay's western edge, earns its name for more than just a joke. It's a proper wall dive that starts shallow, making it a surprisingly flexible spot. We often use the expansive sand patch up top for skills practice, but don't linger too long there. The real draw is where the wall drops, a sheer face down to 20m. Our favourite time here is late morning, when the sun catches the nooks and crannies. Keep an eye out for Plumed Scorpionfish tucked into ledges, their camouflage near perfect against the sponges. We've spotted those delicate Yellow Basslets flitting in the overhangs, and the occasional Pygmy Moray peering out from a crevice. It’s a great site for macro lovers, with plenty of crabs and lobsters hiding in the crevices. You might even catch a glimpse of an Eagle Ray gliding past in the blue. For new divers, it's a gentle introduction to wall diving, while experienced eyes will find plenty to focus on in the reef's texture and resident critters.
- Location
- Caribbean Coast, Costa Rica, Central America
- Coordinates
- 10.453900, -85.849100
- Type
- wall
Marine Protected Area: Marino las Baulas de Guanacaste
Best Time to Dive in Caribbean Coast
The warmest water temperatures in Caribbean Coast occur in March, averaging 29.8°C. The coolest conditions are in November at 27.6°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.9°C
- February: 29.6°C
- March: 29.8°C
- April: 29.6°C
- May: 29.1°C
- June: 28.4°C
- July: 28.6°C
- August: 28.5°C
- September: 28.5°C
- October: 28.1°C
- November: 27.6°C
- December: 28.4°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Caribbean Coast
Nearest Dive Centres to Cuatro piedras, Catalina Islands
Marine Life in Caribbean Coast
Home to 218 recorded species including 198 reef fish, 11 hard corals, 5 whales & dolphins, 3 other, 1 seagrass & algae.
Notable Species
- Sleeper (Gobiomorus maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Lesser Starlet Coral (Siderastrea radians) - Hard Corals
- Barred Livebearer (Poeciliopsis turrubarensis) - Reef Fish
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
- Spotted Sleeper (Eleotris picta) - Reef Fish
- Lamarck's sheet coral (Agaricia lamarcki) - Hard Corals
- Pointed Pencil Coral (Madracis asperula) - Hard Corals
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Bridled Dolphin (Stenella attenuata) - Whales & Dolphins
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Giant goby (Gobiomorus dormitor) - Reef Fish
- Mulet (Mugil curema) - Reef Fish
- Scroll Coral (Agaricia undata) - Hard Corals
- Yellowtail Parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Graham's sheet coral (Agaricia grahamae) - Hard Corals
- Sleeper (Eleotris amblyopsis) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Cuatro piedras, Catalina Islands
Based on average water temperature of 28.8°C, currents 3 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories