Diving with Bull Sharks in Costa Rica
Article written by Ashley Taylor for ScubaDiveMarketing.com
Shark dives have become increasingly popular and for those wanting to see sharks up close in their natural habitat, Costa Rica is the place do it. This Central American nation is an adventurer’s paradise, dotted with reefs, islands, caves and canyons. Its tropical waters make an ideal location for both divers and sharks alike and is home to one of the most heart pounding species – the bull shark.
Bull Shark Diving in Costa Rica
Isla Murcielago | Bat Islands
Undisputedly, the best location in Costa Rica to dive with bull sharks is thirty miles off the coast of Playa Ocotal at Islas Murcielagos, otherwise known as The Bat Islands, where bumping into one is a common occurrence.
This string of magical islands sits off the tip of Santa Rosa National Park and is void of all human life except for a lone ranger station and environmentalists. Safe from development, these primal islands and their surrounding reefs have likely changed very little over time. The Bat Islands have become a hot spot for advanced divers due to deep sites, crystal clear visibility and a host of large sea species.
For an experience that will get your heart pounding, visit “The Big Scare.” The site averages out at 90ft landing on a sandy bottom where bull sharks This spot is the place to get up close and personal with the bull shark, with many reaching up to nine feet.
Bull Sharks aren’t the only creatures you will see in the Bat Islands. The area is known for its range of species due to its location along migratory routes. Graceful manta rays, devil rays, eagle rays, nurse sharks, and even the elusive whale shark can be seen along the Bat Islands dependent upon the time of year.
When To Go
The best time of year to see bull sharks is between May and November during Costa Rica’s rainy season when waters are calmer and rain drives sharks closer to shore.
Bull Shark | Profile
Bull Shark, Carcharhinus leucas
Average Size: 7.65 ft.
Weight: 250 lbs.
Record Size: 11 ft.
Record Weight: 694 lbs.
Lifespan: 25 years
Names
Zamezi shark – Africa
Zambi – Africa
Nicaragua shark – Nicaragua
Description
Bull sharks are an aggressive shark species typically recognized by their stocky build. They have a short, broad and blunt snout. They are grey in color with a white under side and possess small, dark eyes. While they are aggressive to their prey they are just the opposite with divers. Diving with bull sharks is very common and safe. In the 30+ years the Bat Islands has welcomed divers, there have been no attacks.
Habitat
Widespread coastal and fresh waters. Though they prefer the salty shallows of bays and estuaries, bull sharks have been found as far inland as Illinois as well as hundreds of miles in open ocean. Their tolerance for fresh water is what sets them apart from other sharks.
Distribution
Bull sharks are found worldwide in the warmer coastal waters of hemispheres close to the equator.
Diet
Solo hunters, bull sharks are masters of the bump-and-bite technique when hunting prey. The bull shark is more or less a garbage disposal and will eat just about anything it deems food, though fish, turtles, crustaceans birds. According to reports, they’ve attacked creatures as big as hippopotamuses and are even thought to have attacked a racehorse in Australia.
Fun Facts
- The Jersey Shore attacks of 1916 were thought to be bull sharks and inspired the infamous shark movie, Jaws.
- Known to jump salmon-like through river rapids to reach inland lakes.
How to Have a Safe Dive
Bull sharks are not mindless man-eaters, but are still wild creatures to be treated with respect. Here are some tips to make sure your next bull shark dive is a good one.
- Listen to your dive instructor. Your instructor performs these dives on a regular basis and familiar with the dive site and local shark behavior. Pay attention during the dive briefing so you will know what to expect.
- Know the site. It’s important to know the dive site before entering the water. Be familiar with what to expect from the creatures as well as the ocean environment.
- Don’t harass the sharks. Or touch any other wildlife for that matter. Most shark attacks are provoked by people – not sharks.
- Breathe. It saves energy and air so you can stay down longer. And taking a moment to breathe will calm any initial nerves.
- Pay attention. Enjoy the dive, but don’t get so wrapped in it that you neglect to pay attention to your surroundings. Site conditions can change quickly; don’t get caught off guard.
- Listen to your gut. If you’re still nervous or conditions are less than ideal, it’s always ok to cut the dive short. Don’t let your hubris get the best of you and put you in a bad situation that could’ve easily been avoided.
