El Secreto - Caribbean Coast
Just for Nous. That name always gets a chuckle out of us. It’s tucked away in the middle of a pass, and honestly, getting in can sometimes feel a bit like a washing machine, depending on the current. But push through that, and you're in for a treat. This site is all about the cave. We love the way the light filters in, just enough to illuminate the purple gorgonians you have to slalom through to get deeper inside. Dropping to about 24 metres, it's not a deep dive, but the sensation of being surrounded by rock, with those whip lobsters clinging to the walls, makes it feel like a real exploration. The resident moray eel, who we’ve unofficially named Madame Moray, often pokes her head out to greet you. Keep an eye out for the Electric Flame Scallops – their flashing mantle is genuinely mesmerising in the gloom. It’s a site that rewards a slow pace, letting your eyes adjust, taking in the smaller things like the Sponsal Cones and the Acropora Coral Crabs camouflaged perfectly. We’d suggest bringing a good torch, not just for photos of the anthias schooling in the gorgonians, but to really pick out the nuances of the cave walls. It’s a site for divers who appreciate the subtle beauty of a well-formed cave and don't mind a bit of a current-y entry for the payoff.
- Location
- Caribbean Coast, Costa Rica, Central America
- Coordinates
- 9.558500, -85.089100
- Type
- cave
Marine Protected Area: Cabo Blanco
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 El Secreto
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 El Secreto
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