La esquina del jardin - Caribbean Coast
Alright, La esquina del jardin. This isn't your typical Caribbean postcard dive, and that's exactly why we love it. Forget the dramatic drop-offs; here, it’s all about the small stuff, the critters tucked into every crevice. We’re talking blennies, and not just any blennies. You’ll spot the shy Signal triplefin, the quirky Phallic Blenny, and if you’ve got a keen eye, the wonderfully camouflaged Sabertooth Blenny. This is a dive for the patient, for those who love to slow down and really look. The reef feels alive with subtle movement. You'll brush past soft corals, watching for the subtle flicker of a Half-banded Stargazer buried in the sand, just its eyes peeking out. Keep an eye out for Cortez chubs schooling just off the reef edge, and we've even seen False killer whales pass through here, a truly unexpected bonus. The real magic happens when you get close, noticing the intricate patterns on a Masked moray’s skin or the iridescent scales of a Sunset wrasse. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light can be lovely for photography. This site really shines for macro enthusiasts and those who appreciate the quiet hunt for unique species.
- Location
- Caribbean Coast, Costa Rica, Central America
- Coordinates
- 8.715564, -83.869860
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Isla del Cano
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 La esquina del jardin
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 La esquina del jardin
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